Startup on Windows XP

I have Windows XP on my computer. If I type msconfig in the run box and click "startup ", most of the programs are listed in language that I don't understand. How can I tell from reading these programs whether I really need them? Thank you.

 

Download Startups.exe from here http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php to determine which programs are not needed at start up.

If you look in msconfig, startup tab you may need to widen the columns to see the full path of the program and its name which will end in .exe

Look for those names in startups and act according to its advice, e.g. not wanted or user choice.

 

Thanks for the handy link, Pete.

If one uses the stand-alone executable version (34 kB zip file), then it will not load to the control panel. Simply extract the zip file contents (Startup.exe) to your desktop or the folder of your choice and run it. I tried it out this afternoon...quick & easy.

Also, if one helps others with their computers, one doesn't need to remember that it's not a default Control Panel item. That's important for people with fuzzy memories like me.

 

Hi ABX
Although you can find a multitude of programs on the internet that will "advise you" on whether specific startup programs are necessary, in the final analysis it boils down to "trail and error" testing.
Some startup programs are obviously not necessary but be careful, there may be others that are SPECIFIC to YOUR COMPUTER BRAND's FEATURES or SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN APPLICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER.

Thehappyman

 

This brings back memories for me. When I first started using Win 95 (upgrading from 3.1 ) at work, DOS would run in German. It was an IBM machine. The installation people came and fixed it, but I did not get to see how.

There may be a language setting that has been changed from when Windows was first installed.

Matt