turn off programs at startup

how do I stop programs I don't want to run at start up. I have like 41 programs that start when I log on and I dont know what most of them are.

Download Regcleaner and on the startup tab remove the entries.

You can also go to Start>Run> type in MSCONFIG>hit enter and disable things you don't want starting up. Regcleaner is better and more useful for other things.

Here's a List of startup items and tells you what they belong to. Make sure you don't disable any vital windoze or ant-virus items ;) It also tells you how to do this on the various windoze OS systems.

Thanks for the info, that helped alot.
Much appreciated.
Zookian

Not knocking RegCleaner at all but this being one of my favorite topics... the safest recommended way to go about performing this task is to attempt to control startup following the steps listed. If you want the Option to control a particular startup item without interaction with the program itself then skipping steps 1 and 2 are perfectly OK. Otherwise steps 1 and 2 are useful because they will enable the program in question to remove itself from the startup lineup.

1. If there is a taskbar icon right click it and attempt to use any options or preference settings to stop it from running at startup. There must be 1,000 different ways I've seen this option presented so look carefully.

2. Run the main console or window of the program and see if any of the menu items present a path to user options or preferences where you might find an option to toggle startup activity. This is similar to #1 above.

3. Use MSConfig by clicking Start and Run then typing MSConfig in the command line. However, with the limitations of MSConfig I humbly suggest you are likely better off using a third party solution which basically does the same thing. A most annoying limitation of MSConfig is the inability to edit and delete the entries. Something as simple as this should have been included. (I won't go into the WinME cleanup button; suffice to say my comments about that are not printable).

4. There are various third party solution of which you may be aware. These three below are some of the best I've used. One thing to keep in mind. Before using third party solution you should run MSConfig (are any other third party solution you've used) and make sure everything is checked. Don't restart the box just check everything. This way the third party solution can see what is set to startup.

Codestuff Starter 5.6.1.38
Startup CPL (Mike Lin)
Ultimate Startup Manager

5. Some programs are insidiously woven into the OS. This is mainly evident with MS programs such as MSN Messenger. Some specific steps must be taken for these types of programs which I'm not going to list but you can post a question about a specific program.

A most helpful list of startup programs:

http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/index.php (this site has a comprehensive startup controlling program but I don't like it :) )
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages...tartup_full.php (the database is now on a VERY slow server make this your last choice for lookup)
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php (despite the slow server this remains a most excellent information resource)
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pa...es/tasklist.htm
http://www.azpchelp.com/StartupListA-F.htm
http://techno_geek.tripod.com/msconfig.html
http://techno_geek.tripod.com/tsr.html
http://pcpitstop.com/techexpress/startup.asp (most useful and complete for resolving startup issues)
http://www.geocities.com/asdf85016/windows/page1.html (Win98 Step by step with pictures)
http://www.greatis.com/regrun3appdatabase.htm

Now that is a thorough answer, but don't forget WinPatrol and Sysinternals Autoruns.exe the absolute kiddy when used correctly. Spybot Search and Destroy also has a startup programs editor and then there is a free tool from DiamondCS for checking your startup items - ASviewer. X-Cleaner also has a startup editor and everyone should have both Spybot S&D and X-Cleaner-Free they are so essential. It is highly recommended not to use msconfig because you will forget you disabled everything and wonder why it don't work right now.

I'm certainly glad you guys are posting. Always good to have fresh meat...uh, I mean different views on technical issues. ;)

I've not been to system internals for a long time. Looks like I need to go get another little gem to play with for a while :D

Ops... I just found v5.01 already on my system. I must have played with it a bit. Just need to include it in my list.

I remember now. I put that one on my mental list of programs to use if I need to really dig. But as these things go my memory is not what it could be.