How to Clean Up the Start-up on a Computer

When you turn on a computer, the start-up speed depends on several factors including the computer's operating system, hard drive speed, processing power and start-up settings. If your computer is set to run many programs at start-up, it will take longer to turn on and system performance may be slower since the start-up items will continue to run. Turning off as many unnecessary start-up programs as possible can increase start-up speed.

Things You'll Need

• Windows Defender

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and then "Control Panel."

2. Double click on "Windows Defender."

3. Click "Tools" and then open "Software Explorer."

4. Change the category to "Startup Programs" if necessary (this should be the default category). Highlight the name of any application you want to remove from start-up and click "Disable."

Tips & Warnings

• * Windows Defender is installed by default on Vista computers and can be

• downloaded as an add-on for computers running Windows XP.

• * Putting desktop icons into a folder can clean up clutter on the desktop and

• improve start-up speed.

• * Disabling a start-up program will not delete it from your system; simply open the

• program using the "All programs" menu if you need to use a program you

• disabled.

References

• MS Support on disabling start up programs
• Taking Control of Windows Start Up