One of my biggest gripes about installing software on my PC is that many of them add programs that are set to run on the startup of my computer. Now there are many applications that need or should be set to startup, that isn't my issue, my dislike is applications that have no need to be put there in the first place. Every week I install all types of software for various reasons, and at the end of every week I make it a chore to clear out any unnecessary startup applications.
My chosen way of doing this is by using Stardock's TweakVista to check and disable (if necessary) any applications that run on startup. TweakVista lists all the applications that are set to run on startup in an easy to view and manage interface.
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Startup list |
Another problem I have run into in dealing with startup applications are some of them I have absolutely no idea what they are there for. Are they a necessary application such as part of my security software, or is it a "helper" application that isn't needed?
One of my favorite features of TweakVista is that it gives you a detailed description of the application. Just click one of the startup entries and TweakVista will display the information associated with that entry. The best thing is if a user comes across an "unknown" entry, they can enter the information themselves and help build the database.
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Startup description |
If you look in my startup list you will see I have an entry for "wmpnscfg.exe". Now I can't figure out what exactly this program is by that name, and why waste the time looking for it in a search engine when TweakVista tells me exactly what it is. This is a process that is associated with Windows Media Player, and allows network sharing. Since I don't need this all I have to do is uncheck the box next to the entry, and this program will not start the next time I start my PC.
TweakVista also monitors your startup/shutdown performance and can even tell you the amount of time it took to start your PC, and give detailed information about startup times for other services as well. There is a free trial download available here, and TweakVista is also available as a stand-alone application, or part of the Object Desktop suite of applications. For more information, visit the TweakVista homepage.
