How to Find Startup Programs in Windows Vista

You can determine which programs leave the starting blocks on your computer.

Moving around Microsoft Windows Vista can be a bit challenging, especially if you're accustomed to using Windows XP. If you want to access your computer's start-up program list and make some changes as to what programs start when your computer does, you can do so through the Control Panel.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" button in the lower-left corner of your screen.

2. Click "All Programs" at the bottom of the Start menu. This will open a list of all of the programs on your computer.

3. Click "Windows Defender." Windows Defender is a virus protection program that comes pre-installed with Windows Vista.

4. Click the "Tools" button at the top of the Windows Defender window and then click "Software Explorer."

5. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Category box and select "Startup Programs" if it's not already selected. The list in the left pane displays all of the programs that run when your computer boots up.

Tips & Warnings

• Another way to access your startup programs in Microsoft Windows Vista is by clicking on the "Start" button, clicking on "All Programs", then right-clicking on "Startup" and then "Open". However, managing startup programs with this method can be a bit more confusing to new computer users.

• Do not disable or remove any programs that are crucial to your computer. If you don't know whether you should delete something or not, leave it alone.

References

• Microsoft Windows: Stop a Program From Running Automatically When Windows Starts

Resources

• Microsoft Windows: Vista Help and How-to