Thursday, July 21, 2011

Why Should You Check Your Startup Directory?

When you boot your computer or just log in to your machine, you can see that some programs load automatically. These are startup programs. Generally speaking, they are instant messaging tools (like: Skype, Messenger) or security tools (like: anti-virus, anti-spam). These programs are put in that directory because it's important they're always on. Imagine to yourself what would happen to your computer if your anti-virus program would run only part of the time..

The setback of startup applications is that the automatic loading of these consumes inner memory (RAM), therefore slows the computer. So understandably you'd like to minimize their number. I'll show how to check your startup directory for unnecessary programs which may run there.



1. Click "Start" at the bottom left of the screen.

2. Click "Run". A small window pops up.

3. In the small window, write "regedit" and press "OK". A new large window pops up.

4. On the left side (of the new window) you can see a list of many folders. Choose "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE".

5. From the sub-folders of "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE", choose "software".

6. From the sub-folders of "software", choose "Microsoft".

7. From the sub-folders of "Microsoft", choose "Windows".

8. From the sub-folders of "Windows", choose "Run". Now you see a list of programs on the right side of the window. These are the startup programs, meaning: the programs which load automatically every time you log in to your computer.

9. You may delete unnecessary programs. Notice: if you delete a program from this list, the programs keeps residing on your computer. It just doesn't load automatically upon logging in.