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Summary: MSConfig shows many of the items that are run automatically when you start your machine. What you need and what you don't depends on many factors.
It was a long list. I couldn't take the time to track down each item on the list. The problem, of course, is that everyone's startup list is different. Depending on your computer, the hardware installed, the software installed, the programs you run, the features you have enabled ... each of those, and more, can cause an entry in the startup list. It can get really confusing, really fast. • In the case of the original question where the person had a long list of startup items, I checked on a few of the ones I didn't immediately recognize, but they didn't turn out to be anything bad. What do I mean by "checked on"? It's pretty simple, really: Google. There are a couple of sites out there rank quite highly when you look for the executable file name you find in your start up list. For example if you look up "nwiz.exe" - a random entry in my own startup list - the top results are sites that will tell you fairly clearly what it is. (Many will also offer to sell you a product, but you certainly don't need to buy anything to simply find out what a particular executable does.) "...it'll take a little but of sleuthing on your
part if you want to clean up your startup list."
Nine times out of ten, the answer simply tells you that the program belongs to something you know of or expect, and you can leave it alone, or use the program's configuration to turn off the startup item. The "nwiz.exe" on my machine is a support program for my video card that enables additional features. I could turn it off, if I wanted to, and I would simply lose those features. If you're seeing errors on startup relating to a program or directory not being found, the MSCONFIG startup list is one place to look. If any of the startup entries reference programs that you no longer have, you can most likely safely uncheck them so that Windows doesn't try to run the program that doesn't exist any more. But the bottom line is that it'll take a little but of sleuthing on your part if you want to clean up your startup list. As I said, Google each item, determine if what you find out about it applies to your system, and take appropriate action based on what you find. Three additional, but important points: Stay Safe: the #1 cause of startup-related problems is malware. I'd start with this article: How do I keep my computer safe on the internet?, and make sure you're safe and set up to regularly scan for viruses and spyware. Whenever there's a problem these days, this is #1 on my list of things to do. Backup: It's unlikely that you damage your system or make it unbootable just by playing around with MSCONFIG, but do you really want to take that chance? As always when making changes to your system configuration, especially if you're not 100% sure of what you're doing, backup your data. You should be doing this regularly anyway, but particularly now. MSCONFIG is just the beginning: In reality, MSCONFIG's startup list only includes certain classes of startup tasks - those that are most commonly affected by your installed software and configuration. Autoruns, a free tool by SysInternals.com is both a little geekier, and much more complete. If you're diagnosing a suspected problem, the items listed in autoruns are also worth investigating. Related:
Article 10193 | Posted April 23, 2006 |
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The "problem" with HijackThis (which I agree is an excellent tool) is that it's perhaps the geekiest of all. It really takes someone familiar with it to interpre the results. That being said, there is a support forum for exactly that. This link will take you the site providing HijackThis: http://ask-leo.com/d-hijackthis
Posted by: Leo at April 24, 2006 10:13 AMHi, I just discovered your site and it's helped me already. I tried a quick search on your archive but didn't find an answer.
I'm cleaning out programs and came across wildtangent web driver. Wildtanget may have come with this new (11/05) Dell XPmedia edition.
Specific question: Can I delete Wildtangent safely?
This program has web accessibility according to my Norton Firewall. A Google search suggests it's unnecessary or suspicious. As I tried to remove (using add/remove), the message warned it's a media player that runs Wildtangent and Dell games. I don't do games but hate to eliminate all possibilities for someone else in the future.
A general question: Are these various media players redundant? Won't programs such as Real or the Windows component do the same job?
Thank you
Posted by: Terry at April 26, 2006 12:35 PMSorry I think I goofed by posting a question here? Duh!!
Posted by: Terry at April 26, 2006 12:42 PMI have everything "unchecked" in the msconfig list. Everything works fine on my machine. Anything that is NEEDED by the machine (in my situation "nvidea" stuff), are automatically "checked" (re-started) when the machine starts up again anyway - so I leave them alone. The msconfig stuff is just "luxury" processes anyway - nothing critical.
Posted by: Carl G. at April 28, 2006 6:33 PMTry Pcpitstop.com
Posted by: Thomas at April 28, 2006 7:18 PMHi, I have removed all but "systray" or something simular on all my computers without any problems, so far. I don't know how much faster it makes my computer, but it has not hurt any of them yet.
Posted by: Lyman Layton at April 28, 2006 8:02 PMvendor "WILD TANGET" = (Data Miner)?????
Posted by: ALEX at August 27, 2006 12:03 PMWin Patrol is a step up from msconfig and it is free. The program identifies and monitors the association of every entry and offers suggestions regarding the selected item. Also, for a small fee, by contribution, you can upgrade to a more robust version. Have been a happy user for years.
Posted by: Emil S Kapcar at February 18, 2007 12:26 PMDon't forget:
Antivirus and protection tools also runs on startup.
Posted by: Luis Miguel at May 25, 2008 3:42 AMIf you disable them you may be opening several doors to virus, adware and spyware
I'd just like to find out the description of a program in the start-up list in "msconfig" so i know if it's safe to disable it. i'm using vista home premium if it helps. Dell inspiron 1720. Thank you very much.
Posted by: Ryan Paul at June 18, 2008 5:56 PM