There are times when it is necessary to remove some programs from startup in the Windows 7 operating system. This is done in order to significantly reduce the consumption of system resources and increase computer performance, while reducing the startup time of the operating system.
Few people know that some programs are set to start automatically after installation by default. Therefore, they need to be disabled if they are not needed. But you should do this with special attention, since autorun contains utility programs, without which the system cannot operate.
Disabling autorun via Start
Experienced users could familiarize themselves with it without outside help, but novice users need to go to the “Start” menu, then select “All Programs” and go to the “Startup” folder. All utilities that are in this section are launched when the operating system boots. To prevent this from happening, you should remove unimportant applications.
Using the MSConfig program
This application does not need to be installed, since it is already installed in the operating system, so you need to run it and use it. To do this, go to “Start”, select “Run” and enter msconfig. After this, you need to click on the shortcut to launch the program. You can also use the Win+R key combination, enter msconfig and click OK.
Then in the program you need to find the “Startup” section. To disable programs that should not start when Windows starts, you need to uncheck the corresponding boxes. It is better not to touch unknown utilities. Then you need to click OK, after which you should restart the computer.
This program is quite convenient to use, but it is not very functional, since it is not able to disable all applications from automatic launch.
Disabling autorun through the registry
The first step is to launch the registry. To do this, press Win+R and enter regedit in the window that pops up. After these steps, a window will appear with a large number of folders with unknown names. To find the folder with startup programs, you need to go to this path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
The final folder contains utilities that are loaded simultaneously with the operating system. Those applications that should not do this must be removed by right-clicking and selecting the appropriate item.
How to disable autorun using applications?
To do this, you need to use the free Autoruns utility. At the same time, the program has a large range of functions and can, in a few clicks, disable all applications that start automatically when the operating system starts.
There is an English version of the program on the developer’s official website, but it’s not that difficult to understand. You need to download the archive and unpack it. You should find the autoruns.exe file in the folder and run it. After this, the installer will ask you to confirm your license, which is what you need to do.
After installation, you need to go to the Everything tab, which contains a list of all applications that download automatically.
To disable unnecessary utilities, you need to uncheck the boxes next to them. Under each program there is a line where you can see its description and location in the system. The Logon section contains programs that were removed by other means.
When disabling any applications, you need to know their purpose so as not to cause more damage to your computer.
Today, almost any installed program adds itself to startup. That is, it starts when you turn on your computer or laptop. What's bad about it? It's simple: the more of them there are, the slower your PC or laptop will turn on. And if there is not enough RAM, it will glitch and slow down. Accordingly, in order to prevent this, and at the same time optimize the operation of your computer, you need to disable autorun of programs in Windows. Not necessarily all of them - it is enough to remove only the unnecessary ones and those that you rarely use.
- Open “Start” and select “Run”.
- In the window that appears, write msconfig and press Enter.
- In the new window, go to the “Startup” tab and uncheck unnecessary items.
This is how easy it is to remove unnecessary programs from startup. After changing the settings and clicking the “OK” button, the system will ask you to restart your PC or laptop. This is not necessary, but it is advisable.
If, after restarting your computer, you find that some software is missing, you can always open this window again and check the necessary boxes.
How to remove startup programs in Windows 7
The same method works on the “seven”. Only he is a little different.
What startup programs can be disabled? Preferably only those that you know. If the name of the program is unfamiliar to you, it is better not to touch it. Some of them are service ones and are needed for the normal operation of a computer or laptop. And if you turn them off, the consequences can be unpredictable.
To do this, go to Start - All Programs - Startup.
This is where the software that is loaded when you turn on the computer is displayed (but the list will most likely be incomplete). And to remove it from startup, just delete the unnecessary items (i.e. right-click – Delete).
Startup management in Windows 8 and 10 operating systems is carried out through the device manager
Accordingly, to disable autorun programs in Windows 10 or 8:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys.
- Click More Details.
- Go to the "Startup" tab (or "Startup" if you have the English version).
