| DISABLE UNWANTED START-UP PROGRAMS/TASKS |
In this section I will teach you how to disable, and re-enable, unwanted programs/tasks from your start-up list using the Autoruns tool. In Windows Vista
you have a program within Windows Defender, called Software Explorer, that allows you to disable and re/enable the programs that launch (run/execute) when
Windows Vista first starts up.
In Windows 7 windows defender no longer has the software explorer option/feature. This is because Windows 7 uses a program called AutoRuns, that replaces
software explorer. You need to downloaded AutoRuns from the Windows SysInternals
website and then install it before you can edit the start-up list.
As explained in the How To Correctly Switch On The Computer section, the Start-Up
List is a list of programs/tasks that the computer executes (launches/runs) during its boot-sequence (start-up process). Hence the term Start-Up List.
In some cases you may not want a certain program/task launched (run/executed) during the boot-sequence. This could be because it is a program/task you do
not need launching straight away, feel is not important and/or feel is slowing down your computer by using too many resources (i.e. too much Memory and
CPU/Processing Time). An example of this is an Updater - A program that puts a task in the start-up list to check for updates (security updates, product
updates and so on). So if you are happy with the program but do not want it checking for updates each time you switch on the computer you might want to
disable the Updater task.
Another example is a piece of software that adds a Launcher to the start-up list. A launcher is a program within the software that executes (launches)
some of its smaller tasks/programs during the boot-sequence, in the background, in order to speed up the launching (execution) of its main program
(by you) later. This is okay if you want to use/launch the main program all the time but not so good if you rarely use/launch the main program.
To disable, remove from the start-up list, an unwanted program/task you first need to download and EXTRACT ALL the .zip file called Autoruns.zip <<---- Click on this link or visit the Windows SysInternals website. Extracting a .zip file was explained in the File Decompression section. Once you have extracted the Autoruns.zip file double click on the Autoruns file to continue.
In this example I have downloaded the Autoruns.zip file into the DOWNLOADS folder and then extracted it from there, thereby creating an AUTORUNS sub-folder (within the DOWNLOADS folder) that contains the Autoruns executable file (.exe file). You will also see a file called Autorunsc inside that sub-folder. It is the Command Line (programmers) file version of Autoruns and should be ignored - Just double click on the Autoruns file instead.
As you can see; The installation is pretty straight forward. However. At this point you may be thinking "What have I let myself in for?" because the Autoruns program looks very intimidating and scarey! This is mainly due to you seeing everything the program has to offer on the EVERYTHING Tab (window), but if you look closely you will see that the program is actually split into Tabbed (mini) windows.
In this example I have clicked on the LOGON Tab to display the start-up list - The programs/tasks that get launched when the computer is first switched on. I have also made the window larger and customized it by stretching the tabbed window Headings/Titles (i.e. Autorun Entry, Description and so on). Stretching is achieved by dragging the right-side of a heading/title. This may make the whole autoruns program look a little friendlier!
To disable a program from starting up when the computer is switched on simply untick it and to re/enable a program tick it. So untick (disable) or tick
(enable). Selecting a program/task, with or without clicking inside its tick box, will show details of that program/task in the Status Bar at the bottom
of the window. In the above example details of Yahoo Messenger, which I am currently unticking (disabling).
Autoruns, in terms of the start-up list, is basically editing the Registry Entry for a program/task so that that program/task will either no longer be
launched (run/executed) at start-up or will be run at start-up. For more information about the registry see the
Registry section.
Software that uses an updater and/or launcher is normally software that wants to give you an enriched service and/or upgrades. These include Security
Software (that checks for the latest security updates), Messengers (Chit-Chat Programs that check for the latest version and feature upgrades), Software
Bundles (that come pre-installed on your computer) and Bulky Software (Office Packages and Paint Packages that use speed-up launchers). Known updaters
include Web Browsers (i.e. Google Chrome), Programming Engines (i.e. Java) and Adobe (Reader Speed Launcher).
An Updater can normally be disabled (removed from the start-up list) without any problems but with a Launcher you have to be careful just in case
disabling it actually cripples the main program/software.
When you first double click on the Autoruns.exe executable file (Fig 1.1 above) to install it you might be surprised to find that it does not actually install as such. There is no trace of it in the Programs & Features control panel and no trace of it in the Programs Files system folder. So where was it installed? Nowhere! is the answer. The first double click just initiated it (set it up/registered it). Double clicking on it again, once set up/registered, opens its window straight away without the need to re-install it. So do not try and find it in your computer, simply double click on it again to launch it.
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
