Tech: Deleting startup progs?

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 09:29 PM

Use a sniffer ... 85 percent of personal data stream was direct to Russia... CUT OFF the connections . Lord forbid the child is arrested in Spain...for a Korean referral to a childs game.

An hour or two of immediate prevention is better than 360 to 720 daze in prison. Especiallz a Spanish one.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: Tootler
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 05:20 PM

I have recently acquired an oldish XP machine, which isn't up to upgrading to Win7. Of course I just might switch it over to Linux, and save on hassle.

That's exactly what I did.

My old XP machine was getting very slow so I tried every trick I could find to try and reduce the clutter etc. This included unchecking any unnecessary startup programs, removing old, unused programs, clearing out "temp" directories, regularly emptying the browser cache etc. etc. While this all had some effect, in the end startup was still slow. I had reduced the total boot time from 15 mins to 10 mins which was some improvement but not all that wonderful. One thing I did notice was that AVG always seemed to hog processor time when it was starting up and it usually then updated the AV definitions so I removed it and installed Panda AV. That did help somewhat as Panda stores the AV definitions online. Even so it still remained slow to start up and also every now and then the OS would take over the computer and chatter away for several minutes to no apparent effect and leave you unable to do anything useful.

In the meantime, I had bought an Acer Netbook that came preloaded with Linux. A somewhat restricted version but it did most things I wanted and I found out how to "unlock" it so I could install some extra programs. I was particularly impressed with the startup time - about 2-3 minutes so I looked around and downloaded the then current version of Ubuntu and tried it.

It was a revelation, rapid start up, good selection of software, stable OS that sits in the background and lets you get on with it. I didn't completely abandon Windows as there were some programs that I still used so I set up a dual boot system. I finally abandoned Windows when I bought my new computer and nothing would start up with the dual boot so I simply reformatted the hard drive and went 100% Linux. I still use a few Windows programs but they run fine using Wine. My current Ubuntu system starts up from "cold" in under a minute.

I definitely will not go back to Windows. I realised recently how sluggish it is when my printer packed up and I had to borrow my daughter's computer to print something in a hurry as we were just on our way out and needed the documents to take with us. She had hibernated it and it hung when I switched it on, so I had to reset and do a "cold" start. It took what seemed ages to load up and was then slow opening the documents I wanted to print.

So, changing over to Linux is well worth considering. There is a learning curve as things are done differently but there is plenty help available online. I use Ubuntu which is generally rated as fairly easy to set up if you are a newcomer. I certainly found it so and the Ubuntu forums are very good for information on most things. Linux Mint is another which has a good reputation as being easy to set up for newcomers.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 13 Jun 11 - 05:36 AM

Thanks folks, I looked at the thread that gnomad linked to, although I wish I hadn't now.

John in Kansas said that about 40 processes running would be about right, 60 would seem a bit high, I just checked mine and I've got 71, so what hope have I got?

I downloaded WinPatrol and looked at that, disabled (or thought I had) the progs that were running on startup that I thought were appropriate and hey presto! they are not only still showing in the taskbar, but I've now got an extra one, Scotty the dog!

I give up, damn computer, just have to live with it.

Thanks for the advices anyway.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 11:17 AM

suggesting "Glary Utilities" freeware tool kit.

Easy, convenient, quick, effective.. use it one way or another every day.

No problems with install, and even better since they dumped "Ask toolbar"
which used to be the only complaint with this software.

Can't remember who recommended it to me a few years ago, but it's now indispensable.

http://www.glarysoft.com/products/utilities/glary-utilities/

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 11:09 AM

First you need to find any folders called Startup. I find I have 2 of them:

C:\Users\System User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Startup

[On my computer, the above folder contains 2 shortcuts.]

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Startup

[On my computer, the above folder is empty.]

I think the location of your Startup folders may vary according to what operating system you are using. Also, I think if you have defined any users other than "System User" will have one for each user.

Simply delete any shortcuts you find in your Startup folders. Deleting a shortcut is always safe; it doesn't delete the actual program from your hard drive. You can always recreate any shortcut. Deleting the shortcut will stop the program from being started automatically when you reboot.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 11:03 AM

an excellent program to monitor & control startup programs is StartupCPL by Mike Lin. (free)

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: Janet Stevenson (troll alert contact max)
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 10:13 AM

Your anti vir should offer this, I am on Norton 360 and find it does a great job.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 10:13 AM

Start -> Programs -> Autostart, right-click, Delete.

That will not delete any program, just prevent it from autostarting.

Other programs start as Services or by even more sinister tokens. An autostart management software will allow you to deactivate them temporarily, so you can reactivte them if something does not work. Google for autostart management, make sure to get a software you trust.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: GUEST,guest techie
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 09:59 AM

Go to START, Search, and type msconfig. Choose Startup from tabs and untick programs to be removed. Restart PC and untick the warning window that appears.

Subject: RE: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: gnomad
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 09:52 AM

Winpatrol seems to have a few fans, and might help this thread refers.
I'll be watching this thread for hints, 'cos I have recently acquired an oldish XP machine, which isn't up to upgrading to Win7. Of course I just might switch it over to Linux, and save on hassle.

Subject: Tech: Deleting startup progs?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 12 Jun 11 - 08:38 AM

I know this has been discussed in a thread somewhere, but I've spent the last half hour trying to find it in "Search" (it never seems to work for me).

Can someone please tell me how to get to the programs that start up automatically when logging on. I am running WinXP home, 'cos it's taking ages to get to my home page when I log on, I've done disc clean, defrag, registry clean, and even a deep clean but it makes no difference, so I reckon there must be lots of progs I don't know about that are on auto startup (I hope anyway), so I've been trying to find a list to knock some off, but cannot find it.

I would be very grateful for any info so I can stop pulling my hair out, as there's not much left!