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Introduction
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Startup Managers (sometimes called “Setup” or “Configuration” tools) allow you to control, configure and review the programs and services that start with Windows. It is possible to do this within Windows (msconfig, registry, policies, etc.), but these programs are easier to use and provide extra information and facilities. Vista offers excellent startup management from the "Manage Startup Programs" applet in the control panel. There are a lot of options (paid and free) but we prefer the free stuff. Here are the best options, properly analyzed. |
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Autoruns displays logon entries, Explorer add-ons, Internet Explorer add-ons including Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), Appinit DLLs, image hijacks, boot execute images, Winlogon notification DLLs, Windows Services, and Winsock Layered Service Providers. Switch tabs to view items in different categories. Autorun's "Hide Signed Microsoft Entries" option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system. That's pretty handy for chasing down obsolete entries and possible malware infection. Autoruns is a great free product and should be in every techie's toolkit. |
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Nir Sofer's StartupRun lists all startup programs in a single list, rather than in tabs according to location. It also has a lot more information on each program and extensive editing facilities, so it's probably not for beginners. It also finds some items which some of the the others miss. Starter has a very clear interface and includes a process viewer and System Services manager. It can be run directly from the executable without installation, which makes it a handy item to have on your toolkit CD or flash drive. NOTE: Starter has become so popular that the author's website has exceeded its download limit, so use the alternative download link for product information or to download. Candidate products yet to be reviewed: |
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Related Products and Links
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2.8 
Unrestricted Freeware 
Windows 95 to XP
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Editor
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This software category is maintained by volunteer editor housecorrupt |
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startup manager, startup control, startup delay, free startup program, freeware |
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WhatinStartup from Nirsoft is good one too.
Anupam
Argente Startup Manager 2.0.2.3.You can:Add new start program,delete entry,update list,backup,configure.
Nirsoft Startup run is the best because it is lightweight, & shows not only startup but BHO items as well.
It loads fast & allows you to disable or delete startup items & BHO items.
BHO can be as dangerous as viruses, so this is something not many startup tools handle.
It is also portable!
First, I found the article very useful, including the min-debates. I even ended up agreeing with one party more than the others, so that's good. It definitely helped me with my choice, which BTW is to go with Mike Lin's program. For me it's less about what one "can" do, than how long it takes to do an extremely infrequent activity.
winpatrol for the every day and autoruns for tricky situations and the <3 just keeps flowing.
I'm looking for a startup manager for my laptop which is user configurable. When the computer is connected to the LAN and internet, I of course want my virus/spyware monitor start up as well as access to the network printer etc. But when I'm on the road and just want the bare essentials loaded, I would like to make that one button selection. So ideally, when I start my machine, a popup would appear asking to select "Full Configuration Load" or "User Defined Load." Do any of these startup managers offer this functionality?
Start-up Managers are really unnecessary because The "System Configuration utility", which is integrated into the OS, does the same thing. These third party programs might look nicer and offer some other useless features, but why bother. Why would I want to install something that I already have?
- Reason 1 - MS doesn't allow the option to remove BHO startup items, only regular startup items. Nir sofer Startup Run DOES. BHO are dangerous at times, & can be crafted into malicious malware capable of doing as much damage as other types of malware
- Reason 2 - MS is popular. Malware has at times, disabled the ability to use many of MS features, sometimes even leaving it unable to bring up windows explorer! How can you run MS Config if you cannot even bring up Explorer? You can have a shortcut to it on your flash drive, but that may not work on different versions of windows where it is stored in different locations leaving you with a "dead" link! You can copy it to your flash drive, but again, it does not support removal of BHO items, & may be included in some malware block lists!
- Reason 3 - MS is slow! If someone has hundreds of startup items, it can take ages to untick them 1 by 1, especially on malware ridden systems! Nir Sofer Startup Run can allow you to highlight multiple items to delete or disable!
Dave
I think you didnt read what the writer of this article, wrote in the beginning. Here it is again : "It is possible to do this within Windows, but these programs are easier to use and provide extra information and facilities."
Does that explain?
What isnt useful to you, dosent mean that thing is not useful for others.
