Startup in Vista: Can't delete or disable items

I've got a new computer running Windows Vista & I'm trying to delete or at least disable unneeded startup items. But whether I use Windows Defender, a registry cleaner (like RegCleaner) or any other tool (like CCleaner), I can't delete/disable any of them. In Defender the "Disable" button is grayed out. When I use other registry tools I get an error message saying "unable to write backup" for deleted items & they're not removed. I have administrator privileges because I'm the first & only user on this computer. But the startup items seem to be protected even from the administrator. What do I need to do to be able to delete or disable these unneeded startup items?

 

Have you tried typing in 'msconfig' without the quotes in the search box? Then just navigate to the startup tab and untick what you don't want. If you've already done that then I'm out of ideas.

 

It looks like that did it. Thanks a million!

 

Great, thanks for letting us know how it went.

 

OK, next problem... Now when I restart I get a balloon-type message saying that there are startup programs that were blocked, & when this balloon fades there remains an item in the system tray alerting me to this fact & offering several options including "show or remove blocked startup programs." Clicking on that option opens Windows Defender's "Software Explorer" tool showing the startup programs - only the active ones, not including the ones I disabled via msconfig.

Anyway, is there a way I can prevent this balloon message & system tray item from appearing when I reboot?

 

Click on the tray item and go to the item that gives you the system configuration utility, can't remember the name but it's the only one with an arrow I believe. Run it and then tick the don't show me this again box, upon next reboot it should be gone. Remember to uninstall the programs from add/remove in control panel. Sorry for the fuzzy memory.

 

Thanks. That seems to have worked too.