How to Eliminate Start-Up Programs In Windows XP

If you're like me and have a large hard drive plus an external back-up hard drive, you know you can fit lots of useful programs in the space allocated on the hard drive. However, after a while, starting your computer can get highly annoying while you are waiting for all your newly added programs to launch because someone at the place who designed them thought it would a great idea to make them all run at start-up. This procedure can help eliminate the time consuming wait for your system to start up and load taskbar icons and the pesky programs that launch without your permission. My wait time has gone done from about 20 minutes to about 5 using this procedure. Plus it's so simple, you would think it would be common knowledge!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windows XP
• A list of start-up programs to eliminate

1. With your computer already started up and booted to Windows XP, move the mouse pointer over the start menu button in the lower left hand corner and left click once.

2. From the menu that pops up, select the "run" option. A small dialog box with the title "Run" on top. Type "msconfig" in the text area and then use the mouse to left click on "ok" or hit enter.

3. A tabbed menu entitled, "System Configuration Utility" will pop up with many options on the tabs. Use the mouse to select the "Startup" tab and don't bother with any of the other tab options.

4. From the Startup options that appear, try to only deselect the programs that you are certain are the ones you want to eliminate from automatically starting up on system power up. This is accomplished by using the mouse to left click on the checked boxes in front of the programs listed. Do not select "disable all" unless you are certain what all the items on the list do and want them not to start up. When you are finished selecting programs, left click on the "apply" button and then left click the "close" button.

5. A dialog box will pop up with two options on the buttons. One button is "Restart" and the other reads, "Exit Without Restart". It doesn't matter which one is chosen, the changes will be applied upon the next start-up. However, if you are currently working on something and don't wish to restart select the "Exit Without Restart" button or save your work before restarting the system.

6. After restarting the system, a decrease in wait time for the system to start should be noticed. If not, then it might be some other problem such as a virus or a drive that needs to be defragmented.
   Enjoy the speedier start time!

Tips & Warnings

• Make absolutely sure that you wish to remove certain start-up programs as doing this can mar system performance if the user is not careful.

[flor2729]

on 5/26/2009 Excellent, detailed instructions on eliminating start up programs. Very helpful. Thanks.