The best free startup manager for Windows 10
Also Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
This tip is for intermediate and advanced Windows users.
In Windows 10 (and Windows 8.1) you can’t use MSCONFIG to trim down your Windows startup programs. We guess that in an effort to give task manager a more modern look and adding the star up manager to it, they made it less useful as well as making the Windows configuration tool (MSCONFIG) less useful.
But ANYWAY….
There is a good start up manager we use called Autoruns and it comes from SysInternals which is part of Microsoft TechNet. Odd huh? Anyway, we like Autoruns a lot because it gives us a great view of what’s starting up with Windows and what it is.. That makes it easy to disable useless startups that consume large chunks of system resources. And the latest version of Autoruns uses Virus Total (an online site that uses 40+ different antivirus programs) to help identify mischievous or malicious processes churning away on computers. So now, not only does Autoruns help to identity those useless startups which use up system resources for no good reason, it now helps you identify the rascals and malicious things that may be starting up with Windows.
If you’re not happy with the very limited startup manager in Windows 10 (or 8.1) consider using Autoruns. And if you’re using Windows 7, you can use Autoruns too.
Of course, we just can resist letting the developers tell you a little something about their program, so my friends, here you go:
“This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and when you start various built-in Windows applications like Internet Explorer, Explorer and media players. These programs and drivers include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. Autoruns reports Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond other autostart utilities.
Autoruns’ Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.
You’ll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically! “
If you’re a stickler for keeping your startup programs in check, and you’re using Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, you owe it to yourself to give Autoruns a try. It’s completely free and completely free of trickery and malware.
You can read more about and download the latest, greatest version of Autoruns from here.
You can tell them Cloudeight sent you if you want; it will make them scratch their heads.