With previous Windows Operating
systems, we used to enable/disable startup programs
using the System Configuration, which we used to access
by hitting the Windows Key + R buttons together, and
then using RUN, type msconfig and
hit OK, under the Startup Tab we used to
uncheck unwanted programs.
However, with Windows 8, this is
changed, if you followed the same previous steps, you
will notice that using msconfig, there is no programs
listed under the Startup Tab. It clearly tells us to
configure Startup programs using Task Manager.
To Disable/Enable Startup Items
follow the below steps :
-
You can access Startup
using different methods, I will be showing three
methods :
-
Hit the CTRL +
ALT + DEL keys
together
and then click on Task Manager then
click on Startup Tab
-
Using the Start
Screen, type Task manager and then click
on it
-
Right click the
Taskbar and click
Task
Manager
-
The new Task Manger opens. Click the Startup tab
to see the items set to run when you boot your
system. The new Task Manager includes a lot more
details than the previous one did. It tells you if a
program is enabled or disabled during startup, and
its startup impact. The impact of a program ranges
from High, Minimum, Low, and None.
Task Manager in Windows 8 makes it easier to
identify a program by displaying its icon. Another
helpful feature is the ability to open the program
in its location on your system, look up its
properties, or search for it online.
-
Right click on any program to Disable.
-
The program will still appear on the list, but
the Status will change to Disabled.
If you decided to enable it again, then open
then at anytime, you can right click on the program
you disabled and select Enable to
have it run during start up
Open Startup Folder
Beside the Startup items which run
with the computer boot up, its a good practice to check
the Startup Folder, which is specific to each user.
In previous versions of Windows, you
could easily add them to the Startup folder in the
Start menu which is no longer visible.
To open the Startup folder in
Windows 8, follow the below steps :
- Open Run and type
inside it : shell:startup
- The Startup Folder
will open, Add to it any application you
want to run once you are logged into
your profile. If you do not want the
items located inside this folder to run
on the next logon, then simply delete
its shortcut.
In the above command, we have accessed
the startup folder for a the currently
logged in user which is Tarek Majdalani,
if you want to access the Startup Folder
for ALL Users, then run the
command : shell:Common Startup
Summary
Using Startup to enable and disable
programs that run once the computer is booted is a good
practice to remove unwanted programs which can affect
computer performance . Startup programs/files can be
specific for each user as well, and this can be checked
by accessing the Startup Folder.
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