Control Your Startup Items
Last Updated: 09 Aug 2004
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
If you're using Win9x/ME, you have the MSCONFIG utility
to control what loads in your Startup Group, as well as
from various places in the Registry.
Windows NT and 2000 do not have any native tools which
provide this functionality, but there are a number of
3rd party options, including SpyBot (which is really a
tool for getting rid of spyware):
UTILITIES
• Advanced Startup Cop ... http://www.windows-startup-cop.com/
• Advanced Startup Mgr ... http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2086-9640687.html
• AutoRuns ............... http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml
• CodeStuff Starter ...... http://codestuff.netfirms.com/features.shtml
• Startup Control Panel .. http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
• Startup List ........... http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/downloads/download.php/id/37
• X-Setup Pro ............ http://www.x-setup.net/
• XP's MSCONFIG .......... http://www.thetechguide.com/downloads/msconfig.zip
• ZDNet Startup Cop ...... http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,2173,00.asp
• SpyBot Search/Destroy .. http://security.kolla.de/
WIN32 ARCHIVES
• CNET Downloads ......... http://download.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=startup&tg=dl-2001
WHITEPAPERS & TECH DOCUMENTS
• http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBF/TIP2600/rh2620.htm
• http://www.greatis.com/regrun3useless.htm
PERSONAL NOTES
• Windows XP brings back MSCONFIG as a native tool.
• The XP version of MSCONFIG works just great in 2000
which is nice, since 2000 doesn't come with a native
utility that supplies this functionality.
• I actually prefer AUTORUNS to MSCONFIG, since it won't
give you any messages about "not a normal config".
• If you want to edit the startup locations manually, just
look at the following REGISTRY keys:
- HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
