Gł - Windows > All Platforms + General: MSCONFIG

Applications that automatically load at system startup, that do not need to, can slow system performance, cause crashes, and generally take up precious space in your notification area (a.k.a "System Tray") on the task bar. With 9x and ME it's "okay" to use the msconfig (System Configuration Utility) to remove such applications from the startup group. But if you make changes in the System Configuration Utility on XP you will be plagued by some silly diagnostic startup message - until you TICK the 'don't show this again' option. So in my opinion the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) is good for diagnostic purposes only.

However, if you do want to use it:

Click the Start button
Click Run
Type "msconfig" without the quotes
Press your Enter key (OR click the OK button)
Click the Startup tab (to view the list of applications that load upon startup)

Though I could have sworn we just recommended that you not use it. We'd hate to leave you hanging without this information. Of course if you're using Windows 95 or 2000, using MSCONFIG is not an issue, for they simply do not come with it.

If you do decide to use MSCONFIG to prevent certain applications from launching at startup, be careful not to 'uncheck' anything that you want or need loaded for normal computer use (See Startup Applications at the bottom of this page).

Anyhow...

To disable these items it's best to go to the application itself and find the option to stop it from starting during system boot. There are so many applications that it's impossible to cover the scope of them all in this one article or even this one site. A search at your favorite search engine (e.g. Google > search for: RealPlayer remove startup) will probably reveal a great deal to you as will a review of the application's help files.

Use a Startup Manager

If you only want to disable it for a short time then using MSCONFIG is fine — but If you want to permenently remove an application from starting at system load, and can't find a way to turn off the startup launch within the app itself, then instead of MSCONFIG there's a much handier ultility that you can get and use for free (or donation, if you have such an urge):

- Startup Control Panel

Using the above application (either of the two versions offered) will enable you to disable, delete, or add items to the startup with realative ease. Actually installing this ultility is pretty basic and puts a launch applet into the control panel. It's really rather handy and has been installed on more systems than we'd care to count. It's one of those applications that belong in everyone's toolkit. For more information about Startup Control Panel see: Pesky Startup Applications.

- Autoruns from Sysinternals™ is another nice startup manager.

Startup Applications

To learn more about the items in your startup list you might find the Startup Applications List useful. It's maintained by Paul Collins (a.k.a Pacman of Pacman's Portal). You can even download the list for off-line use from his Startup Tip's page - the downloads are about half-way down that page under the heading "THE PROGRAMS" — About ¼ from the bottom of the same (Startup Tip's) page is a nice beefy list of startup managers.

OS: All Platforms > General
Date: 07/27/05