How to change what programs run at Start-up

How & why to change what programs run at “start-up” when you turn your computer on..Many of the programs installed on your computer, automatically “RUN” as soon as we start our computer each time and stay running the entire time our computer is on – Most run with or without our permission and can slow our computer down considerably…

We can control which programs run and which don’t when we start-up our computer and it’s easy to do this… When you want to see what is running at Start-Up, Open your Start Menu (Windows Flag Key) and you can then modify ~ add or delete ~ the programs in your Microsoft Configuration Utility…

• Open the Start Menu (either click on Start or the Windows Icon, or Tap your Windows Flag Key on the keyboard)
• At the bottom of the start menu, type "msconfig" into the search bar.
• Press "Enter" and then open the "Startup" tab of the window that appears. Programs that run at startup have checks next to their listing.
• Uncheck the boxes next to programs you don't want to run at startup.
• Check the boxes next to programs that you do want to run at startup.
• Click "Apply" and "OK."

What are Drivers?

DRIVERS ARE THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS THAT CONTROL HARDWARE DEVICES.

All devices (printer, disk drive, keyboard, mouse) must have a driver software program.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with the operating system; for other devices, you may need to “load” a new driver when you connect the device to your computer.

• In DOS systems, drivers are files with a.SYS extension
  In Windows environments, drivers often have a.DRV extension

Each device has its own set of special commands that only its driver knows. In contrast, most programs access devices by using generic commands. Almost all drivers can be “downloaded” directly from the manufacturer’s website, to ensure that you have the most current DRIVER installed on your system.

If a device isn't working correctly - such as your printer, scanner, webcam etc. - go to the manufacturer's website and "download" the driver again - it will see that you have software on your computer already for the hardware and will simply modify the instructions/software already on your computer.

Personally I do this twice a year (such as when the clocks change) to make sure my driver software is always the most up-t-date. it's quick and easy and it's free..

ELIMINATE PROGRAMS AT START UP

You can often help speed up your computer, by eliminating unnecessary programs from running when you start your windows operating system. The following steps may vary slightly depending on the OS (Operating System version - Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista or 7) that you are using on your computer

• Open Your Start Menu (from the Task Bar)
• Left Click Programs
• Left Click Accessories
• Left Click system information
• Left Click tools
• Then click system configuration
• Then click the tab “start up”
• You will now see everything that starts up with your computer with a check mark next to it. To the right of the item, it tells what program it is associated with.
• You can check and un-check any of these items and see if it makes the computer run faster or not. If it's something you want, then you just go back to the same place and check it again.
• Sometimes if a program has been reinstalled you will see the same program listed/checked twice.

Basically, the only two things that need to be running when you get your task manager (by holding down the CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together) and the Task Manager Dialog Box Appears is explorer and systray. You should find the rest of the "ghosts" listed under the start up tab in system configuration.