Finally, as promised, I will give universal tips on how to set up autoloading in any version of Windows. This is done using additional software.
For example, you can clean startup using CCleaner. This is an excellent software that removes various junk and optimizes the operation of your computer. So, to remove programs from auto-starting when you turn on your laptop or PC:
- Launch CCleaner.
- Go to the "Service" tab.
Here you can see the software that is loaded along with the OS. Select the desired item and click the “Turn off” button (or double-click on it).
You can also switch to other tabs - for example, Google Chrome. All plugins (extensions) enabled in your browser are displayed here and, if necessary, you can disable unnecessary ones.
You can also remove unnecessary programs from startup in Windows using the excellent Auslogics BoostSpeed utility, which is designed to optimize PC performance. To do this:
- Launch it.
- Go to the "Tools" tab.
- Select Autorun.
And then everything is simple: select the necessary items and uncheck the boxes. If necessary, you can click on the line “Show additional. elements”, after which the list of applications will increase several times. But remember, only turn off what you know.
Many of them blatantly, without the user’s permission, interfere with startup and can automatically start again when the computer is turned on, even after performing the above-described manipulations. In this case, you need to go to the software settings and uncheck the corresponding box.
To make it clearer, I’ll show you how this is done using the example of the famous Skype messenger.
Ready. Skype will no longer open when you turn on your PC, and you don’t need to go into Windows settings or use additional software to do this. In the same way, you can disable autorun of any program.
True, this procedure will be slightly different. The required point can be located anywhere and called differently, but the essence is approximately the same.
Autostart of programs is an absolutely necessary function for the normal operation of a computer. With autorun, the operating system independently launches those programs that must run continuously while the computer is running. But, some program developers abuse this function. As a result, many programs that the user does not need at all on a regular basis load automatically and create a constant load on the computer without performing any useful work. In this material you will learn how to disable autorun programs in Windows 7.
There are several ways to disable autorun programs in Windows 7. First, you can open the program's settings and disable the autorun feature. But, unfortunately, not all programs have such functions in the settings. In addition, if you want to disable autorun of several programs at once, then this method will not be very convenient and will take a lot of time. In such cases, you can use the MSCONFIG utility or special programs to disable autorun of programs.
Method No. 1. Disable autorun of the program using its settings.
Open the desired program and go to its settings. Here you need to find the AutoPlay feature and disable it. Let's demonstrate this using the example of the uTorrent program.
Launch the program and open the “Settings” menu. In this menu, select “Program Settings”.
After this, a window with program settings will open in front of you. Find the autorun feature of this program and disable it. In the case of uTorrent, this function is located on the “General” tab.
After setting up the program, close the window by clicking on the “Ok” button to save the changes. That’s it, in this simple way we disabled autostart of the uTorrent program in Windows 7.
Method No. 2. Disable autorun using the MSCONFIG utility.
Here you can see a list of programs that start automatically immediately after the Windows 7 operating system starts. To disable their autorun, just uncheck the box next to the program name and save the settings by clicking the “Apply” button.
It should be noted that some programs may not appear in the Startup tab. This happens if they are run as services. To disable autostart of such programs, go to the “Services” tab and check the box next to the “Do not display Microsoft services” option.
After this, you will see all the programs that start automatically as services on your computer. Disabling autorun of such programs is also very simple. To do this, just uncheck the box next to the service name and save the settings.
Method No. 3. Disable startup programs using special programs.
You can also use third-party programs. So one of the most advanced and convenient programs for controlling automatic launch is. After launch, this program scans the operating system and collects data about all programs that start automatically. These programs are divided into groups and displayed in separate tabs in the Autoruns program.
In order to use Autoruns, just uncheck the box next to the desired program. Most automatically downloaded programs are available to the user on the “Logon” tab. In order to disable autostart of services, you need to go to the “Services” tab.
