Windows XP start up programs
Peter Principle
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
What is the bestest, most properest way to remove programs from start up (but not uninstall them) in Windows XP? For the programs that you just can't click on their icons in the bottom right corner and modify that way, I've been doing it through msconfig and unchecking the check boxes in the Startup tab. As I understand, though, that's the lazy man's way out and is also sinful and I should be ashamed of myself for doing it that way. So what's the better way, if the program doesn't have the option built in?
"A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business." - Eric Hoffer, _The True Believer_
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You could try to tool around in the registry, but if you delete the wrong thing (or only delete some of what you need to, and leave others there), you can cause all sorts of problems... and it's likely different for every application. At least msconfig gives a clear-cut way to cut them off at the pass without taking any great risks.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
remove the offending articles
Make sure you know exactly what you want to stop, otherwise you could easily screw up your AV, for example
This is the option I use, and ever so slightly better than MSConfig. There's something or other MSConfig doesn't get at that this program does--turns out there are a bunch of different places that you can hide something to get it to autorun.
MSConfig is generally sufficient though.
Outside of using the msconfig, I sometimes use this to uncheck things that I might have missed.
Editing the registry works, but it's also a volatile environment which could turn your computer into an expensive paperweight.
There's nothing wrong with msconfig, but be sure you also disable offending programs in the 'Services' tab, too. Lots of programs like to hide out there.