Start Up programs

[Christine]

My computer is low on resources and looking into the Systime Config utility , there are 38 programs listed on start up. 34 of them are listed under Registry and 3 are listed under start up group. There is a tab offered, cleanup. Is it safe to click on that tab and what does it do? Under the Start up group, it is listed, America online 8.0. Then Kodak software updater and Kodak EasyShare software. From the Kodak software I have downloaded a picture as my wall paper and I would like to keep it, yet on every boot, if I check by holding down Ctrl-Alt-Delete, I get a beep and the first program listed is the Kodak Easy Share. I think it may be eating up my resources. Is there a way that I can keep the program and yet disable it on start up so I can access it when I would like to? Also if I do that will the wallpaper stop? Thank you

[agentLX]

Maybe u can paste the programs here so that we can select what to disable.

but anyway, disabling the programs at MSCONFIG will not....
1. uninstall the programs, meaning of course you can keep them
2. the same with the wallpaper, just do not delete the file that contains your wallpaper

What are star-up progs?
They are programs that will automatically start when windows log-on starts also. Those programs are loaded up in the memory so that they will be readily executable even without the user manually executing them but of course they use up resources.

[Sylvander]

Startup = www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
...is a great little program for controlling which Startup programs to leave ticked [they run at startup] or to untick [they don't].
It's better than msconfig for that job.

[Christine]

Startup = www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
...is a great little program for controlling which Startup programs to leave ticked [they run at startup] or to untick [they don't].
It's better than msconfig for that job.
;) Wow thanks! I went there and it said to run it from a zip file. How do I do that? Does a box come up and ask me? Also how do I log my programs running here to ask which ones I should disable? I tried to copy them so I could paste them but it would not let me. I have so many running!! :confused: Thank you!

[Sylvander]

"it said to run it from a zip file. How do I do that?"
The installation program can be got by downloading either the zip archive or the exe file "Self Extracting Archive".
You either unzip the zip file or run the executable.
You then have the installation executable file and run that to install the program.

"how do I log my programs running here to ask which ones I should disable?"
I think you'll need to note them down and type them by hand.

[Christine]

"it said to run it from a zip file. How do I do that?"
The installation program can be got by downloading either the zip archive or the exe file "Self Extracting Archive".
You either unzip the zip file or run the executable.
You then have the installation executable file and run that to install the program.

"how do I log my programs running here to ask which ones I should disable?"
I think you'll need to note them down and type them by hand.
Thank you Sylvander, I did write them down and I will post them in the morning as it is getting late here. The first part of your statement is over my head, smile. Are you saying that when I begin the download it will ask me if I want to do a zip or an exe? Please start with me as soon as I click download, what to expect and what to do. If you can tell me as a lay person in terms I can understand..... :) Baby talk! Thank you

[trapper]

Christine:
You could go to the following site for detailed info on what is or isn't needed in startup:
www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

[Budfred]

The safest alternative might be to post a HijackThis log which lists all startups and we can tell you which ones can be safely fixed... This disables them from running at startup, but you can still start them manually....

To run HJT, extract it to a permanent folder such as one
you create like C:\HJT. Close all open windows and
browsers and make sure that all programs are enabled if
you use msconfig. Run it and Scan, then Save the log.
When the log window appears, Right click to Copy it, open
your browser and come here to Paste the entire log. Do
not make any changes until it is checked since most items
are either benign or essential to the computer.

http://www.downloads.subratam.org/hijackthis.zip

To open a zipped file, you need a program that works with zip files... If you are running WinXP, I believe that may be built into Windows Explorer now... If not, there are a number of programs we can refer you to that will do it...

If it is in Windows Explorer, after you download the file to a folder, open Windows Explorer and find that file... Right click on it and a menu will open, select Open With and the option for opening Compressed files...

[Sylvander]

"Are you saying that when I begin the download it will ask me if I want to do a zip or an exe?"
Each of the links shown in the image below leads to the download of an archive file. The upper one leads to the download of a zip file that holds a compressed copy of the installation file that installs the program.

1. Click on the upper link of the two = "Download Startup Control Panel 2.8" [although it doesn't say so]that leads to the download of the zip file StartupCPL.zip.
2. Specify [the folder] where the file is to be saved on your PC.
3. Unzip the resulting saved zip file = StartupCPL.zip.
4. Use [if you have it installed], your zip archiving program [like Winzip] to unzip the file to a folder location of your choice [the same folder as in 2 above would be good]. The unzipped file is named StartupCPL.exe.
5. Right-click StartupCPL.exe and click Open to run this executable file, which installs the program.
6. The program will now install on your PC.

