Start Up Programs

[Winston]

My computer is taking ages to start up and I have been told that I probably have too many programs running when it starts up. Does anyone know how I can rectify this? :confused:

[aussieolie2]

Hello Winston! :)
If you are running Windows 98 go to start>run> and type msconfig, then click create backup, then go to the startup tab and choose the programs that you dont want loaded when Windoze starts, also you can remove lines out of your autoexec.bat which will increase time (see the autoexec.bat) - usually not much is on that tab these days with new technology, but do not touch the win.ini or config.sys tabs (this will upset your PC :( )
Also even something that is even more simple, remove programs from your startup folder (under the start menu - available on all Windows systems (except before win95)
On Win95, under start > run and type sysedit (make sure you know what you are removing and create a backup) as you can stop windows from booting.
On windows 200 & XP its a little different (and harder).
So let me know if this helps,

Olie

[mjc]

Yes, those are the tried and true methods, but with so many foistware/spyware/malware apps that do not show up in the TaskList I like going at it another way......

StartUp List (http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html) , list everything, including things that hide from other methods. Then the list here (http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm) is a very good source of determining whether or not a listed item is needed.

Post the log from StartUp List if you encounter anything that is too puzzling....



aussieolie2, win 3.1 has a startup folder............

[aussieolie2]

MJC I know what you mean under the Program Manager, but i meant it doesnt have a start menu containing a startup folder. ;)
That program and site look good, I also use Windows Washer (it gets rid of any crap thats not necceessarrrrrryyyy in Windoze.

Olie

[Ray Stainer]

MJC,
sorry to sidestep, but since I was interested in this topic I happened also to notice from your link that Me defrag utility is no longer available (or perhaps I read it wrongly). I use Me defrag on my early computers as well. Is this not permissible.

Ray Stainer

[Winston]

Hello everyone :)

I keep trying to download that startup list program from that site but as soon as I do Adobe Acrobat Reader starts up and says that the file cannot be read. :confused:

Someone told me that I don't actually need anything to start up with my computer except the system tray and scan register but I'm a bit dubious. Can I damage my computer if I untick the wrong boxes?

[Budfred]

If you unselect items in MSCONFIG and boot with Selective Startup, you can go back into msconfig and select them again if you are missing something you want. I have cleaned out most of my startup files in WinME and my system works better for it. I leave a few things other than Task Manager and Systray. I also have Norton AV, ZoneAlarm, my DSL service, and a couple other things I don't remember right now. If you find out you need something, it is not deleted, it is only unselected and you can select it again.

As for that file that gets a response from Adobe, I don't believe Acrobat should be involved with that at all, but it would be if you have somehow associated that file type with Acrobat.

Budfred

[Winston]

I think I probably have somehow mistakenly associated that file type with Acrobat Reader in the past. If I delete Acrobat Reader, will that put things back to normal?

[mjc]

Ray, if you have a licensed copy of WinMe then, without wading too deeply into the technicalities of MS licensing....probably ok, but MS deifinitely doesn't want any of its executables available for download anywhere but their sites......(some of the heavey weights in the computer magezine world have recommended it so if MS is going to go after someone it will be them first, but then MS will really be cutting their own throat...like one author of one article said, it really should have been offered as an update to 98, at least...)

Winston, if you are having problems downloading it try right clicking and select "Save As"...then make sure the extension is correct, .zip.

aussieolie2, right no Start Menu in 3.1.....at least in standard config, but it does have the Startup folder....I guess I have been running my install of 3.1 with Calmira (http://www.calmira.org/) for too long.......;)

[Budfred]

Check here before deleting Acrobat. You can simply change your file associations rather than taking more drastic measure. The only thing normally associated with Acrobat is PDF files, so any other association with it can probably be safely deleted.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306493

Budfred

[Winston]

I've stopped Acrobat opening that file but now my computer is asking me what it should open the file with. I don't think I have anything that can open zipped files. Is there anything I can download to do that?

[mjc]

For an archive management program......try Ultimate Zip (http://www.ultimatezip.com/)

[Winston]

I've downloaded that program but when I try to open the file with it I am told that a DLL file is missing :confused:

[Paul Komski]

Winston Could you tell us which OS you are using.

If by any chance its WinME then there is a zip utility included with the OS. Your would just R-Click on the zip file and chose Extract All.. and follow any prompts. To Zip-up files you would select the file(s) R-Click and choose Send To Compressed Folder. I think XP has a similar utility.

[Winston]

I'm using Windows 98.

[mjc]

What dll is missing?

I would hazard a guess that it is a vb runtime that is missing, you can get them from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];vbruntime& (going to have to copy and paste the url...it won't show up correctly)

[Winston]

It is MSVBVM60.DLL

I couldn't see it on that page you linked me to :(

[mjc]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q290887

[Winston]

Thank you very much, I have sorted out my start up problems now :D