How Do I Stop Software From Starting Up When I Switch PC On?

[Paula De Niro]

Hi,

I now have nine bits of software that have an icon to the left of my clock display on the bottom right. (Is that the sytem tray? I'm not sure)

Anyway - my friends have made me download Windows Messenger, and it's driving me mad! It takes over FIVE MINUTES from switching my PC on, to me being able to do anything!

I'd love to know how to stop it (and other software) from starting automatically.

Thanks in advance

[tomtomg59]

Go TO ADMINISTRATIVE, SERVICES, AND HIGHLIGHTED MESSENGER SERVICE AND STOP IT. You can restart it later if you change your mind.
Or you can go to www.grc.com and look up Kill the Messenger!

[Paul Komski]

Yes that is the system tray.

There are third party apps that can modify your startup list as can entering msconfig in the run box and changing the startup groups.

HijackThis can also be a useful adjunct in deciding what to prevent from running.

Most apps have a configuration option to prevent/allow the software to run at startup if you look for it.

Windows Messenger (and many things Microsoft) can be a real Pain. You should be able to remove it from add/remove programs (windows components). Less radical is to open it and change the option to run at start up.

Messenger service is something different but is another possible bother by producing unwanted pop-ups.

[Sylvander]

Install and use Startup Control Panel (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml).
To stop something running at startup you just untick its box.
You can use it to delete the settings from the registry using this, or just leave them disabled.
They can be re-enabled easily at any time by re-ticking their box.

Here's some of mine...

[Sylvander]

Almost forgot to mention...

Once into Windows with everything running just right [I decided to use Process Explorer to close down the IE Google toolbar process tree], use "Hibernate" rather than "Shut Down" [if you don't need to use a password protection at Windows load].

Windows "Resume" is much quicker than "Start", and you get back to EXACTLY the software environment you had before the hibernation [there's no need for the startup list to be processed]. :)

[Paula De Niro]

Thanks guys,

Tom,

"Go TO ADMINISTRATIVE, SERVICES, AND HIGHLIGHTED MESSENGER SERVICE AND STOP IT." - within what? I tried the Messenger software, the harddrive, and browser - couldn't find anything like this - sorry.

Thanks for the 'Shoot The Messenger' link. I didn't realise it was such a big problem for others too.

But are you saying that I should not have the software at all?


And Paul,

I did the msconfig thing and unticked the MSN Messenger (Windows Messenger was there) I think it worked, but I got a box come up this morning, saying I’d done something wrong!

(graphic) – the box said:

“You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.
The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts.
Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally and undo the changes you made using the System Configuration Utility.
(tickbox) Don’t show this message or launch the SCU when Windows starts”

Sylvander – thanks for the demo image, but that doesn’t look like msconfig box / startup – how did you get that?

(I also wanted to show you the error box instead of typing the whole thing out, and looked at your ‘How to display an image thread’, but I can only see an ‘Insert Image’ icon for a url, not a ‘Attach an Image’ icon from my harddrive)

Thanks

Paula

[LordEric02]

(graphic) – the box said:

“You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts.
The System Configuration Utility is currently in Diagnostic or Selective Startup mode, causing this message to be displayed and the utility to run every time Windows starts.
Choose the Normal Startup mode on the General tab to start Windows normally and undo the changes you made using the System Configuration Utility.
(tickbox) Don’t show this message or launch the SCU when Windows starts”



When that window appears, just select the checkbox and the settings you changed in msconfig will stay the same every time you restart.

[Sylvander]

"that doesn’t look like msconfig box / startup – how did you get that?"
That's an image of part of my PC's screen [actually part of the "Startup Control Panel" window], captured using the [FREE] Gadwin PrintScreen 3.5 (http://www.gadwin.com/) program.
To capture the image...
I ran the "Gadwin PrintScreen" program...
Hit the "Print Screen" key on my keyboard [which key to use can be configured in the prog]...
Used my mouse to position a rectangle where I wanted to capture a section of screen...
Hit the "Enter" key.

I must make sure that the resulting ".jpg" file is no greater than 19.5 kB [the type of file used and where it's saved can be configured].
To do that the screen area selected must not be too big.
Then I just upload the file using the "Manage Attachments" button when making my reply here.

This shot uses 18.8 kB!

[Whyzman]

Usually, Selective Startup is used for troubleshooting purposes. You can use this to alter the startup groupings when attempting to isolate a "problem child."

The dialogue window you are referring to is a reminder that you've been 'messin and might want to return things to the way they were. Or, that you've been 'messin and have decided to keep some items from the startup group 'cause there were some issues... At the prompt you can then elect to save the current settings...and not be reminded that you've done so.

By the way, what operating system are you running?

[Sylvander]

Here's the "Startup Control Panel" icon in the "Control Panel".
You just click that icon to run the "Startup" program as shown above.

This shot is only 9.2 kB.

[Paula De Niro]

Thanks for your help guys!

I think I'd already done it ok - i was just worried by the box, but as LordEric02 pointed out, it was just to confirm i wanted to make the change. Cool.

My system is XP btw.

And Sylvana, I don't have Startup in my Control Panel, but i DO have 'Administrative Tools', which Tom must have been on about! sorry - a bit slow there!

And thanks for the image info - I'd already made the screen cap into a jpeg, but I can't put it on this forum, unless it's a url. Where's the 'Attach an Image' (from harddrive) icon when posting?