I normally install all my programs by doing the following:
a. Go to "Start->Run->type msconfig in the "Run" box->click "OK->click "Diagnostic Startup"->click ok->ok the restart [remove the power cable from my cable modem]-> select "Normal Startup" at restart.
b. Once restarted into "Diagnostic Startup" [with no firewall running and no modem connection], I go to the installation file and run it.
c. Once installed I again run msconfig, but this time choose "Normal Startup", restart and reconnect the cable modem power.

The above is ok provided the installation program doesn't insist on going out onto the web to contact base.
You may adopt something similar to the above method or your own favourite method for installing.

[Sylvander]

Below is an image of the dialog box that comes up when I click on the upper link.

[Sylvander]

Here's a screenshot of "UltimatZip" being given the job of extracting the contents of the downloaded zip file.
I do this by right-clicking on the file and clicking "Extract to here...".

[Sylvander]

Here's the result.
The zip file and the extracted executable file are both in the c:\00tmp folder I made and use for such purposes as this.

[Sylvander]

Here's the "Run" dialog with msconfig typed into the "Open" box.

[Sylvander]

Selecting "Diagnostic Startup".

[Christine]

"how do I log my programs running here to ask which ones I should disable?"
I think you'll need to note them down and type them by hand.
Thank you Sylvander, here is what I found, Under loaded from registry: MoneyStartup, taskbar display controls, AOLCC, Scan Registry, Task Monitor, PC Health, System Tray, Load power profile, MM tray, hpsys drv, Movie Monitor, Works Fud, Microsoft works portfolio, Micro Works update detection, HPDJ taskbar utility, Adaptec Direct CD, TK Bell exe., Symantec Core LC, CCAPP, Symantec Net driver monitor, Quick time task, Z Browser launcher, Kodac CCS,Load power profile, Scheduling Agent, SSDPSRV, State Mgr, Key Board manager, KB891711, AOL CC (listed twice) CCEvt Mgr, CCSetmgr, NPF monitor, Script Blocking. Then it says under Start up Group, America Online 8.0 tray icon, Kodak Software updater, Kodak Easy Share. At the site where these are listed there is a clean up Tab. What does that do if I click on it? Thank you, all of you are so patient.

[Sylvander]

This is not something I know a lot about, but:

1. Programs that should be left running:
System Tray [runs the System Tray down at bottom right of your screen]
Load power profile [2 of these] [Not sure what it does, but it's necessary]
Adaptec Direct CD [needed if you want to burn CD's like floppies]

Seems to me you'd be better following Budfred's instructions [he knows more].
You can do that and still use "Startup Control Panel" afterward on any that are not malicious, but you decide to have them not run automatically.

[Sylvander]

http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/index.php might be useful.

[Christine]

Startup = www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
...is a great little program for controlling which Startup programs to leave ticked [they run at startup] or to untick [they don't].
It's better than msconfig for that job.
Sylvander, what a great program, thank you so much :D Now I have a question as I unchecked the Kodak Easy Share as I know it was eating up resources. It took forever to boot up and it seemed that Norton was striving with it. Any way when I rebooted Easy Share was gone but Kodak remained. I opened HKLM/Run and now I need to ask is it okay to uncheck traces of it there? Thank you

[Sylvander]

"when I rebooted Easy Share was gone but Kodak remained...is it okay to uncheck traces of it there?"
Difficult to know exactly what is going on at this distance.
What "Startup Control Panel" does is to safely edit the registry data in certain keys [you can go into regedit and look at the settings and watch them alter if you like].
I have keys at:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\RunOnce
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\RunServices

When settings are disabled they are moved to keys named "Run-" or "RunServicesEx".

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\RunOnce

When you untick them in "msconfig" [not sure what "Startup Control Panel" does] the settings are safely moved to these disabling keys [or from the "C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp" folder to a disabling folder (named StartupEx I think)]. When you delete them [from inside or outside regedit] the settings are deleted from the registry [or deleted from the Startup folder].

You could go look at the Kodak "Data" in the key to see if that helps make sense of this and let you know what to do with it. See which program it points to.

e.g. My "Zone Labs Client" data is "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe", which is ok. I want that to run at startup.

I used www.windowsstartup.com/wso/index.php To search for and study the following from my startup list:
stimon.exe | InstantAccess.exe | RegisterDropHandler.exe | tcaudiag.exe | avgcc.exe | avgamsvr.exe | taskmon.exe | tppaldr.exe | realsched.exe | zlclient.exe | KB891711.exe | vsmon.exe | Adobe Gamma Loader.exe | versato.exe | mulmouse.exe | Findfast.exe | sgmain.exe | hpfsched |

I removed those in red from startup.

