Can't stop apps from starting on startup in vista

flycaster · November 23rd, 2008, 10:35 AM

Just came to vista via xp. I've got several items in my systray that don't need to start. Following instructions, I went to windows defender, tools and when I got to the disable screen and selected the programs that I didn't want to start, the disable button was inactive. Some of the programs that I don't need starting are: Media not inserted, Natural color, HP didgital imaging monitor and realtek hd audio manager.

BipolarBill · November 23rd, 2008, 03:22 PM

Try WinPatrol instead:

BillP Studios: WinPatrol 2008

flycaster · November 23rd, 2008, 03:37 PM

Thanks, but I would think that there should be some kind of control within windows modify startups? You could do this in xp (msconfig>startup)

Patrick · November 23rd, 2008, 03:55 PM

Try MSConfig.

BipolarBill · November 23rd, 2008, 04:00 PM

MSCONFIG is there too. Start > Run > MSCONFIG > Ok.

Frankly, Winpatrol is better and it uses very little resources. You don't have to run it all the time and can just open it when needed. I swear by it because it tells you exactly where the programs are instead of making you guess. Besides that, if you let it run it will prevent items that you disabled from being installed again later. MSCONFIG and Defender can't do that.

Rootstonian · November 23rd, 2008, 07:24 PM

Defender is just a started task...use msconfig or get to Services from Control Panel...disable it. I just tried it via msconfig and it took 10 seconds; why download/load other software???

BipolarBill · November 23rd, 2008, 07:31 PM

He's not trying to disable Defender. He's using Defender to disable other programs. There's a difference.

MSCONFIG nags the user. Winpatrol doesn't. MSCONFIG doesn't allow you to disable or remove BHOs. Winpatrol does. Winpatrol is like HijackThis on steroids, but no one questions the need for HijackThis, do they?

Besides, it's free.

Rootstonian · November 24th, 2008, 09:46 AM

How does msconfig nag the user? New acronymn to me...what is a BHO? "Big Hosted Object" ROFL

flycaster · November 24th, 2008, 10:32 AM

Thanks for the input, guys. Being lazy, I've found msconfig and have used it to control my start ups. So far, so good. However, once I get through transferring stuff from xp to vista, I'll be looking into winpatrol.

BTW, what is "acer gaia?" Googled it, but can't get a handle on it. I've unselected it, but it keeps coming back in msconfig startup. I don't need it, do I?

Rootstonian · November 24th, 2008, 10:42 AM

Same thing in Vista; it's JUST a started task and you can disable as you want. Just watch the dependencies that a task my have on another task, i.e. don't disable something that another task needs.

My Vista 32 bit Business reports 65 processes running; I could cut that down easily. But I only disable what I KNOW I don't want and if the system is running good (which it is), use the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't *(#^&^ with it!"