Most users of Windows-systems have heard about the concept of startup programs, which is also called startup. Read about what it is, what actions can be performed with this section, and how to optimize it to speed up the start of the system. Consider a few basic options that can be applied depending on the situation.
What is autostart of programs in Windows, and what is it for?
First, let's figure out what autoload applications are. Apparently, many, already proceeding from the name of the term itself, have guessed that we are talking about the fact that some software components are activated along with it at the time the system starts, unloading their libraries and other executable components into RAM.
Immediately after installation, for example, Windows 7, programs are autostarted only for the built-in components and services of the operating system itself, since in a “clean” OS there is a minimal set of applications, and only those that are, so to speak, “wired” into it. As work progresses, the user begins to install his own programs, often ignoring messages that some software product will load when Windows starts. Because of this, the startup list can increase enormously, because of which the system performance decreases (starting applications, as mentioned above, working in the background, begin to load RAM and the processor). Thus, in all cases, the increase in Windows performance primarily comes down to disabling unnecessary components and removing them from the auto start section.
What components can start with the operating system?
But do not flatter yourself, because this is not only about custom applications that he installed on his own. The system itself has a huge number of services that are not available in the startup section, but start with the system in the same background, not visible to the user. The simplest example is the print service. But why is the user in active form if he does not have a printer, and its use is not expected at all? This is where the questions begin.
How to disable autorun programs in Windows 7 and below using regular means?
But let's see how to get rid of everything that can load the system. Usually, a special configurator is used as the main tool in systems of versions seven and below, in which there is an autoload tab (autostart of programs is disabled there, but you won’t be able to add an application for quick start here).
To access the settings, use the Run menu (Win + R), in which the msconfig command is entered with a further transition to the specified tab.
This section simply unchecks all unnecessary processes with saving changes. When saving, the system issues an immediate reboot offer, which you must agree with, since this is a prerequisite for the established options to take effect.
Please note that of all the components that can be disabled, it is better not to touch the ctfmon service. She is responsible for displaying the language icon and the language bar in the system tray.
Startup Section in Windows 10
Autostart of programs in Windows 10 is no longer in the configurator, but in the "Task Manager". Even if you use the above command, when you try to access the startup section, it will still redirect to the appropriate dispatcher.
Therefore, it is better to call it right away (for example, by writing the taskmgr command in the Run console). You can remove unnecessary components through disabling with a special button in the lower right.
System components
As already mentioned, autostart of programs applies not only to user applications and some system services, but equally applies to Windows components.
Do not believe? Go through the standard “Control Panel” to the programs and components section and go to the system components. See how many active services are listed. Why do you need a Hyper-V module if you are not using virtual machines? Why keep the Internet Explorer browser service active if you have a different browser installed? Why use the same print service if there is no printer? So that!
To increase system performance, you must disable the autorun programs and services from this list. However, you need to do this wisely, otherwise disconnect an important component, and then the system will stop working.
How to add a program to startup
Now let's see how to add an application to the auto start section, if necessary for some reason. It is impossible to perform such actions in the startup section of the configurator, but there is a way out.
First, through RMB on the executable file of the selected program, send a shortcut to the "Desktop" or immediately create it there, indicating the full path to the file in the properties. After that, you just need to place it in the Startup folder. In order not to search for it in the Explorer for a long time, call the Run menu and enter the shell: startup command.
After that, you will see a directory with shortcuts to applications that start with the system. Insert the shortcut of your program into this directory and reboot the system.
Registry Actions
More experienced users can control the autorun of programs through the system registry, which can be accessed through the Run console by entering the regedit command.
Here, in the HKLM and HKCU branches, through the SOFTWARE section, you need to find the Run and RunOnce directories. The first stores the keys of applications that are constantly starting with the system, and the second contains programs that run once. To disable them, the keys are simply deleted, and to add string parameters are created, for which the full paths to the executable files of the necessary applications are specified as values.
Using optimizers
It is much simpler to perform all the above actions using special optimizer utilities (for example, Advanced SystemCare, CCleaner, etc.). In them, startup management is more flexible. In addition, they allow you to disable not only applications or system components, but also add-ons for web browsers, unnecessary panels and extensions, which looks very practical.