How to Change Startup Programs in

Windows 7

Adding or Removing Files from the Startup Folder

Changing Existing Startup Items via
MSConfig
Using Other Methods to Change Startup Items
Using Programs and Databases to Identify
Startup Items
Edited by Steven, Louisa, Teresa, Maluniu and 4 others

Startup programs are saved in a special folder on the hard drive, and run automatically when
Windows boots up. In Windows 7, startup program settings are similar to those of previous
versions of Windows. Heres how to add or disable startup programs.

Method 1 of 4: Adding or Removing Files from the Startup Folder

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Open the Startup folder in Windows start menu. Click the Windows "Start"
button and select "All Programs." Scroll down the list to find the startup folder.
Right-click the "Startup" folder in the menu and select "Open All Users" to open
the folder for all users on the computer.
Choose "Explore" to open the folder for the currently logged-in user only.

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Create a shortcut to the program or file you want to run at startup. Right-click
on the file or programs icon, and select create shortcut.
The shortcut will be created in the same folder as the original program.
Startup items can be either programs or other files. For example, you can set a
word processing document to open upon startup.

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Drag, or cut and paste the shortcut icon into the Startup Folder. The program
will now open the next time you start the computer.[1]
To cut and paste: Right-click on the shortcut item in the original folder and
select cut from the menu. Then, in the Startup folder, right click on any white
space in the window and select paste.
Or, highlight the shortcut icon and hold down ctrl+x. Then, with the startup
folder active, press ctrl+v.

Method 2 of 4: Changing Existing Startup Items via MSConfig

Click the Windows "Start" button and type "msconfig" in the search text
box.Click on MSConfig in the search results.This opens the System Configuration

console.

Click the "Startup" tab. This gives you a view of the programs installed as
startup options on your computer.
Note that not all startup items will be shown.

You are not given the option to add startup items to the list inside MSconfig.
To add items not on the MSconfig list, use the Startup Folder method.

Check boxes of the applications you want to start when you boot the

Click "Apply." This will change the changes you made to startup items.

computer. For programs you no longer want to start, clear the check box.

Reboot the computer to finalize changes to startup items. A popup window

will ask if you want to reboot the computer. Click "Restart" to reboot the computer

and save the changes.

If you do not restart your computer, your startup programs will revert to their
original settings.
When you have deselected an item in MSConfig, you will be starting
inSelective startup mode. This can be viewed under the general tab in
MSconfig.
If you subsequently decide to choose Normal Startup", all disabled items will
be re-enabled.[2]

Method 3 of 4: Using Other Methods to Change Startup Items

Change the settings of the program itself to manage its startup options.This
differs from program to program, and requires you to search for the startup setting

by looking through menus such as options, preferences, settings, or tools, system

tray icons, and so forth.
To find out how to change a particular programs startup settings, look at the
programs help offerings, or do an internet search.
For example, Skype, an internet telephony/chat program, can be disabled via
Tools Options General Settings deselect "Start Skype when I start
Windows".
As another example, Dropbox, a file sharing and storage program, can be
disabled by right-clicking the system tray icon (the icon in the windows toolbar
near the clock), clicking the gear-shaped icon, then selecting Preferences

Use your computers registry to delete startup items. Startup items can be
deleted manually though your computers regedit program.
See an overview of this process here.
Editing your computers registry should only be done as a last resort and only if
you know exactly what you are doing.[3]

Method 4 of 4: Using Programs and Databases to Identify Startup

Items

Avoid deleting files and programs indiscriminately. Deleting startup programs

without knowing what they are can lead to certain applications not functioning

properly.
Before making changes that you are unsure of, use System Restore to create a
restore point that you can revert to if something goes wrong.[4]
Many startup items have names that are somewhat descriptive, but others are
obscure abbreviations, and have functions that are difficult to identify.

Use an online list of programs and processes, or an internet search to

identify what each thing does.
This may require some time, as it requires you to search for each file or process
individually.
Some helpful lists include:[5]
Process Library: winner of PCMAGs Top 100 Classic Websites,
195k+ entries.
Pacmans Portal: an online startup program database containing more
than 35K entries

Use a program to automatically clean up startup items. There are many free,
popular programs that can cleanup startup items for you, including items in the

system registry.
These programs often contain databases that are updated to include frequently
occurring unnecessary items, as well as other tools to improve your computers
performance.[6][7]
As always, do ample research to find reputable programs to avoid damaging
your computer.

Some popular programs include:

ccleaner
Virtuoza In Control
Should I remove it?

Video

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References
1. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html
2. http://www.howtogeek.com/74523/
3. http://oreilly.com/lpt/a/6695

4. http://oreilly.com/lpt/a/6695
5. http://oreilly.com/lpt/a/6695
6. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2046634/learn-which-startup-programs-are-safe-toremove.html
7. http://www.howtogeek.com/74523/