What tells programs to start?

I'm running XP Home (sp1) and have to say I am truly amazed at how many programs start when the system is booted. While I have no idea what most of them are/do there are a few that I have that I've loaded and can't find what is making them load when the system boots.

For instance, I have Discover Card's Deskshop. I downloaded it and installed it and everytime I boot the computer it starts. However, it isn't in my startup folder... in fact I can't find what is making it start using the search function for the exe file.

I have a backup program, Backup Plus, same story. It starts reliably every time I boot but I can't figure out why.

When I run MSCONFIG and look at what started the programs the locations is HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run but search and search and I can't find this folder.

Now I want to stop them from starting when I boot. When I want them I'll click on them in my programs folder. As I've said I can't find them to stop them. I am reluctant to use MSCONFIG to stop them from booting mostly because I should be able to stop them by removing them from what ever is telling them to start. I'm stuborn this way.

Would someone explain how all these programs startup even when they aren't in the startup folder?

Starting to think I just fell off the turnip truck (and struck my head!). I don't share the computer with others and thus don't have other users identified to the system so you would think I would know whats where.

Thanks.....

 

The "folder" you are looking for is a registry entry, not an ordinary folder. You can access it in XP by:
Run--> regedt32
but be wary of making any changes there unless you know what you are doing. You could cause major and unforeseen problems. It wouldn't hurt to look around, though.

There are a number of places that start programs: a few in the registry, autoexec.nt and autoexec.bat (if you have configured it to be parsed), and the Start menu.
Some programs use hidden startups, like RealOne, that uses a chain of apps in order to prevent most people from finding the startup (a common characteristic of AOL products), or even a hidden registry startup of the form "explorer.exe <appname>" that LOOKS like it is an OS startup.

Some programs that start at boot will continually replace their startup in the registry, no matter how many times you delete it (QuickTime 6, for example). You need to do some registry tweaking to get rid of those, or learn to live with them.

Run--> msconfig will give you some options.

I like the Startup Control Panel:
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

If this doesn't help you get a particular one under control, come back here.
You can certainly experiment with the startup apps to see what you don't need, but leave the operating system startups alone unless you are sure about them.

 

Abraxas, now why didn't I think of that.... duh!

Thanks so much for the response and also for the link. That is one neat program Mr. Lin has put together. I downloaded it and will use it.... Also, thanks for helping me get my head out of the sand and gazing upon a whole new horizon, the registry.

Do you have any idea why a programer would rather have the program started by the registry versus the startup folder. Could it be so us less electronically literate folks can't figre out how to not see their product? Geeezzzz, I thought I was a control freak!!!

Thanks again.....

 

Glad you like the program. I noticed that he has 2 versions, one that actually puts an applet in the Control Panel, and one that stands alone. They seem to both work well.

The 2 most common startup locations in the registry are:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

The Startup CPL program actually controls these if you are not comfortable in the registry. If you do decide to go the registry route, the Cardinal Law of the registry is BACKUP! You can highlight any key in the left pane, go to File, and Export and save it somewhere. Later, if you change your mind, or something messes up, you can click on the saved .reg file and return the removed key.

I'd like to think that programmers consider registry startup more reliable and less prone to error due to people deleting shortcuts in the Start menu, but................you are probably right. Some do it just to hide it from the people who never look too deeply into things!

PS. I was mistaken about Quicktime 6---there is an option in its settings to prevent startup. I thought I had disabled it already. Too many computers, I guess.