Determine what startup programs are worth keeping around

Have you noticed your computer slowing down over time?

Startup Programs Galore

It seems every new device or program you install on the computer these days has the need to be on your startup list. The net effect is that your computer is taking longer to boot, or your CPU works harder to keep up with you.

There are TWO places to look for startup programs

The first place you should look is in the startup group on the Start menu. Look at the programs located in this folder and determine if you really need your system to run them every time. (Note: Removing them from the startup folder will not uninstall them. If you no longer want the program on your computer, go to control panel and click on the add/remove programs icon.) To remove a program from the startup folder, click on the Start menu and then click on All Programs. Click on the startup folder to see a list of startup programs. Right click on the shortcut you wish to remove and choose Delete. This will remove the icon, but not the program, from the startup folder. If you prefer to save the icon, in case you might want to add it back at a later time; click and drag the icon to the desktop. The next time you need it, just drag it back to the startup folder.

Did you know that computer registry harbors hidden startup programs?

Another place on your computer where startup programs may lurk is in your computer's registry, but looking around and making changes to your registry is not advised unless your a computer Pro. Luckily, Microsoft has already provided a tool in Windows to do this for you. It's called the "System Configuration Utility". You can access it by clicking on the Start menu, next click on Run and type MSCONFIG in the dialog box. Click on "Selective Startup" and then click on the Startup tab at the top of the program. Uncheck those program you recognize and no longer need. You may not recognize all of the programs on the list since some of them may have obscure names. If you come across a program that is not familiar, first find out if it is necessary and then unchecked the program on the list.

How to tell if a program is not needed?

There are many websites devoted to helping users with this predicament. Use one of these sites to help determine what a program does and if it's really needed:

File Research Center - Best of all the sites reviewed. Offers little more then a sentence to describe what a program does.

SysInfo.org - Second best in our review, but could use a much better interface. Hard to search.

Greatis Application Database - Nice search interface, but had trouble finding many common programs.

If you don't find the program using one website, try the others on the list. Cleaning up your startup programs will go a long way in keeping your computer running at its' peak performance!