Windows Start Up

Remember how fast Windows used to start up when you first got your PC? Now that you’ve customized your computer with all of your favorite programs and settings, it takes quite a long time to start up, doesn’t it? If you’re wondering why and want to increase Windows start up speeds, keep reading.

Many applications come with numerous installation options pre-configured. This makes installing the program easy, you simply click “OK” when asked and the installer does the rest. The problem with always accepting the default settings is that many programs think very highly of themselves and believe you’ll want to run them at all times. When installing, they’ll often add themselves to the Windows Start Up Items folder. This means that each time you boot up your PC, the program will automatically load.

While it may be convenient to have your checkbook load each time Windows starts up, having every single program installed on your PC loading each time can become a real drain on both your start up time as well as your system resources such as memory.

Each program that loads takes up memory. If you have too many open programs competing for limited resources, you’ll find yourself faced with numerous computer errors. Taking back control over your Windows start up procedure is essential to the health of your PC.

First, determine which programs are critical for automatic startup. Contenders include security software such as anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. If you use your PC for business, you may want your Point of Sale software to launch automatically or Microsoft Word if you are a writer. Keep in mind that your computer will have processes and programs it will launch at start up too such as certain utilities related to hardware installed on your PC. You’ll want to be careful when removing certain programs.

To remove items from your Windows start up process, you’ll use a utility called MSCONFIG. In Windows XO, go to Start and choose the Run button. Type in: msconfig.exe and click enter. In Windows Vista, simply type: msconfig into the search bar found in the Start button area and click the msconfig link that shows up under Programs.

Click the Startup tab.

Here you’ll see a list of all processes and programs that load up when Windows starts up. Use the check boxes to enable or disable programs from the list. For example, if Microsoft Excel is loading each time and you want to disable it, simply remove the check mark in the box and it will no longer load at start up. You can still launch Excel from the desktop icon or Start menu as normal.

Again, be careful not to disable critical programs like anti-virus protection. Use the internet to research mysterious entries.

Another concern with Windows start up involves unwanted programs such as spyware and adware. These programs sneak into your computer and often load with Windows. Not only are they mischievous programs, they also bog your computer’s resources down and slow the entire system. Your Windows start up routine will take a long time and your overall performance will suffer.