# Startup settings for XP

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-settings-for-xp/244419>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 10, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-settings-for-xp/244419 "2004-05-10T05:41:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-settings-for-xp/244419/1 "2004-05-10T05:41:18Z")

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I can’t beleive I don’t know this. I have some programs I want to keep but I only use them occasionally. They keep auto-loading when I turn the computer on, then I have to go to the system tray to close them before doing anything.

I poked around the help section, but not looking in the right place.

So, how do I disable these from auto-starting?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-settings-for-xp/244419/2 "2004-05-10T05:44:27Z")

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Start Menu \> Run. Tpe msconfig, hit Enter. Click the Startup tab, and go down the list and uncheck anything you don’t want starting. Be sure you understand what each item does before you disable it.

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**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-settings-for-xp/244419/3 "2004-05-10T06:28:17Z")

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Thanks **Q.E.D.**

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startup-settings-for-xp/244419/4 "2004-05-10T06:34:33Z")

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[http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm](http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm)

I always disable at least half the default services when installing XP.