Startup Control Panel is a free control panel add-on that lets you choose which programs start with your computer. It can be used for troubleshooting computer issues by allowing you to disable certain items from starting up and also allows you to add new items to run on startup. It’s similar to the Microsoft System Configuration Utility that’s built into Windows but allows you to do a little more fine tuning.
Startup Control Panel will work with most versions of Windows up to Windows XP. It will add an icon to your Control Panel applets called Startup where you can launch the program. There is also a standalone version that allows you to just run the executable file and use the program in the exact same way without installing it.
The program contains six to seven tabs, depending on your computer’s configuration. Each tab represents one place where a program can be registered to run at system startup. These include:
- Startup (user) – displays the current user's Startup folder in the Start Menu.
- Startup (common) – displays the common (all users) Startup folder in the Start Menu.
- HKLM / Run – displays the Run registry key located in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE which applies for all users.
- HKCU / Run – displays the Run registry key located in HKEY_CURRENT_USER which applies for the current user only.
- Services – displays system services that are started before the user logs in. This appears only in Win9x; on NT/2000/XP, use the Services control panel, or the Services item in Computer Management.
- Run Once – displays items that are started once only at the next system startup.
- Deleted – deleted programs go to the Deleted tab when you remove them from another location. They will not run at system startup but if you delete an item from the Deleted tab, it is permanently removed.
Each page contains a list of the programs registered at that location. Use the checkbox to enable or disable individual items. Additional operations are available by right clicking an item. Options include:
- New - create a new entry.
- Edit - edit an entry.
- Delete - delete an entry.
- Disable / Enable - disable or enable an entry. Uncheck the box next to an item to enable or disable it.
- Run Now - execute the program now.
- Send To - moves the item to another location.
You can download Startup Control Panel for free from their website.
Related Tips:
Using MSconfig
Using the Windows XP Control Panel
System Configuration Utility (msconfig) Addon
