best way to turn-off programs that start-up

I've been using the MSCONFIG route to turn off applications that start-up,but read somewhere it's not the ideal place, then i read, it's perfectly fine.
I have to help my friends boss turn off Lotus and what not in his laptop that really suck the RAM dry initially and figured MSCONFIG.
Thought I'd ask you guys first, before doing anything...afterall it is her boss lol thanks...----

 

You can try this freeware program Startup Inspector Ive never tried this personaly, but have seen people recommend this to others

controlmind

 

Try Starter from http://files.webattack.com/localdl834/Starter.zip

I have used it for a long time. It is free, but not available from MG Search link. Bazza

 

hi guys, thanks, i just dl'ed startup inspector and will check it out.
Halo, I know you can do it through CCleaner as well as Regscrub.
I just thought that doing it through CCleaner wasn't good because it was a 2nd party program and not really intended for startup editing.
Whereas run-msconfig is directly through the OS itself.
Which kinda contradicts this thread because Im asking for a program that does exactly that, edit startup applications.
I just wanted to see if there was a program that was actually, i guess, "ideal" for such a thing, other than run-msconfig

 

i tried it and took off 2 things from startup, but when i restarted my computer and looked at the startup list through run>msconfig, the boxes were still checked...any idea why?

 

No, but the 2 items you checked off did they start up?

controlmind

 

Maybe the programs that ran, have a default in their program to run at Startup. This maybe overriding everything else. Did you actually delete the items you found by using the recommended program, or did you simply uncheck them. Did you "apply", if an option, or simply exit from the program? Bazza

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really weird but it worked finally a 3rd time, after, i took them off, re-started, it didn't work...then i checked them back on...re-started my computer...then, took them off again...then re-started, THEN it worked and in run-msconfig, also gone...odd huh...

 

i unchecked them from startup inspector, then clicked apply which gave a pop-up window saying the following will be "removed" i said "yes".
i dunno, but it worked the 3rd time around...odd

 

Well thats good it finally worked

controlmind

 

thanks
appreciatd the help guys

 

I have been benchmarking msconfig times for various startups and found that if msconfig>general is not set to normal startup that consumes upto 40 seconds extra at bootup.So it is better to use another app to disable the item or the administrative tools from control panel for services.

 

so leave the startup as "normal" in the general tab?
you lost me.

 

Use startup inspecor or whatever but not msconfig(leave it normal),you can even use regseeker and delete the reg values for startup,get it?

About my benchmark:with normal the boot time was 50 secs and with selective it went up to 2 mins,the lag happened when xp showed windows is starting up which was just 1 second went up to 40 secs.

 

My favorite program is WinPatrol link

 

I agree that WinPatrol is an outstanding way to control startup items plus many other aspects of running programs, services, tasks, etc.

A forum hosted by the program author is here.

 

I think winpatrol will do that also it will no let any program install itself in your startup or your services without your permission.Link I think it is such a great program that it is one of the few that I paid to up grade too,but the free one is excellent also.