XP Startup sequence

[Guest]

I use an E-Machine CPU - 2GZ, 128MB RAM. I run XP w/SP2 and all current
updates. I have Symantec (Norton) Antivirus 2003 with current updates. During
one of the previous updates I also now have "Windows Security Center". I just
recently installed Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta1). On a good startup I get the
following four icons in the lower right corner indicating running background
programs - Volume Control (little speaker), Security Center (Red Shield
w/White X), Norton Antivirus (Yellow monitor w/red cross), and AntiSpyware
(Red/Yellow Target). My problem is that bootup never seems to be consistent
and the anispyware and security center icons sometime either or both don't
come up. The order is sometimes different too. What do I need to do to get a
consistent bootup sequence?

 

[Sleepless in Seattle]

Upgrade your RAM from128 MB to at least 256 MB. Preferable to have 512 MB.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

You have no control over some of these startup items, depending where they
start from it is a race every time to see which one is first. Read on.

Execution Order for starting programs

With Windows XP, There are 13+ places that programs can start from and
they are executed in the following order:

Before Logon
1)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
2) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

After Logon
3)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup
4) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
5) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
6) WIN.INI [Windows] Load
7) WIN.INI [Windows] Run
8) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
9) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
10) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
11) C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
12) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
13) As a Scheduled Task set to run at startup.

[[Startups in groups 6 to 11 all run at the same time (more or less).
However, the groups themselves are triggered in the order shown above. In
other words, the next group can begin launching while the previous group is
still loading its startups. Due to timing issues it is impossible to say
what order these items will finish loading, thus it is impossible to
predict the exact order of execution for individual startups. For instance,
you may notice two or more system tray icons changing position with each
boot - even when no changes have been made to the order.]]

[[The order of items within a group is not necessarily the final order, as
some programs take longer than others to load, and synchronous groups can
overlap each other.]]

Items in 10 and 11 execute alphanumerically. You can change the order in 10
and 11 by moving the items from 11 to 10. Also, you can rename the
shortcuts in 10 and/or 11.

For example; dfg.exe, fgh.exe and ghj.exe would start in that order. To
change the order rename to aghj.exe,bdfg.exe and cfgh.exe. They would then
start in that order.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Kelly]

Honestly Tim, beings they are running in the background you don't need to
share that area with them, unless you are prone to stopping any of them for
whatever reason.

Added info:

Check for an option to not having the icon load in the System Tray via the
program(s) in question.

Other options for removal:

Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig. Go to the Startup Tab and uncheck
accordingly. Then run this script to remove the disabled items from the
registry.

Clear Disabled Items from Msconfig Startup and Selective Startup (Line 148)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Or...remove the runkeys from here: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

Troubleshooting the Notification Area
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_n.htm#na


--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Guest]

Glad I found this post. Looks like exactly what I needed. Thanks.