Automatic launch of applications is a very useful feature in Windows. If you know that a utility should always work, you can add it to the list - and the system will launch it automatically at startup. However, if there are too many applications in this list, your computer may not have enough resources. In this case, it will load very slowly or even freeze at startup. This publication describes how to disable auto-start of unnecessary applications in Windows 7.
Often the autorun list includes instant messengers (Skype), torrent trackers, cloud service clients (Google Drive), anti-virus systems and modules for auto-updating some programs. Users who are interested in computer games often add clients like Steam or Battle.net here.
This service is very convenient. It allows you not to be distracted by launching many utilities when the OS starts. All you have to do is turn on your computer and you can immediately open the program you need and start working.
Often, when installing software, it independently adds itself to this list. This creates an unnecessary load on the resources of the personal computer. The system takes longer to boot because it wastes time on applications that you probably won't use at all. In this case, you can disable autostart programs.
Program settings
You can disable autorun of programs directly from the configuration menu. In every application that requires autoloading, you can find this option and turn it off. This guide looks at how to disable autorun using the popular instant messenger Skype as an example:
The next time you start the operating system, this program will no longer be enabled automatically. Most other utilities are disabled in the same way.
system configuration
You can also use an internal utility called System Configuration. With its help, users have the opportunity to centrally enable or disable automatic loading of various programs. Before you disable autorun programs in Windows 7, you must run this utility. To do this, you need to follow a few simple steps, as indicated in the instructions.
As you use the Windows system, it takes much longer to load than before. There are several reasons why the system takes longer to boot over time - Windows errors, hardware wear, low free space, and others. But the main reason is that in addition to the system, third-party programs are also loaded, which significantly load the system login. In this article we will look at autorun programs in Windows 7 and other versions, why it is needed, where to find it and how to remove autorun programs in Windows 7, 8, 10 and programs that will allow you to get more than system utilities.
Startup in Windows 7: how, where, why and why
A big problem for users is created by programs that launch with the system and they have to wait quite a long time for the system to fully load before they can start using it comfortably. A certain setting is responsible for the automatic launch of programs - autoload or autorun. Among them there can be useful, useless, and dangerous applications, so you need to know exactly what to disable and what to leave. We will teach you how to enable and disable autorun programs in Windows 7, as well as how to add the necessary programs to autorun when you turn on your computer in Windows 7.
Let's start with the basics - how to open and configure startup programs on Windows 7. There are several ways to do this, ranging from simple to slightly more complex.
Via the System Configuration window
Users are interested in disabling program autorun in Windows 7, but what is the easiest way to do it? will help you "System configuration".
Settings "System configuration" allows you to obtain a significant amount of information not only about the download (tab and General), but will allow you to understand what else is downloaded along with the system.
To open a window "System configuration", press the key combination “Win + R” and to configure autorun programs in Windows 7 you will need the msconfig command. Or, in Windows search, enter the word configuration (see image).
The most interesting tab in this window for us, among other things, is the tab in "Task Manager".
In this window we can see the name of the program, manufacturer, as well as its location. Disabling from autorun is done by unchecking the corresponding box next to the program name.
Through the Startup folder
The most convenient option, if you need to add any program to startup when you turn on the computer in Windows 7, is to directly add it to the Startup folder. To open this folder, go to the following location:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Also, there is another way. Press the key combination “Win+R” and enter the command shell:startup.
It is worth noting that shortcuts are stored here that are launched along with the system. For example, I added 2 files - Yandex Browser and Autoruns. Yandex Browser is just an application shortcut that I transferred from the desktop, and Autoruns is a full-fledged utility that does not require additional files other than the executable (.exe format).
When transferring executable files, the application itself will not work at startup. This is a standard mistake for newbies.
It is necessary to transfer the Application Shortcut, which will link to the working executive file of the program and work correctly and launch at startup.
Also! After adding the desired program, it will appear in the startup list of System Configuration.
Via the registry
Another convenient way that will allow you to enter and change the startup of programs in Windows 7 is through the registry editor.
The registry is a kind of database of all settings and parameters, from where applications and the system itself understand that specific software is associated with a specific file or action. For autorun, there is its own so-called branch, where you can control the download.
