How To...  Stop programs from running themselves when you start Windows

There are many programs out there that think that they know better than you about when they should be running. These programs take advantage of a window feature in order to automatically start themselves up every time you start up Windows. Some of these programs you may actually want running at all times, but chances are strong that you have programs that are running without your permission that you you really don't need or perhaps even know about...

The best way to prevent a program from running itself at system startup is to review the programs options or properties and see if there is a way to turn off “run program at startup”.  The wording of the option may be different, but most reputable programs have a way to do this.  This approach will also prevent programs from trying to re-establish automatic startup in the future without your permission.

If a program does not provide such an option, you can take matters into your own hands.  There are several tools that show what automatically runs when Windows is started. These tools also allow you to make changes to that list. Select one of the following:

1. Startup.exe - Simple, but requires you to download a tool
2. msconfig - Medium difficulty, but requires no download
3. AutoRuns - Complex but very powerful. For advanced users
   
   

Disable Auto Startup items using Startup.exe

The first technique relies on a clean little program called Startup.exe written by Mike Lin. This will let you see what is configured to run automatically at system startup:

1. Download startup.exe
   (the most recent version is available from http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml)
   
   
2. Just run startup.exe
   You will see a number of tabs that show items that automatically start
   
   
   
   
3. Just work through each tab and uncheck items that you do not want to run.
   
   A word of advice, if you can tell what the item is and know you do not want it to run, it is probably safe to uncheck it. However, if you don't recognize the item, don't uncheck it. It may be something critical to your system.
   
   If you have uncheck all the stuff you know you don't want and feel that more clean-up is necessary, be sure to Google an item to learn what it is before you disable it...
   
   
4. One thing to keep in mind: This is a great technique for programs that install their automatic startup keys when they are installed.  However, there are programs that will test to see if their key is set every time the program runs and will reset it if you use this technique.  This is why it is best to disable "run at startup" in the individual program's configuration options if available.

Disable Auto Startup items using msconfig

If you don't want to download a tool, you can use one that is built into windows. This one isn't quite a pretty, but it gives the same results.

1. Go to start > Run…
   Type in msconfig then click OK
   
   
   
   
2. Click on the “Startup” tab
   
   
   
   
3. Just work through the "Startup" tab and uncheck items that you do not want to run.
   
   A word of advice, if you can tell what the item is and know you do not want it to run, it is probably safe to uncheck it. However, if you don't recognize the item, don't uncheck it. It may be something critical to your system.
   
   If you have uncheck all the stuff you know you don't want and feel that more clean-up is necessary, be sure to Google an item to learn what it is before you disable it...
   
   
4. One thing to keep in mind: This is a great technique for programs that install their automatic startup keys when they are installed.  However, there are programs that will test to see if their key is set every time the program runs and will reset it if you use this technique.  This is why it is best to disable "run at startup" in the individual program's configuration options if available.
   

Disable Auto Startup items using AutoRuns

If you are a technical person and want deeper control, you can use a free utility from Microsoft called Autoruns. This allows you to control every item that is set to start up, not only start folders and registry entries, but services and drivers as well.

Do not use this program unless you already know what most of this stuff is and are willing to research each item you don't recognize before you uncheck it. There are items here that, if unchecked, can require a reinstall to correct.

AutoRuns can be downloaded here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/AutoRuns.mspx