Start Up Programs Listing

The following are started up on my computer according to Start Up Cop:

Load Power Profiles (2)
Scheduling Agent
Task Monitor
MS Office

Can I safely disable these items in Start Up Cop?

Thanks

 

http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html

 

If you are running something other than Windows 95, you want to re-select Scanregistry.
And, consider installing and running a firewall.
And, consider running your antivirus continually in autoprotect mode.

 

Ann

I am guessing that the listed items are just a few of what you really have and are asking if they are realy needed.

Load Power Profiles (2)---Only needed if Power management in the Control panel is used.

Scheduling Agent---Can well be done with out. Does not work as planned half ( or more ) of the time anyway.

Task Monitor--- can also be done without. Another useless item as far as I am concerned.

MS Office-- A hugh resource hog.

I general the answer to your question is YES, they can all be not only be saftely disabled but packed for removal.

BillyBob

 

If you are going to stop running TaskMon, you also want to delete all of the files under \Windows\Applog (a hidden folder). These are the ones being maintained by TaskMon and used by Defrag when you select Optimize Programs.

 

Thanks WhitPhil

I forgot that part.

BillyBob

 

Just wanted to add my 2 cents

I think it's better to first look within a program's own options or preferences to disable automatic startups and only use a startup manager like msconfig or Startup Cop as a last resort.

For example, If you wish to stop using the Scheduling Agent (mstask.exe) I think you should first try and disable it like so (taken from MSKB Q195933):
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks (or double-click the Task Scheduler icon on the taskbar).
2. On the Advanced menu, click Stop Using Task Scheduler.
3. On the File menu, click Close.

I have the Win95 MSPlus System Agent which is similar to Task Scheduler and that's how you're supposed to disable it. Right now I have it enabled because that's how I schedule my weekly EZAntivirus scans.

Speaking of which, you shouldn't disable Scheduling Agent if you have NAV 2001/2002 or NIS 2002 set up for automatic LiveUpdates because you need "Symantec Net Detect" to run as a scheduled task. See

http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/sharedtech.nsf/docid/2000081608353806
What is Automatic LiveUpdate, and how do you enable or disable it?

http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPOR...00091417194906?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=4,3
Automatic LiveUpdate is shown as disabled in System Status after being enabled

 

Good morning Alice.

Your points are well taken. There are pros & cons for the type of action being discussed.

When we disable certain things we must make sure the we do things to make up for that.

Norton Updates is a good example.

But, anything on Auto usually has to be watched anyway ( or should be ) to make sure that it has done its job.

And when I have had things set on Auto Pilot and find that they have either crashed the plane or never even taken off I kind of turn against anything on Auto.

And I Do not, never have and never will put my full trust in Windows Auto Pliots.

But none of this invalidates your point.

BillyBob

 

Good Morning BB,

I agree it's a good idea to keep automatic startups to a minimum but you don't want to go so far as to cripple your system! My feeling is that resources are meant to be used and as long as your startups aren't taking too many of them and aren't conflicting 'softwarewise' with other running programs then I wouldn't go overboard trimming them down.

I would say if you have less than 75% system resources at startup you are way too loaded up, but that's a personal opinion. Also it's not so much the user and gdi resources being consumed (you can run with way less than that) but the running software eating up ram and possibly conflicting with other software that is most likely the root of the problem, on systems with low ram like mine, at least. Once you get beyond the physical ram, you start using the swapfile and THAT can really degrade performance, particularly on Win95.

I have about 90% system (combined user/gdi) resources free at startup but then I keep a very slim startup which includes System Agent (which I only use for my EZantivirus weekly scans) my real-time antivirus protection and tray icon, my scrollpoint mouse software, my rapid access keyboard sorfware, my scanner lamp software and, the windows resource meter, so I know when they're dropping down too low!.

I hear you about trusting automatic antivirus updates! My version of EZAntivirus doesn't offer it... I have to manually start the download, although it's automatic after that.

My sister loves Norton's automatic LiveUpdate for getting the antivirus definitions although she does check up on it to make sure she's getting them. She has to run LiveUpdate herself to get the program updates since only the antivirus updates can be gotten automatically. I told her to do that every month or two.

PS Here's a good reference on Windows 9x resource usage:

http://www.aumha.org/a/resource.htm

 

Ann,

Here's more on managing startups from Peter Forrests page:
http://www.forrestandassociates.co.uk/pcforrest/startups.html

 

A point that very often get overllooked. Especially the " conflicting " part.

Very much comes into play for the whole discussion.

I myself do not load the Scanner Lamp becaue I use it so litttle that I do not feel it necessary. But that is back to personal opinion again.

Very smart lady.

BillyBob

 

Alice

Your reply that refers to the Scheduler and Critical Updates is a very good point.

Having never intentionally loaded the Critical Update Notification myself, I forgot about that one also.

MS insists that it get installed and I INSIST that it don't.

Task Scheduler will not shut down if that is installed.

But as to un-installing it I was never able to do it any other way then from the Windows Update site.

BillyBob

 

How do I disable programs that automatically start up

Windows xp, I can't remember where to stop some of these programs from automatically starting up. Thank you.