Any computer geeks out there in PB land?

[blhowes]

I've got a question for any computer geeks, or computer geeks in training, out there.

I'm using Windows XP, and every time the computer boots up, MS Money and several other programs start automatically. What do I need to do to prevent them from starting?

[Edited on 7-29-2006 by blhowes]

 

[Swampguy]

Run "msconfig" go to startup and uncheck what you don't want to start up

 

[JohnV]

Originally posted by blhowes
I've got a question for any computer geeks, or computer geeks in training, out there.

I'm using Windows XP, and every time the computer boots up, MS Money and several other programs start automatically. What do I need to do to prevent them from starting?

The first answer is: Don't start up your computer. That will work.

However, that's the extent of my geekiness. I hope I've helped, Bob.



[Edited on 7-29-2006 by JohnV]

 

[polemic_turtle]

A possible solution might be opening the start menu and going to the category of "startup". If your programs which start up are in there, just delete them from that folder and they'll be gone from your startup.

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by Swampguy
Run "msconfig" go to startup and uncheck what you don't want to start up

Tim,
Thanks. That did the trick.

Wow! Are ALL those programs launched whenever I boot the computer?

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by JohnV
The first answer is: Don't start up your computer. That will work.

Now I feel kinda silly. Why didn't I think of that!

Originally posted by JohnV
However, that's the extent of my geekiness. I hope I've helped, Bob.

You've helped more (or less) than you'll ever know.

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by polemic_turtle
A possible solution might be opening the start menu and going to the category of "startup". If your programs which start up are in there, just delete them from that folder and they'll be gone from your startup.

Tyler,
Thanks. How DO you geeks find all these things, anyway?

 

[JohnV]

Originally posted by blhowes
How DO you geeks find all these things, anyway?

Bob:

I confess that my methodology does pose quite a problem in that area.

 

[Swampguy]

The only things you need to start up in my opinion, are your virus protection and firewall.

 

[Puritanhead]

Simple.

Bob,

Click Start
Click Program Files
Scroll through the Folders, and locate the Startup folder.
Typically, most offending start-up programs are located there.
You simply right-click the offending programs, and delete them.
Bear in mind, it is not deleting or uninstalling the program but simply removing them from start-up.

This is the first-step. Try this first, and report back and let us know if it works after a cold reboot. If there are programs still loading we can troubleshoot from there.

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by Swampguy
The only things you need to start up in my opinion, are your virus protection and firewall.

If I were so inclined, is there any way to find out what a particular program from the list does - what its function is? They're running, who knows what they're doing, and using memory.

 

[jaybird0827]

Originally posted by blhowes
... How DO you geeks find all these things, anyway?

Some of us are midrange or mainframe geeks. In my case, I got my son to teach me how to handle the PC stuff.

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by Puritanhead
Simple.

Bob,

Click Start
Click Program Files
Scroll through the Folders, and locate the Startup folder.
Typically, most offending start-up programs are located there.
You simply right-click the offending programs, and delete them.
Bear in mind, it is not deleting or uninstalling the program but simply removing them from start-up.

This is the first-step. Try this first, and report back and let us know if it works after a cold reboot. If there are programs still loading we can troubleshoot from there.

Ever striving to reach geek status, or at least honorable mention, I tried this:

I went back into msconfig and reselected MS Money. I rebooted and MS Money loaded, but it isn't listed in the Start > Programs > Startup folder.

Question for senior-level geeks (or geekesses):

Why isn't MS Money, which loaded when I started up the computer, one of the programs listed in the Startup folder?

[Edited on 7-29-2006 by blhowes]

 

[taylonr]

Not every program that runs at startup is in that folder. There are lots of services that run in the background that run at startup (like an agent to update realplayer.) These are controlled by the registry. Msconfig goes through the registry keys to determine what is actually supposed to run.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Originally posted by taylonr
Not every program that runs at startup is in that folder. There are lots of services that run in the background that run at startup (like an agent to update realplayer.) These are controlled by the registry. Msconfig goes through the registry keys to determine what is actually supposed to run.

True.

I usually will look for the process name in XP and see what is running and do a registry search for the entry. There's a registry entry for startup programs that are loaded by the registry and I prefer to remove those startup items from there in lieu of using MSCONFIG.

But then again I'm a power user.

Bob: How do I know so much geeky stuff? Years of tinkering and a ruthless obsession to make my computer work right.

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by SemperFideles
But then again I'm a power user.

Bob: How do I know so much geeky stuff? Years of tinkering and a ruthless obsession to make my computer work right.

A power user? Sounds like you're a Geek, not a geek.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Oh yeah. But I'm a Marine so it's OK.

At NPS Monterey, the Marines in the EE curriculum thought about buying pocket protectors. I looked into having custom pocket protectors that read:

"You can't spell geek without EE"

But it was too expensive.

Being a C4 expert comes in handy in my profession actually. My friend, Mark, is the G-1 (in charge of Admin) on the General Staff. I'm the G-6 (All Comm and Computer stuff).

He was remarking today how frustrating it is dealing with certain people.

I noted that everybody has an opinion on admin stuff because that's part and parcel of being a Marine. Very few, however, know anything about the details of what I do. Honestly, more than a few bosses give me free rein because they have no idea how to give direction otherwise.

But I have to keep Comm up...

And that's hard.

But when we're not in the field and the boss isn't breathing down your neck because his VTC just took a hit, it's a pretty cool gig.

 

[rmwilliamsjr]

Originally posted by taylonr
Not every program that runs at startup is in that folder. There are lots of services that run in the background that run at startup (like an agent to update realplayer.) These are controlled by the registry. Msconfig goes through the registry keys to determine what is actually supposed to run.

There is a difference between the two types of startup.
windows calls them services, unix terms them daemons/demons
they are background tasks. started and usually waiting for a signal to communicate with the user.
here is the best article and links list i could find in 10 minutes of google searching.

http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/startup.htm

the best solution?
run debian linux.

 

[blhowes]

Originally posted by SemperFideles
At NPS Monterey, the Marines in the EE curriculum thought about buying pocket protectors. I looked into having custom pocket protectors that read:

"You can't spell geek without EE"

But it was too expensive.

Originally posted by SemperFideles
Very few, however, know anything about the details of what I do. Honestly, more than a few bosses give me free rein because they have no idea how to give direction otherwise.

Alright, Lt. Col , I want you to...um...do what you do...um...to whatever you do it to...um...however you do it...AND THAT'S AN ORDER!

[Edited on 7-30-2006 by blhowes]

 

[Puritanhead]

Originally posted by taylonr
Not every program that runs at startup is in that folder. There are lots of services that run in the background that run at startup (like an agent to update realplayer.) These are controlled by the registry. Msconfig goes through the registry keys to determine what is actually supposed to run.

I knew that, but it is always that first place you should try.