Remove Items from Windows XP Startup
Having too many programs run at startup can slow down the time it takes to log on or restart your computer. It also can be a pain to have 30 different icons in your task bar. This tutorial will show you how to remove the items from Windows XP startup.
Disclaimer: Always try to disable the startup or task bar icons from the menu options on the programs first. After that remove the program from the startup folder on the Start Menu If that doesn’t work, then you can try to remove them using msconfig.
Click on the Start Menu and Select the Run option.
In Run box type msconfig and press enter.
The Windows XP System Configuration Utility windows will open.
Click on the Startup tab to display the programs that run at startup.
Now all you have to do is uncheck the box next to the program name. If the box is clear, the program will no run at startup. Make sure you know what the program does before you disable it.
When you are finished just hit the Apply button and then OK. The next time you restart your computer the programs will not run.
on May 3rd, 2007 at 9:19 pm
great tutorial, will this speed up windows?
on May 6th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Good article! And useful. But for me the problem is often knowing which program you need to keep running on startup and which are superfluous. Perhaps this isn’t for novices?
Thanks,
Chad
on May 6th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
If you need to know what processes you can stop simply Google it. If you search for something.exe you can usually get a good explanation of what the program does in the first few results of a search engine. Then it is up to you to decide if you want to let it run or not. Hope that helps.
on August 5th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
well i do the exact steps and it works but after ir estart my comptuer something pops up it says that it cannot function and that i should put it on regular mode for startup and the msconfig pops up and every time i restart it pops up with the msconfig and i didnt uncheck internet expoler or something that might cuase it to stop working i only unchecked the game stuff and quicktime that was all and it keeps popping up can u tell me how to fix this?
on August 5th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
That is normal. Windows will display that error message anytime you make changes to MSCONFIG. Just check the box that says do not display this message again and click OK.
on June 14th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Easy enough, but then I have to use selective startup continually, or the items I disabled for startup will be right back in the starting gate.
How do I get around this?
on July 11th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I have this same problem, if you find a solution please let me know!
on July 30th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I have the same problem, Anyone find a solution??
on July 30th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
You have to check the box that says do not ask this again.
on August 28th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I think you article is inappropriately titled. What you have described is a workaround that simply stops it from loading. It does not remove it. I would like to take it out of the list completely since selective start up is supposed to be for troubleshooting and diagnostics, not a permanent solution. Any idea if their is an easy way to do this short of manually removing the entries from the registry?
on September 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 am
nice. i got exactly the thing i needed in a flash. thanks
on October 22nd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Russell has it right: This article, while helpful, is inappropriately titled. It should be entitled “Stopping applications from loading at startup”.
I came across this article in a search for exactly what Russell is looking for - a way to remove the dead entries which seem to keep accumulating over time, including multiple copies of certain entries.
Thanks for this article, but can someone point us in the direction of the answers we seek, which would be the exact information the title of this document refers to? Thanks!
Steve
on October 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Here’s the tool - I found it and I’m posting it here for anyone else who’s looking for it:
http://www.techiequest.com/windows-msconfig-cleaner-remove-windows-startup-program-entries-easily/
This application will actually REMOVE unwanted ENTRIES in msconfig/startup rather than DISABLE them, which is what this article has actually been about.
Hope this helps someone. Good luck!
Steve
on October 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I would like to know how to eliminate it from the Start-Up list too. Especially since mine is XP_Antivus 2009 !!!
Ans, is there a site to check out programs that should be checked to run ay startup or must they be done individually?
Thanks,
Jeff
on November 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Jeff, download the Symantec Removal Tool, run it twice. It will remove NAVver.9. If you have NortonAntiBot, good luck! 12 hours on-line w/Symantec… NAB is now gone, but the msconfig still shows the entry. Once that is gone from my start-up, perhaps all will be better.
Norton Anti-bot users… BEWARE! It’s got more sticky power than hot tar.
The Norton Removal Tool.exe’s proper name is 7z Setup SFX.exe
Best o’luck, mate
on November 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Thanks, i was searching for this tool, and you made it easy
on December 27th, 2008 at 1:15 am
well i do the exact steps and it works but after ir estart my comptuer something pops up it says that it cannot function and that i should put it on regular mode for startup and the msconfig pops up and every time i restart it pops up with the msconfig i dont think i unclicked anything that is important so could you please tell me what i need to do, my computer is an xp so can u tell me what things i have to have on.