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This Startup Manager Also Alerts You To New Startup Entries
When you install a new program, Windows often asks whether you want it to run automatically, each time Windows starts up. Over time, the list of programs which run at startup can get quite large, and potentially cause problems. Therefore it's a good idea to review the list of startup programs occasionally, and delete entries which are no longer needed.
But that's not the end of the story. Some programs add themselves to your startup list without your knowledge. In many cases it makes perfect sense that the programs run all the time, such as the auto-update feature of your antivirus software. But other companies like to stick things into your startup list too. If you use Google Chrome, for example, or Adobe Reader, or Java, they all install programs that run at startup.
If you want control over your startup programs, Startup Guard is a handy, free tool. You can get it from http://privacyroot.com/software/STGU-download.php. It runs on Windows XP and above, and it's only a 1.5 MB download.
In addition to allowing you to browse and disable startup items, it can also provide a real-time watch on your system, automatically alerting you if any program adds itself to your startup list.
If there's a hot find that you want to tell me about, please see http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/submit-product-review.htm.
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Comments
Have used Mike Linn's tiny program very successfully on Vista. It is a quick tiny download that I have used to clean up about 30 computers for friends.
Here is another great startup control program - StartEd Lite by Outer Technologies.
I works very well. This is the one that I use on my own laptop.
The link is http://startedlite.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=product&id=9
Mike Lin's Startup Monitor and Startup Control Panel work fine for me ... Small CPU burden, small file size and totally reliable ... bullet proof with no issues.
http://mlin.net/
Mike Lin's Startup Monitor has not been updated for four years and was only tested up to and including XP. Although it may still "work" on Vista and 7, users of these operating systems may prefer to use a program which is still being supported and has been designed to work with them.
The StartUp Guide is not a real freeware. It starts begging money shortly after installation.
Most freeware offer "upgrades" using one method or another. Some like Avira display a nag screen, some make this request via ads within the GUI like PC Tools firewall, others send emails after registration, and so on. If this bothers you, don't use it.
This sounded like a neat program to have. When I got to this Startup Guard site, Emsisoft Anti-Malware indicated a potential suspicious host identified as TeoSoft. I did a search on TeoSoft. Is this site related in any way to Adware TeoSoft? If it is, then EMSIsoft indicates a computer will have a whole gaggle of problems - see http://emsisoft.de/en/malware/Adware.Win32.TeoSoft-remove.aspx
The program is clean.
http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=026a339697800c3f776b7...
Thanks
How is Startup Guard performance compared to WinPatrol free? Which is better?
It's not really a question of "best" as everyone's needs vary enormously. If for instance you already have a competent HIPS as either a standalone program or as part of your firewall setup then you likely won't need either.
Just by comparison though WinPatrol is a more comprehensive solution in that it also monitors browser helper objects (BHO's), cookies, the HOSTS file and file associations amongst others.
It's best really to consider the features of both and then decide which package best suits your own needs, if at all.
http://privacyroot.com/software/STGU-info.php
http://www.winpatrol.com/features.html
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