I looking to be able to have programs that are minimized on my task bar, not automatically open when I start up my computer.

They are wasting memory and they are not in use. I have to manually close each one.

Thank you.

Start > Run > msconfig > Startup > uncheck the ones you wish not to load during startup. This will take effect after the next reboot.

Click on Start => Run type regedit and when reg editor open press F3 and check the "Match whole string only"

and type " run " in search bar and press Enter.

It will find and show your startup programs. Now delete the startup programs carefully.

Get "Startup Control Panel" by Mike Lin.

Its free, tiny and its just a standalone exe...

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

go to regedit remove unwanted entries from : :

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

and

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

go to regedit remove unwanted entries from : :

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

and

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

That's the 2 most common ones, but there's also 2 startup folders/directories which are used quite a bit (by apps like MS Office, Extensis apps like Suitcase, and countless others).

But that's not where it ends. Startup Control panel has tabs for each common location, but even that is missing a couple (should be sufficient to eliminate most though). As for msconfig, I think I would rather rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon than to be forced to use it (just my 2 cents). Regedit works, if you know where to look (the common ones are easy to remember, but it takes a while to "navigate" to them all manually, and it can be hard remembering the more obscure places)

My recommendation would be Autoruns (by MS, used to be from SysInternals). It has *everything*. Everything you'd find in the registry (and startup folders) all in one spot. There might be some other 3rd party utils (JV16 perhaps?), but I know this one is good, and the price is definitely right.

@Crahak,

While I know 3rd party alternatives such as AutoRuns are much more advanced then msconfig, it is sufficient for general users. Especially when they simply need to clean out everything that's loading up. But yes, AutoRuns is awesome. Check out this screenshot.

If you want's to use third party software then use these sofwares like (Winxp manager, Registry Macqunic, Tweak XP etc...)