Anupam Shriwatri, India
No, I know how to read very well, but thanks for your concern--unfortunatly, you missed my whole point.
My point is that, "it is just as easy, and much more efficient, to use the OS integrated program". If you take a few seconds to understand how to use it then you will end up with the same results. If this is the case why would you want to duplicate a program already on your computer? Would you install two writing or graphics programs that do the same thing? Would you install the same game twice? If your are trying to streamline you computer by removing unnecessary programs then you should start with the program that is responsible for this job. If you just like using other programs then that's fine too, but it contradicts the notion of making your computer more efficient.
If you take the use of small programs which make the job easier for you, then it increases your efficiency. OS integrated programs are not always quick and easy to use, thats why such programs are made. They offer help to the users who are not much conversed with the OS integrated tools, or find it difficult to use. Some find more features in these programs.
At the end of the day, with so many choices available today, its an individual choice what program he wishes to use for a task. So, if one program works for you, some other user may prefer some other program.
MS Paint is there on windows, still, some people might use Photoshop, or Gimp. Why? Because they find them more easy, with more features, and better ways to do their work. Same with the startup managers.
If you are able to work with the OS integrated tools then its good. People may like other things better.
Anupam Shriwatri, India
sorry I don't agree,
Having a bunch of small programs that duplicate tools already on my system do not make the job easier, nor do they increase efficiency. They just provide an faster, sometimes more destructive, way to rearrange settings . Understanding how to use your OS streamlines work and efficiency. As far as any "startup manager" is concerned, there is no big learning curve. Ninety percent of the time either you want things to run or you don't.
I never questioned anyone's choice to use a 3rd party program, I simply question its usefulness when it is redundant.
Also, you don't help your argument much by comparing Ms Paint to Photoshop or Gimp. Ms Paint was never intended to be a full photo-editing or illistration program. It's not even in the same league, and its usefulness is very limited. It is more of a toy/game for children rather than a serious program.
I think you're both slightly missing the point. As far as I know, there are no inbuilt Windows tools that expose all possible locations for startup progs, msconfig certainly doesn't. But Autoruns does. It's not just a matter of convenience, it's about comprehensiveness and avoiding the dangers of hand-editing the registry which becomes increasingly problematic with each new version of WIndows.
But of course I could be completely wrong.
6@7
Join in, you make several good points,
And it is a valid concern to want to avoid handling the registry if you don't know what to do. However, the System Configuration Utility does handle all running & stopped "start-up progams" as well as all "running services", "win.ini" and even access to associated tools. After that there is not much more you'd usually want to manage when you boot into the GUI. This of course, is all under one utility (Msconfig),& you shouldn't have to even touch the registry. Using Msconfig is no big deal either--it's there to be used.
One reason why these built-in tools become more problematic with every new OS version is that we never learn how to use them when we duplicate them with other software.
There is an interesting forum post on problems using msconfig regularly:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=149804
It could cause programs to uninstall incorrectly and it could lock in malware. It claims that the msconfig was designed as a temporary debugging or troubleshooting tool, and so this malware removal forum requires it to be set at normal for users to get a response.
This is PR publicity for Hyjackthis. They would obviously prefer that you use their own start-up tools--that's no surprise. It talks about malware threat, but that's what Hyjackthis handles best. It also talks about how you can cause big problems if you do stupid things in MsConfig, like stopping the processes of a program & then deleting it. well, ya!..that's kind of a stupid thing to do, but it doesn't make MsConfig dangerous.
It also has a nice quote at the bottom, "[Msconfig]...It does not manage the programs that run when Windows starts." But it doesn't provide any source for the quote.
They actually suggest many products, such as those in this article. The source is linked right above the quote in case you didn't notice it.
Thank you for your kind invitation, but I think I'll leave it there.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
explains the superiority of Autoruns and details some of the deficiencies of msconfig. Akthough it was originally developed by Sys Internals, it's now an official MS product.
Our, by which I mean this site, TSA's only conern is that it might be a bit techinical for some users.
I checked out Autoruns and I would be lying if I said that this program is any less intimidating for the general user than anything the OS provides.
