Startup list
 

I am running Windows ME. I was going through doing some maintenence and I noticed my startup list has at least 50 items, almost all are garbage. When I hit cleanup it doesn't delete them and right clicking doesn't work. Any help on how I can delete the unneccessary stuff from that list? Thanks

To disable specific startup items:

1. Click [Start].
2. Click [Run].
3. Type "msconfig" (without the quotes) in the [Open] box and click [OK].
4. Select the [Startup] tab.
5. Click to remove the check mark from before the item that should be disabled.
6. Click [Apply], and then [OK].
7. Click [Yes] (in Windows 98 or Me) or [Restart] (in Windows XP) to restart the computer.

When Windows restarts, the item will not load. To enable the item again, repeat the above steps, but click to select the item in step 5. The item will then load when Windows restarts.

ScottC's method will work well. Here is another.

An alternative way to delete items from Programs:
1. Right click the Start menu
2. Choose "Explore"
3. Double-click "Programs" in either pane
4. Double-click "Startup" in either pane

Here, you can see and delete shortcuts from Windows Explorer.

If you never intended for these shortcuts to appear or they reappear after you delete them, consider running spyware removal and virus cleaning software.

Thanks Scott, but this much I did know. Now I want them completely off the list. My scandisk was not working. I did a google search and the advice I got was that even unchecked items could cause problems with scandisk. It suggested running scandisk in safemode. I did and it worked. So I want the garbage off the list. I counted and there are actually 106 things on that list. Some will also recheck themslves over time. Thanks again

Perhaps it's time to dig into the registry?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

SOFTWARE

MICROSOFT

WINDOWS

CURRENT VERSION

RUN

And delete what you want from there...

I figured that I should then search for the file HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and the from that file follw the progression down. But I did not find that file. You mention the registry, do I go there first? Sorry for the ignorance. :o

Thanks Scott. :)

Sorry...

from the "run" box enter: regedit

OR

Just download this:

http://www.wheresjames.com/index.php?page=startupmgr

Thanks Scott, just a curiousity question, is there a difference in RUN and RUN-.

There shouldn't be,

you should have :

run
run once
run services

The run once is for stuff to run just once, upon rebooting, the run ones are the ones you want, simply delete the key (application) in there you don't want.

I have:

Run
Run-
RunOnce
RunOnceEx
RunServices
RunServices-
RunServicesOnce

It appears all the stuff in RUN- is unneeded.

Also much of it was not listed there. If it helps, in the msconfig under the startup manager, it says "Loaded from" and there is either Startup Group or Common Startup Group. There are a bunch listed like
3D40D74R.EXE
MRTY086G.EXE
DUD0XLUI.EXE

Some in one group some in the other and all with the .exe extension. They were not in the location of the registry you directed me too.

Sounds like time for a spyware alert. These are NOT common Windows files, and are not known in any of the databases of legit startup files.

Oh, and having this stuff reappear would make sense if it's spyware...

I do have and use a program called Spybot. It was the best one I found that did not screw with my system. I ran it again yesterday. I also use ZoneAlarm for a firewall. If you know of a better program that gets spyware off I would appreciate it.