WhatInStartup v1.33 will help you decide what you can disable and easily disable it.

I use ccleaner and/or winpatrol for that.

I suggest winpatrol there's a free version.

I agree with RC. WP is the only thing I have ever used and recommended.

Funny thing though. You have to use WP to disable WP from running at startup so it becomes on-demand. While I am at it, a reminder to only disable entries never delete them.

DA

DA, you've piqued my curiosity. To me the best feature of winpatrol is that it runs at startup and warns me if something is about to be installed in startup. That way I know what program wants to add something and I can make an informed decision about whether I think it is necessary. If you only run it on demand when do you use it?

I recently used Revo Uninstaller to uninstall Revo Uninstaller...and please don't ask. I'd rather not discuss it...but it's all fixed now.

Ohhh, a mystery

Bob,

Maybe it's an old habit from the days when resources were limited and strained to perform. I make every effort not to run anything needlessly in the background. If my system just doesn't seem to be running right or when I am doing my weekly maintenance protocol I will activate WP and let it run. At that time it will make its usual report along with any new findings.

DA

I think I recall one from years ago, where the entries in the startup tab for example would be color coded..like red, yellow and green..green being ones you could disable...yellow being disable with caution and red ones not to disable..makes the choice easier if you are not sure of what the application does..the info button does not provide that much information like if it would be safe or not to disable

I remember the days of limited resources so I see your point. I just like to prevent them from being in startup so I don't have to decide later if I need them there.

Perhaps Genes is referring to Pacs Portal from way back in the days of simpler times?

Today it lists 25674 items, nothing simple these days :~)

Thanks Owbist. I was referring to DA and should have specified that. I'm thanking back to my Commodore with the 8 bit interface and 64K memory.

There was an application with a stoplight-like presentation:

Red: Do not remove
Yellow: Use caution
Green: Safe

I don't remember the name of it. I do remember there was no backup and it was very unforgiving. After one pitfall as the result of removing a yellow I never used it again.

Pacs-Portal a long time, well respected and often referred site for the research of startup entries.

DA

Yes Bob I remember trying to get 63kb of free memory on the Commodore 64 for certain games. We had to tweak the autoexec.bat and config.sys, if I remember rightly the computer needed 3kb to run under normal circumstances.

We have come a long way since those heady days.

On a side note I read in the last few days that those old computers are steadily increasing in value. I cannot find the article now though.

Thanks for all the suggestions

HP Media Center XP SP3 Firefox default browser.

Still doing some updating and clean up and saw this.

Seems like Winpatrol is the favorite. I googled and see some are free but mention $$.

How about a link to the best FREE version?

TIA

Sue

The difference between winpatrol free and paid for (one time fee) is in the advanced info option.

I have the paid for version but originally had the free version.

I was just as happy with the free version.
(Got a deal one day)

With the more info option, it is hit or miss anyway.

If you have a process that is running and you don't know what it is .. the more info option will give you some info on that process.

The catch is .. the info is only as good as what 'others' using winpatrol has submitted to the site.

A lot of times there is no additional information on a process because no one else has submitted any or .. you're the only one with the process running in the first place.

In my opinion, winpatrol 'isn't' the best tool for running processes anyway .. Process Explorer is!

Go with the free winpatrol .. it will do what you need.

Here is a link that might be useful: WINPATROL

Unlike all the rest .. Process Explorer will show you ALL of the processes running.

It will also show what's running on all your accounts .. without actually having to log out and log in to the other account(s).

It also has a pretty decent 'search' process option.

Here is a link that might be useful: Process Explorer

I should have posted this option which is also a part of sysinternals (process explorer).

There is a whole suite of tools which you may find handy at this link.

AutoRuns is what 'I think' you are looking for!?

Here is a link that might be useful: sysinternals/autoruns

Should any one need assistance or information on winpatrol we have a special place on Landzdown dedicated to winpatrol.