Thanks

[Paul Komski]

Where's the 'Attach an Image' (from harddrive) icon when posting?
Use Go Advanced interface and scroll down to the manage attachments button.

[Sylvander]

"I don't have Startup in my Control Panel"
To get it you need to install "Gadwin PrintScreen 3.5"; then the "Startup" icon appears in your Control Panel.

Here's what the "Manage Attachments" button looks like.

[Laguna]

Just something I wanted to say from reading this topic,
I'm sure many of you here know I don't exactly love Micro$oft...but people here have been very harsh towards messenger.

Legit MSN/Windows Live messenger doesn't give you pop ups.
It has a small button advertisement in it's main window when opened fully.
There are no advertisements in your conversations.

And you can stop it from starting on start up from within the program like some of you said.By simply un-clicking start with windows.And I know people with quite old machines that have messenger start on start up and it doesn't cause a slow down of any sort for them.

Are you sure you didn't/don't have a lot of other programs starting on start up?
It seems to becoming in a lot of programs nature to slip themselves into the start up list when they are first installed.Messenger isn't alone on that.
I am not debating the fact to the extent of saying anyone is wrong here.

It just seems you are bashing this program in a slightly un-fair manner.
Don't get me wrong I dislike a lot of the "work" Micro$oft throws at us.
But two programs by them I will defend are Windows Media Player and MSN/Windows Live Messenger.

I find it very handy for keeping in touch with over 50 of my friends from around the world that I wouldn't get to speak to half as much otherwise.
IM programs have nearly made e-mailing a thing of the past for a lot of people.And MSN/Windows Live Messenger certainly isn't the worst of them.

Yahoo messenger adds about 5 new lines in a HJT log and tries to bundle in other yahoo products with the messenger.I may have rambled on a little bit here but I just felt this is one program that in my view doesn't deserve too much verbal bashing

[Paul Komski]

Laguna - I haven't seen any MS-bashing in this thread and you are right that MSN/Windows Messenger are liked and used by many for IM and related purposes. The pop-ups come from the Messenger Service in WinXP, which is unrelated to Windows Messenger.

The poster simply requested a desire to prevent it on his system. One of the most annoying things about the MS IM utilities is that so many different things trip them into action. So, apart from running as start-up by default, simply using OE or going to the hotmail site will usually start up these apps.

MS and Yahoo are not the only IM programs. AOL and Google have their own ways of organising chat and Skype is more and more widely used and is IMHO a more mannerly beast.

[mjc]

Don't forget apps like Gaim and Trillian that handle multiple IM protocols...

[jlreich]

I use Gaim exclusively. Who needs all the others...

[Laguna]

I wasn't saying there was any Micro$oft bashing going on here, hell if there was I would gladly jump in :)

I was just saying, yeah the poster wanted to remove the program from start up but then people were adding their own little kicks against the program which I kind of felt was un-called for.

But seriously, I am not trying to create conflict here and I really hope this stays as a discussion, not an argument.

And on the note of going to the hotmail site and the application starting, I haven't once experienced this.

And I am aware there are many other IM applications out there.
I had rambled enough in my last post so I was willing to shut up at that point :D

I have tried using google talk and I thought it was just woeful in comparison to MSN/Windows Live Messenger.I have heard of Trillian and I was planning on checking it out at some point.

And WLM is after expanding to being able to talk to Yahoo contacts aswell as hotmail ones.So it's a step in the right direction I guess.

[Paula De Niro]

thanks for your comments.

I also downloaded the Startup Control Panel - thanks Sylv.

I'll test the image on the 'test' board!

(it didn't work here)

Paula

[Paula De Niro]

It worked for a while but since I unticked the box, it appears to have installed itself within Start-up again.

I've tried manually deleting Messenger from Program Files, but it's only listed once there, but twice in Start-Up.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

NOTE: when I click OK on the box below, one of the two messenger files are then ticked again, and I'm back to square 1! How do I rename either of them?

[tomtomg59]

How to rename it. I believe (its been so long)you can go to start, programs, scroll to "windows messenger" right click and in drop down menu click on Rename!
This is my favorite method for fooling Windows XP into not being able to launch Messenger. The default location for Windows Messenger is C:\Program Files\Messenger. When XP wants to fire up Messenger it will try and access the files at the default location. To prevent Messenger from loading, just rename the Messenger folder to something new; MessengerDisabled has worked for me. If you want to use Messenger at some point down the road, simply rename the folder to Messenger and you're back in business.

[Sylvander]

"since I unticked the box, it appears to have installed itself within Start-up again"
Strange, mine is unticked [see image below] so as to not run at startup, and causing no problems.
Right-click one of the two listings and choose "Delete". That will send the duplicate listing to the "Deleted" window. You can permanently delete it from there if you wish.
It may be that some program is running to check on the "HKCU\...\Run" settings to make sure this is included and replacing the setting when you untick it.

[Sylvander]

This image is inside regedit at the key...
"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "

Notice that the only data setting remaining [the TCLOCKEX.EXE setting] is the only one ticked in the "HKCU\...\Run" windows in the Startup Control Panel.

Ah, sorry, you'll need to take my word for that because I didn't capture it in the image.

[Sylvander]

Here it is in Startup Control Panel...