University of Wisconsin Help Desk Knowledgebase


 ADVANCED

Windows - Disabling Startup Programs


This document explains how to disable startup programs in Windows 98/ME/2000/XP.

Windows 9x/2000
UNSUPPORTED
NOTE: Windows 95/98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000 are no longer supported by the Help Desk. We can only provide best effort support. If we are unable to resolve your Windows 9x/2000 issue, you may be able to find help at Microsoft's Windows 95 website, Windows 98 website, Windows ME website, or their Windows 2000 website. These products are no longer actively supported by Microsoft. No further development will take place on these products and security updates are no longer issued. It is highly recommended that you upgrade to Windows XP or Windows Vista.

To disable program in the Windows (95/98/ME/XP/Vista) Startup:

  1. Use the System Configuration Utility to safely turn off programs that start-up through the Windows Registry. Access this utility by going to the Start -> Run

    Display of the Run window when starting MSconfig

  2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
  3. Under the Startup tab there is a list of all the programs that start in the Windows Registry. By unchecking many of the programs you can speed up the launch time of Windows.
  4. It is recommended that you keep the lines that say ScanRegistry and SystemTray.

    Display of the System Configuration Utility window

  5. If you are unsure about what other start-up programs you can disable, consult the DoIT Help Desk (264-4357).

To disable program in the Window's (2000) Startup:

  1. Select Start->Run.
  2. Type in MMC and press Enter.

    Launching MMC from Run window

  3. Click on Console.

    Selecting Console button from MMC window

  4. Click on Add/Remove Snap-in...

    Click on Add / Remove Snap-in from drop down menu

  5. Click on Add.

    Click on the Add button

  6. Scroll down to Group Policy snap-in and highlight it.

    Highlighting the Group Policy snap-in

  7. Click on Add.
  8. Click on Finish.

    Click on the Finish button

  9. Click on Close and then OK.

    Click on the Close button

    Click on the OK button

  10. Click on the plus (+) in front of Local Computer Policy.
  11. Click on the plus (+) in front of Computer Configuration.
  12. Click on the plus (+) in front of Administrative Templates.
  13. Click once to highlight System.
  14. In the right pane, double-click Run these programs at user logon.

    Selecting and launching Run these program at user logon

  15. Select Enable.
  16. Click on Show.

    Logon properties window

  17. Click once on one of the programs listed, if any, to highlight it.
  18. Click Remove to delete it from the list.

    Display of any startup programs, if any

  19. Click OK to exit.
  20. You can click Cancel to exit the rest.
  21. When asked to Save the console settings..., click No.



Keywords: Windows Disabling startup programs ME 2000 98 xp disable up win9x2kdisclaimerDoc ID: 1688
Owner: Brian H.Group: Help Desk
Created: 2002-08-21Updated: 2009-06-15

Did this document help you to answer your question?