How to Alter Startup Programs in Windows XP

Last Updated: June 3, 2021

If you've been using Windows XP for a while, you may have noticed that your computer is taking longer to boot up. This is because programs are adding themselves to your start up, and they all have to load before you can start using the computer. Just follow the simple steps below and your computer will start a lot faster!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

MSConfig

1
Open Microsoft's System Configuration Utility (called MSConfig). Go to START -> Run, and enter msconfig. Hit enter to start the program. The following window should appear.
- Choose Selective Startup.
- If Run is not found in the Start Menu, to add the "Run command": Right click Start -> Properties -> select tab "Start Menu" -> Customize -> Customize Start Menu -> check the Run box -> Apply -> OK .
2
Click on the 'Startup' tab. Here, you will see a list of programs that is similar to the one below:

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3
Uncheck any programs that you do not want Windows to run at startup.
4
Click 'OK'. A new window will appear, asking you to restart your computer.
5
Click 'Restart.'

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Windows Defender

1
Download Windows Defender from Microsoft.
2
Click on the Start menu. Click All Programs and then select Windows Defender.
3
Choose Tools and the Software Explorer.
4
Click the names of the programs in the Name column that you want to disable. When you are finished, click Disable.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Registry Editor

1
Open the Start menu and click Run. Type regedit into the field.
2
Locate 1 of the following registry keys:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
3
Find the program that you want to remove from the startup sequence. Delete that one program from either or both of those registry keys.
- Caution: Do not delete other items in regedit that you see. Many may be unknown, peculiarly named system files. You could easily disable program associations, needed services, make the system fail or to be unstable.

Community Q&A

Question

I am trying to get the program to not only start, but for the application window to be open and ready to use. Right now it just goes to the taskbar. What do I do?

Community Answer

Create a shortcut to the app (drag with the right button, let go, and select "Shortcut"), then drop a shortcut in the startup folder under applications.
Question

I have a timing issue on a CNC control with application starting before network is ready. Any way to put in a delay before starting an application?

Arrogance

Top Answerer

Not directly, but you could put a batch (.bat) file in the Startup folder to open the program instead of a shortcut. Not all Windows XP systems have a sleep command, so a common workaround is to use ping to wait for a set amount of time. For example, you could have a .bat file that looks like: @echo off ping -n 31 127.0.0.1>nul cnc.exe

Warnings

Back up your registry before you alter it, just in case you make an error.

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Some programs are essential to system stability, such as ctfmon.exe, cmd.exe, and svchost.exe. Do not disable these processes.

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