On each program you don't want to start automatically, check its Options to see if it has the choice not to start make sure you actually choose the option not to run it, not just a 'don't show icon' option. Many can easily and best be stopped that way. However, if I were you, I wouldn't do this just for the purpose of running the minimum number of programs.
Some of them can hurt performance severely, but others have no effect on performance. Don't just stop programs from running willy-nilly. What you should do is determine what each program is, what its value is to you, and what the cost in performance is of its running all the time. You can try google searches and ask about specifics here. Create an account.
Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: June 3, Method 1 of Click the Windows "Start" button and select "All Programs. Right-click the "Startup" folder in the menu and select "Open All Users" to open the folder for all users on the computer. Choose "Explore" to open the folder for the currently logged-in user only.
Create a shortcut to the program or file you want to run at startup. Startup items can be either programs or other files. For example, you can set a word processing document to open upon startup. Drag, or cut and paste the shortcut icon into the Startup Folder.
The program will now open the next time you start the computer. Method 2 of Click the Windows "Start" button and type "msconfig" in the search text box. Click on MSConfig in the search results. This opens the System Configuration console. Click the "Startup" tab. This gives you a view of the programs installed as startup options on your computer. Note that not all startup items will be shown. You are not given the option to add startup items to the list inside MSconfig.
To add items not on the MSconfig list, use the Startup Folder method. Check boxes of the applications you want to start when you boot the computer. For programs you no longer want to start, clear the check box.
Click "Apply. Reboot the computer to finalize changes to startup items. A popup window will ask if you want to reboot the computer. Click "Restart" to reboot the computer and save the changes. If you do not restart your computer, your startup programs will revert to their original settings. If you subsequently decide to choose Normal Startup", all disabled items will be re-enabled. Method 3 of Change the settings of the program itself to manage its startup options. See an overview of this process here.
Method 4 of Avoid deleting files and programs indiscriminately. Deleting startup programs without knowing what they are can lead to certain applications not functioning properly.
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In Windows 7, the default startup program settings are similar to those of previous versions of Windows. To change startup programs in Windows 7, you may need to access the startup folder, change MSConfig settings, access individual program settings, or delete programs through your computer's regedit program.
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No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Author Info Last Updated: June 3, Method 1 of Click the Windows "Start" button and select "All Programs.
Right-click the "Startup" folder in the menu and select "Open All Users" to open the folder for all users on the computer. Choose "Explore" to open the folder for the currently logged-in user only. Create a shortcut to the program or file you want to run at startup.
Startup items can be either programs or other files. For example, you can set a word processing document to open upon startup. Drag, or cut and paste the shortcut icon into the Startup Folder. The program will now open the next time you start the computer. Method 2 of Click the Windows "Start" button and type "msconfig" in the search text box. Click on MSConfig in the search results. This opens the System Configuration console.
Click the "Startup" tab. This gives you a view of the programs installed as startup options on your computer. Note that not all startup items will be shown.
You are not given the option to add startup items to the list inside MSconfig. To add items not on the MSconfig list, use the Startup Folder method. Check boxes of the applications you want to start when you boot the computer.
For programs you no longer want to start, clear the check box. Click "Apply. Reboot the computer to finalize changes to startup items. A popup window will ask if you want to reboot the computer.
Click "Restart" to reboot the computer and save the changes.
