Sometimes you'll run into programs that will keep
getting started every time you start Windows. Some of these "auto start
programs" will become quite stubborn and very hard to get rid of. If you're trying to
stop or get rid of an auto-start-program, here are some tips that might help you:
- Check program's options.
See if there's a way to configure the program in question so that you can tell it not to
start every time you start Windows.
- Uninstall.
Most programs these days has the ability to uninstall itself from your computer, so this
is the second step you should take.
- If none of the above two methods worked, Check your "Startup"
folder (or program group). Windows 3.1 and higher (including Windows 95 and Windows NT)
has a folder called "Startup" where you can place shortcuts (or program icons).
If you're running Windows NT 4.x, you may have two Startup folders -- one in the are NT
3.x compatible folders section and the other in Windows 95 compatible folders are. Make
sure that the program you're interested in is not in this folder.
- If you're running Windows 3.x or Windows 95, view the content [using a text editor] of
the WIN.INI file (located in the Windows' root directory --
C:\WINDOWS for example). Look for a line (or lines) that begin with "Load = " or "Run = " If
the program you're looking for is listed in any of those lines, remove it.
- If you're running Windows 95 or Windows NT, look in the following registry entries (you
can start the "Registry Editor" by running RegEdit.exe in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.x, or RegEdt32.exe in Windows NT 3.x):
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
RunOnce
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
RunOnce
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
RunServices
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
RunServicesOnce
- If none of the above methods worked and if you're really desperate, you can try to
rename (or even delete) this stubborn program. This of course, is not recommended as other
parts of your computer may need this file or program.
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