How to clean up startup on your computer

We all have favorite programs that we use all the time. Do you really need them all from the start up? This pulls on system resources and slows your computer. Do you really need all of those programs when you start up your computer or do you only use them every now and then.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer

1. Many of the programs that you get into your computer startup files you never chose to individually add. They are additional to a program that you wanted and are added features. Make sure when you are installing a program you look through the screens as you click ok. There maybe additional radio buttons that you can clear to not install additional content.
2. Start by taking a look what has made its way there. Click on your “start” button and browse to programs and find your startup folder. Click this folder open to see what items are inside. You can do this from the menu without opening the folder but it makes it easier for the next step if you open up the folder.
3. This folder contains shortcuts not actual programs. When you delete a shortcut you are not deleting the whole program but rather a road sign or pointer to the real program. Right click the items you no longer use and choose delete. If you wish to remove the program completely from your computer you need to go through the control panel options to uninstall. Deleting the shortcut will keep the program from loading when your computer starts.
4. Once you have made changes to this folder it is always a good practice to clean up your computer all the way using both the disc clean up and defragment utilities built into the computer(I have other how to articles on this topic).

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t forget to restart the computer to verify that the program does not load.
• If you delete something you want back you can always find the program and right click it. Choose the option to send a shortcut to the desktop and then drag it back into the startup folder.
• There are some programs that you may consider leaving in this folder such as virus scan and others. Just make sure you are using a program that uses less memory and does not become a resource hog.