Most Windows users follow the same routine every day—they push the power button on their computer and head off to make a cup of coffee. If that’s as long as it takes to boot up your system and all of your programs, then something’s not right.
Some of the programs you install assume that you’re using them on a daily basis and as a result, they automatically load every time you start Windows. In 9 out of 10 cases, these programs never ask if you would like to run them all of the time. Finding the switch to turn this so-called “startup program” off is hard and often forces the user to dig deep into submenus of the particular program.
Over the course of a typical computer’s lifespan, an average of 25 to 35 programs automatically starts after you log on to the system. Some of these are actually pretty important and should never be disabled, for example, an antivirus scanner or a third-party firewall. Others, like Windows Live Messenger or Skype, are pretty convenient. However, most of the time you don’t need half of these programs popping up and causing your computer to take forever to start. Here are two tools to deal with slow boot-up performance, one for the absolute Windows guru who wants to know and modify every nuance of the boot process. The other is for professionals and beginners alike, it tells you everything you need to know about startup programs and lets you disable unwanted programs.
Day 3: As users install their usual set of programs, more and more useless applications find their way into the notification area. Keep in mind: Not all of the startup programs are visible here; some of them are hidden. Imagine how this situation looks after a year of installing and using programs
What causes boot delays?
Some of the programs you install assume that you’re using them on a daily basis and as a result, they automatically load every time you start Windows. In 9 out of 10 cases, these programs never ask if you would like to run them all of the time. Finding the switch to turn this so-called “startup program” off is hard and often forces the user to dig deep into submenus of the particular program.
Over the course of a typical computer’s lifespan, an average of 25 to 35 programs automatically starts after you log on to the system. Some of these are actually pretty important and should never be disabled, for example, an antivirus scanner or a third-party firewall. Others, like Windows Live Messenger or Skype, are pretty convenient. However, most of the time you don’t need half of these programs popping up and causing your computer to take forever to start. Here are two tools to deal with slow boot-up performance, one for the absolute Windows guru who wants to know and modify every nuance of the boot process. The other is for professionals and beginners alike, it tells you everything you need to know about startup programs and lets you disable unwanted programs.
Day 1: Windows has just been installed, and less
than a handful of programs are running automatically
Day 3: As users install their usual set of programs, more and more useless applications find their way into the notification area. Keep in mind: Not all of the startup programs are visible here; some of them are hidden. Imagine how this situation looks after a year of installing and using programs
