Q. Sometime ago, when I was
installing some software, I choose to
have it startup automatically whenever I
start my computer. I changed my mind so
how do I get it out of wherever I put it
that makes it open automatically?
A.
There are several places that a
program can be put that will open it
when Windows starts up. However, if the
software followed acceptable programming
habits, it should be easily removed from
starting up automatically. Most malware
will not be this easy to remove.
Click
Start, then Run. Type in msconfig
and then click OK. This will open the
System Configuration Utility. Click the
Startup tab. There is a list displayed
that shows all the programs that are
starting up when you start Windows. Many
will have names that only the software's
manufacturer will understand.
Thankfully, someone has created a
web site
that explains what most of these are,
and offers suggestions as to whether or
not you really need them to start up
with Windows. I have found that most do
NOT.
As
you may have already found out, just
about every program "thinks" it is the
most important one on your computer.
Therefore the computer should always
have some parts of in running in memory
so that it will open faster, and can
constantly check for updates online. If
you are still using dial-up (and I feel
for you), this can be quite annoying. I
personally do not like anything, except
for a select few security programs,
automatically accessing the web looking
for updates or whatever without me
explicitly telling them to do it. My
startup list is small containing less
than ten items.
Now,
back to the question, after the startup
list is displayed, locate the program
you do not want to open automatically
when Windows starts, and uncheck the box
in front of it. You will be told that
you should restart Windows, and you
should allow this to happen.
When
Windows starts up, you will be presented
with a warning like this:
This
is a notice that something has changed
in the way Windows starts. However, the
way this message is worded, one might
get the idea that they have done
something terrible, and that they had
better undo it and quickly. It tells you
to "Choose the Normal Startup on the
General tab and undo the changes", like
you did something wrong. What is this
General tab, and where is it?
Relax, all is well.
Obviously, there has been a change made,
and you made it. So, just check the box
telling this message to just go away,
and click OK. Everything will be fine
and all will be as before except the
item you unchecked will not start
automatically. That's all we wanted in
the first place.
Q.
When Windows first starts up, I usually
get the dreaded red shield in the lower
right tray, and a warning message that
my computer may be at risk. It may tell
me that my antivirus is turned off or
something like that. What's this all
about?
A.
This is a just case of Microsoft's
Security Center being over anxious, and
reporting that you anti-virus or other
security program is turned off or
disabled, before it has had a
chance to completely start up. It is
somewhat more ambitious at doing this
for Norton or McAfee, which do require a
long start up time, then it is for its
own OneCare, but will do it for any of
the security suites.
Most
security suites do a little checking
before they become fully functional, and
Microsoft's security center is detecting
them as being off or disabled before
they have completely started. Unless
this red shield stays on after the icon
for your security program has appeared,
it is of little concern. It is normal
startup operation procedure.
