When you install software on your Windows computer it is common for those programs to set themselves to automatically run when your computer starts up. Over time a collection of these programs starts to slow down your computer as more and more memory is used for each additional program loaded at boot. In a lot of cases all these extra programs are not required when you start up your computer as chances are you are not going to be using every piece of software you have ever installed every time your computer is switched on. Luckily there is an easy way to prevent some of these programs from loading up when booting your PC by using a program called msconfig.exe.
Msconfig.exe comes installed with most versions of Windows and allows you to control exactly what is run when booting your PC. To access the program click start (or the Windows button for Windows 7 users) then click run (if on XP) or if on Windows 7 type in msconfig.exe in to the search programs and files box and hit enter. Once done you will be presented with the System Configuration program shown below. Once loaded up select the Startup tab.
Here you see a list of programs currently selected to load up when booting my own PC. Out of the visible list above I personally can remove Adobe Acrobat, Adobe CS4 Service Manager and Adobe Reader and Acrobat. Having these run at boot is not essential for my PC and thus, is wasting valuable memory that could be put to better use elsewhere.
Other programs that I could potentially remove without issue is Microsoft Office 2010, Office Send-a-smile scheduler and PowerDVD RC Service.
One thing to take caution here is not to remove all programs as some of them are essential to your PC or laptop running such as Intel drivers, network card programs and audio drivers. However, if you do remove them accidentally then after a reboot is performed and something doesn’t work you can simply load up msconfig.exe and re-enable programs on the startup and check back here with TechAsis if you run in to any problems.