[Christine]

used www.windowsstartup.com/wso/index.php To search for and study the following from my startup list:
stimon.exe | InstantAccess.exe | RegisterDropHandler.exe | tcaudiag.exe | avgcc.exe | avgamsvr.exe | taskmon.exe | tppaldr.exe | realsched.exe | zlclient.exe | KB891711.exe | vsmon.exe | Adobe Gamma Loader.exe | versato.exe | mulmouse.exe | Findfast.exe | sgmain.exe | hpfsched |

I removed those in red from startup.
Are you suggesting that I use the trial version? If I use that are you saying the ones that I can disable will appear in red? :confused: Your other info was a little over my head. :rolleyes:

[Sylvander]

"Are you suggesting that I use the trial version?"
Eh, what trial version?
No, I was just explaining how I dealt with MY startup programs.

"If I use that are you saying the ones that I can disable will appear in red?"
No, I coloured them red to let you see which ones I decided to remove from the startup list.
I used the site to find info on all the ".exe" files listed in startup so as to decide which of them were non-essential or downright troublesome.
Here is http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php is where I typed in the ".exe" filenames to find info about them.

"Your other info was a little over my head"
Ah, sorry about that.
I can only suggest that you run "regedit" [do you know how to do that?], and navigate to those registry keys.
Take a look around in the registry [look but don't touch] and get to know the "lie of the land". At first you may be terrified, but familiary will breed [not contempt, but] a lack of fear, perhaps confidence, and an inclination to try this or that.
The registry is SO important. For example, those settings are what are read [by the Windows shell?] to load all those programs at startup. And that's only a minute speck of what the registry does.

[Christine]

can only suggest that you run "regedit" [do you know how to do that?], and navigate to those registry keys No I don't know how to do that. It might not be a bad idea to at least take a look at it. What do I do?

[Sylvander]

"What do I do?"
1. Go to "Start->Run->type regedit->click OK".
"Registry Editor" will run.
2. Click on the + symbol to expand the folder [key] adjacent to it.
Work your way down the folder system expanding in the following order:
a. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
b. Software
c.Microsoft
d. Windows
e. Current Version
f. Run [click on this to open it]

Below is an image of my unexpanded set of keys/folders.

[Sylvander]

The set of keys you're looking for.

[Sylvander]

The names of the programs in the "Run" key.

[Sylvander]

Top half of the data settings that go with the names above.
[Had to upload to here them in two parts because the site only accepts a maximum file size of 20 kB.]

[Sylvander]

The remaining bottom half.

[Budfred]

I strongly suggest that you do not mess with the Registry unless you are sure you know what you are doing and then back it up first... If you make a mistake, your computer can become unbootable....

Again, the simplest option is probably to use HJT...

[Sylvander]

Quite so.
I did say to look but not touch, and Windows normally automatically makes backups [which version are you running?].

In Win98 a backup [of the configuration files] is automatically made at the 1st successful boot of each new day [after midnight I assume].
WinXP make "Restore Points".

Everyone has to [aught to] begin somewhere in learning about the registry.
This is a good opportunity to usefully take a look.

But only do what you feel confident about and comfortable with. :)

[Christine]

Quite so.
I did say to look but not touch, and Windows normally automatically makes backups [which version are you running?].

In Win98 a backup [of the configuration files] is automatically made at the 1st successful boot of each new day [after midnight I assume].
WinXP make "Restore Points".

Everyone has to [aught to] begin somewhere in learning about the registry.
This is a good opportunity to usefully take a look.

But only do what you feel confident about and comfortable with.
_______________________________Yes I did understand that you said not to touch anything, and I would not because I don't know enough about it. I printed out your steps and will take a look. I have posted my HJT file before somewhere on this link. Didn't it show all the contents? Thank you

[Sylvander]

By the way,
if you want to color your text in a thread here just type the following:

(color=blue)type or copy & paste your text here(/color)

Except the ( ) should be [ ].
I had to change the brackets or they would have colored the text and become undisplayed themselves.
Instead of color=blue you can use color=red or whatever you like.

[Budfred]

_______________________________Yes I did understand that you said not to touch anything, and I would not because I don't know enough about it. I printed out your steps and will take a look. I have posted my HJT file before somewhere on this link. Didn't it show all the contents? Thank you
I strongly disagree with Sylvander about even looking at the Registry when it is clear that you are a novice in doing things with your computer... It is very dangerous and could lead to a crash course on recovering your system, if you can even figure out how to get back online and get help with that...

I am not sure what you mean about posting an HJT file "somewhere on this link", but there is no sign of an HJT log that I can see in this thread... To post it, you would copy/paste the entire log from Notepad into a Reply here... If it is too big, you would break it into 2 or more replies...

Also, if you are quoting a previous comment that someone made, use the "Quote" button instead of the Post Reply button and it will look the way that this post looks at the top... It is much easier to sort out what you are saying and what the other person is saying that way... Of course, it is not necessary to quote if you are responding to the immediately preceding comment...