Startup Program Group

• 1). Click on the Windows "Start" menu and look in the Programs list. Find a program group named "Startup." Right-click on the name and select "Open" to open it in folder view.
  
  
• 2). Right-click on any icon and select "Properties" to find out what folder it is located in, if this might help you learn more about what the file does (in case you're not sure).
  
  
• 3). Drag the file or files you don't want to the Recycle Bin. Click "OK" if you are presented with a message asking if you are sure.
  
  
• 4). Right-click on the Recycle Bin and click on "Empty Recycle Bin" from the menu that pops up. Click "OK" if you are presented with a message asking if you are sure.
  
  

System Configuration Utility

• 1). Click on "Run" in the Start menu. Type in "msconfig" and click "OK."
  
  
• 2). Select the "Startup" tab. Study the list and decide which files you don't want to run when Windows starts up. You can drag the side of the window to make it wider, and drag the boundary between any of the columns in the heading, to make a column wider and find out what it says, if this will help you know for sure what a program does.
  
  
• 3). Click the check box to remove the check mark next to any file you don't want to run when Windows starts. This will not remove the file, but will keep it from running automatically. Click "OK." This is a good option if you want to see what happens when it doesn't run, instead of deleting it entirely. If you should find you want the file to run automatically again, repeat these steps and click to put the check mark back again.
  
  

Settings in Memory-resident Programs

• 1). Look in your system tray for programs that run automatically. This is next to the clock on the Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen.
  
  
• 2). Right-click on any of the programs you think you might want to stop running automatically.
  
  
• 3). Look for an option to "Exit" the program. This will close it now, but it may re-open when you restart Windows. If you want to stop it running every time, look for a settings or options selection and click on it. Or choose an option that will maximize the program and then look for a settings or options menu option.
  
  
• 4). Look for an option that specifies that the program will run when Windows starts. Deselect that option by clicking to make sure there is no check mark in the box next to it, or radio button selected. Select "OK" or just close the menu and the program.
  
  
• 5). Check to see that the program is not running after you restart Windows.