Why in XP is using "Selective Start-Up" wrong?

Just wondering...Why in XP is using "Selective Start-Up" wrong? I have several items in start-up that I rarely need but still prefer to have the option of restarting at boot if necessary. If I deselect them they are not using RAM and are still available when I need them. What exactly is "improper" with using this method.
As an example: I have a scanner that I rarely use that was added to my startup menu by the install software . I have deselected it and use Selective Startup to free my limited RAM.. If I need it, I usually start it from the programs menu but I rather like having the ability to reselect it in my startup menu if necessary.

I've read, here at MG, that Selective StartUp is bad but don't really understand the downside. :confused

Thanks for any insights.

 

I don't think it's wrong, it's an easy way for users to manage startup entries they do not want loading at startup. It's also an easy way to manage unecessary services that may be slowing down your system.

The only downside of using this is when cleaning malware, reason for that is using selective startup will not show everything that is starting up and has recently started up with Windows. Using Normal Startup mode shows everything in the list of startup items and this is a help to us in the removal of malware.

 

When you start Windows with msconfig in selective mode, you have a list of programs that are allowed to start and not allowed to start with Windows.

If you then edit the RUN keys in the registry this change is not reflected in the msconfig list.

This confusion in the registry is undesirable.

Reinstallation, or restarting a badly written program, will add further copies of the same item to the msconfig list. Scanner, printer and camera programs are particular villains here.

 

Thank for the replies.

BjGarrick, I like your answer better

Studiot, I don't do much registry editing but am a little concerned, I've been using Selective startup for years to disable unneeded programs. Probably because I couldn't figure out how to remove them from the list without actually uninstalling the program. Any tips on how to remove something like Logitech Internet Keyboard (programs like ITouch which enables extra keys for quick launching email etc.) from Startup and still keep the ability to enable them if I choose? Thanks for any advice.

Oh, and I'd be very happy to figure out how to delete all HP printer items (auto update etc.) from Startup, while still keeping the basic printer functions working. Thanks again.

 

Registry editing doesnt play as big a deal as you might think. The problem is, when you disable something in msconfig, and lets say...you forget to enable it, and uninstall the application--you have left over registry entries, as they are no longer in the run key, per you disabling them.

Likewise, reinstalling an app means the run keys get put back into the registry, making duplicates in different locations, due to the prior disabling of a startup item.

Of course, this just mirrors what Studiot said.

 

Firstly whenever you install a new product choose custom install not typical.

Then you can have some chance of only installing the program or driver you actuually need without all the bundled s__tware.

Secondly any well written (!?!) program will have options or preferences to deselect run when windows starts. All to often they are set to run by default.
using these will keep the registry and msconfig straight.

Third Any program that is installed should appear in the 'all programs' list and provide a way of starting it from there. That is (part of) what installing means. You should always be able to run it from here. Or you can also provide you own desktop shortcut if you like.

If you delete the program from the run keys in the registry this does not uninstall or delete from the all programs list or anywhere else. It merely deletes the instructions to windows to run the program at startup. The main keys are

HKCU/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/run

HKLM/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/run

You can safely delete, updaters (except antivrus), programs that check for connected cameras etc etc from here. They will then disappear from msconfig.

Msconfig provides sort of filter and is meant to be used to find out what is causing a problem by temporarily restraining it.

Once you have done that you are meant to reset/delete the underlying reference and go back to normal mode.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I'm going to have to digest some of these tips and play around with the options when I get a chance. I've copied this page for reference. I appreciate each of your detailed answers.

 

Not a problem!:major