To open "Registry Editor", press the key combination “Win + R” and enter the command regedit.
To find the branch you are interested in, follow the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
It is worth noting that this is not the only branch, but the basis for this system.
In this thread, there are several parameters that link to applications or pages on the network (is this a virus or advertising). The value of each parameter indicates where a particular application or virus refers to. For example, browsers link to their update checker, but viruses can link anywhere.
To add an application to startup using the Registry Editor, call the context menu and create "String parameter". You can call it any name, but its value must refer to the application you want to add. In this case, it makes no difference whether it is a program or a shortcut.
We looked at system methods for autorunning Windows 7 programs, how to disable them and where. But there are also third-party applications that can help you with this.
CCleaner
The most famous software for optimization and cleaning of garbage. It has enormous functionality not only for cleaning, but also for optimizing the system and applications.
The functionality we are interested in is available in the “Windows” tab.
As you can see in the screenshot, you can remove, cancel and prevent unnecessary programs from autorunning for Windows 7/8/10, thanks to the “Enable”, “Disable” and “Delete” buttons.
Tabs "Scheduled tasks" And "Context menu" are also related to autorun, albeit indirectly. "Scheduled tasks"- actions that are launched according to a specific schedule or trigger. "Context menu"- software that is displayed in your context menu (for example, WinRar offers to unpack the archive when you right-click on it).
Ccleaner's functionality is really good, and there's a reason it's one of the most popular Windows optimization apps.
Sysinternals Autoruns
Autoruns is a utility from Sysinternals, acquired by Microsoft. It has excellent functionality, but a very poor interface. To work with this utility, you need knowledge at the level of a confident PC user with knowledge of standard registry branches. A novice PC user may inadvertently mess things up when working with Autoruns and will have to restore work in safe mode.
The utility allows you to find out about absolutely everything that will be loaded with the system - utilities, drivers, modules and much more. That's why Autoruns is highly valued among professionals.
On the topic of this article, we only need the “Logon” tab. This shows various branches related to automatic loading of applications and other modules.
The Options filters are very useful - Hide Windows Entries and Hide Microsoft Entries, which hide system modules that you do not want to disable for the system to function correctly.
Interesting filter Hide VirusTotal Clean Entries– which hides values that, in the opinion of the VirusTotal service, are clean and do not pose a threat. Dangerous or infected modules will be highlighted in red or pink.
Additionally
In this article, we showed where and how to view startup programs in Windows 7, but that’s not all. There are also methods to completely disable applications and its components. Disabling autorun does not always solve an application-specific problem. Therefore, you can additionally use the following small tips.
Via the Services tab
First, you need to go into Windows 7 program startup management using the msconfig command. Only this time we need the Services tab.
We will be presented with a complete list of system and third-party services. It is necessary to tick the "Do not display Microsoft services" to exclude system services from the list. This will display a complete list of third-party application services.
When analyzing for viruses and suspicious software, you should pay attention to unknown names, especially those without a manufacturer. If such occur, then the first thing you need to do is check with the search engines whether it is really a virus. It may well turn out to be a useful application, but without the signature of the developer.
As a last resort, you can disable all services to check the operation of the system or disable them one by one if the goal is to identify an erroneous service.
Important! Antiviruses cannot be disabled so easily; they have a self-defense module that will not allow you to disable the antivirus, even if you have Administrator rights. It must be disabled in the settings.
Task Manager
If you want to limit the activity of a specific program, without deleting it and removing it from startup did not help, we advise you to check "Task Manager". As mentioned earlier, the scheduler creates events for programs for a specific time, date, action or trigger.
To open "Task Manager" press Win+R and enter the command control schedtasks. The Task Scheduler Library folder will contain the main triggers for third-party software. You can analyze all the actions that lead to the launch of the program and disable it.
All of the above functions are also available from third-party applications, such as CCleaner or Autoruns, which were also mentioned in this article.
Have a great day!
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