How To Disable/Remove Startup Items

1. Through MSConfig

Open MSConfig (Start > Run: msconfig), go to the Startup tab and disable items you do not want to run when Windows starts.


2. Through the Registry

Open the Registry Editor (Start > Run: regedit) and go to the paths listed below. As always, it's advisable to backup the registry key before deleting anything.

Items that are enabled in the Startup tab of MSConfig are listed in the registry in one of the following locations:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Items that are disabled in the Startup tab of MSConfig are listed in the registry in one of the following locations:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SharedTools\MSConfig\startupfolder

Find the key, find the specific listing for the item you want to delete, and delete it. The next time you load MSConfig, those items won't be there.


Notes:
You might also have to delete items in the Start Menu Startup folders:

• C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup