Startup Managers (sometimes called “Setup” or “Configuration” tools) allow you to control and configure the programs and services that start with Windows.
It is possible to do this within Windows, but these programs are easier to use and provide extra information and facilities. A possible exception is Vista - it offers excellent startup management from the "Manage Startup Programs" applet in the control panel.
There are many commercial and free applications available for XP, but here are are five outstanding freebies:
The best choice for average users is Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel. It's small, easy to use, with powerful features including the ability to edit or add entries. It's accessed from the Control Panel, so no entries are made in the Start Menu.
Starter has a very clear interface and includes a process viewer and System Services manager. It can be run directly from the executable without installation, which makes it a handy item to have on your toolkit CD or flash drive.
NOTE: Starter has become so popular that the author's website has exceeded its download limit, so use the alternative download link.
For technical users my top recommendation is Autoruns (originally from SysInternals). It has the most comprehensive display of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor and has the added advantage of being a Microsoft product. Just because Autoruns comes from Microsoft don't be fooled into thinking it's just a fancy interface for the Windows command line utility MSConfig. It does much more.
Autoruns displays logon entries, Explorer add-ons, Internet Explorer add-ons including Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), Appinit DLLs, image hijacks, boot execute images, Winlogon notification DLLs, Windows Services, and Winsock Layered Service Providers. Switch tabs to view items in different categories. Autorun's "Hide Signed Microsoft Entries" option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system. That's pretty handy for chasing down obsolete entries and possible malware infection.
Autoruns is a great free product and should be in every techie's toolkit.
WinPatrol is another solid effort, well worth a look. As well as startup management (including a very useful "delay" enhancement, which may smooth-out booting), it includes a plethora of other features. These include cookie management, file association restore, Active X component management, BHO monitoring and management, system change monitoring, and adding notes or comments to any program on your system.
Product Details
Startup Control Panel
Website: http://www.mlin.net/
Download link: http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Author: Mike Lin
Current version: 2.8
Version date: 03/01/2003
Download File size: 60KB; 36KB (exe only)
License: Free for private and commercial use; donation requested
Operating systems supported: Windows 98 - XP
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: None
Other relevant information: None
StartupRun
Website: http://www.edmond-hakmeh.com/
Download link: http://www.edmond-hakmeh.com/hack tools\utilities and hacking tools\utils\strun.html
Author: Nir Sofer
Current version: 1.22
Version date: 07/11/2004
Download File size: 60KB; 36KB (exe only)
License: Freeware
Operating systems supported: Windows 9x - XP
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: None
Other relevant information: None
Starter
Website: http://codestuff.netfirms.com/products_starter.html
Alternate download link: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/starter.html
Author: CodeStuff
Current version: 5.6.2.8
Version date: 11/01/2007
Download File size: 675KB
License: Freeware
Operating systems supported: Windows (All)
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: Yes
Non-English languages supported: None
Other relevant information: None
Autoruns
Website: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx
Download link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Author: Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell (Sysinternals)
Current version: 9.0.2
Version date: 11/01/2008
Download File size: 529KB
License: Freeware
Operating systems supported: Windows (All)
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit version available: Yes
Portable version available: Yes (runs as exe, no install required)
Non-English languages supported: None
Other relevant information: Command-line version available
WinPatrol 2008
Website: http://www.winpatrol.com/
Download link: http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html
Author: WinPatrol
Version: 15.02.2008.0
Date: 15.02.2008
Download file size: 706 KB
License: Free version of shareware program
Operating systems supported: Windows 98 - Vista
64 Bit version available: No, but this 32 bit program works in a 64 bit environment
Portable version available: Unknown
Other languages supported: Many - see here: http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html
Additional software required: No