I've tried a few of the progs mentioned here, but they would have been older versions. I've been using 'Startup Delayer' for a couple of years now as it's easy to use and I can control when things startup. If there is anything to control when services startup I would like to know about it. I used to have lots of useless services running but now I only have a few, plus some unknowns and some necessary services.
I would like to set the priority of the programs as well.
r2 Studios' Startup Delayer is awesome... speeds up boot time dramatically by letting you postpone and space out startup programs you don't need loaded immediately on startup. Nice interface too.
i just use msconfig in the command prompt
Interesting, how does it do? I read an article that suggested it would increase the chance for failed uninstalls and could lock malware into the registry.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=149804
They also suggest not using Clceaner's startup manager, and instead using something like Startup CPL or HijackThis or Autoruns to manage the startup.
What about "Startup inspector for Windows"?. It has the ability to consult online what is each startup item and gives you advice about its convenience or not.
Launchy!
MZ Vista Force has a few components one being MZ StartUp Manager - try it. It's the only one that has been performing its duties infallably on my notebook.
what would you use for the beginner
Scotty(WinPatrol)I find very easy to use,with it's ability to delay programs to speed up load times,and it speedly warns you of any new auto start programs.All in all a fine program I have been using for years with no problems.
For a beginner i'd recommend: System Explorer
Site: http://systemexplorer.mistergroup.org
the good thing about this is that there is a search feature where you can search google or processlibrary.com to find out what it is. prevents ticking off something that the your system needs.
theres also a portable version.
Also check out lifehacker.com for a complete guide to Speeding Up Your PC's Startup (beginner friendly)
http://lifehacker.com/5087101/the-complete-guide-to-speeding-up-your-pcs...
-Snake
Hmmm - ZoneAlarm's "Spy Site Blocking" utility denied access to www.nirsoft.net/utils.
This is the ONLY site that it has blocked since installation of ZoneAlarm Security Suite nearly 10 months ago, so am inclined to think it is not a matter of simply being over-zealous...
Any one else run into a similar Warning?
In my opinion the best program is RunAlyzer: http://spybot.info/en/runalyzer/index.html
+1 for autoruns
The one I use is "Argente Startup Manager- It works fine, and no spyware so far- (i think)
http://www.freewarefiles.com/Argente---StartUp-Manager_program_40615.htm...
Another product that is worth a mention is STM: Startup Manager.
Website: http://startupmanager.org/
This software is free and pretty much easy to use. As the name suggestion, it does help you manage your startup.
Gizmo, request that you evaluate this software.
Hi Guys, Different Topic:
Do any of these programs offer management of the order of startup items ? I really want my security starting first, All of which i discovered on TechSupportAlert.
THANKS
Reynaldo.
Try WinPatrol.
Thanks, but not exactly what I'm looking for, I'd prefer to simply set the order rather than delay some. I'll delay them for now and keep looking.
Reynaldo
If you google "control order of startup items"some possibilities are suggested.
If you find one that works for you, please report back. You might also think of writing a review. Although we're obviously focussed on freeware, we're also interested in commercial software if we can't find a free equivalent.
I've been using a program called StartRight for quite some time now, as it easily lets me manage all of my startup items in the exact order (asynchronously) that I choose or in the way that I want them to startup, along with adding custom delays for each program individually, and waiting for Windows related services/tasks/programs, and the CPU, to finish starting up/loading before full execution at login/bootup time (e.g. adding a delay before the full execution of all startup items in the registry and/or in the startmenu's startup folder). The rest can pretty much be handled manually through msconfig, regedit, or services.msc via with the Run box, though I highly doubt you'll have to touch them - however, sometimes programs only like to be run by Windows, but its all very easily managable in the end with all the methods that you have to choose from. Take a look though, it might be what you're looking for. Its been great for me thus far, and I've seen much faster bootup times than what I used to have. Not to mention the fact that now I can actually see (and watch) all of those system tray icons load at the bottom right corner of my taskbar, instead of having everything somewhat frozen or not appearing for 5mins+ at startup. =P
.;.
Cheers C|_|
Website:
http://www.joejoesoft.com/vcms/113
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