Windows XP: Get That Crap Out of My System Tray!

Why is it that every software manufacturer feels that their software must:

• Install a shortcut in 1,700 places on my PC?
• Run at startup?
• Create a useless app that runs in my PC's system tray with no option to disable this feature?

As of recently, I was able to speed-up the boot-up time of PC a little by removing many of the links to the programs that thought they needed to run at start-up (and I didn't.) The hard way to do this is to go to Start > Run > Type in "MSCONFIG" > Startup Tab. From there, you can try and decifer what it is that is running on your PC when it boots-up. If you find some programs you think should not be run at startup, you can use the RegEdit tool to remove the entry in the Registry that starts that app.

However, there is an easier way (of course!) System Internals offers a free application called AutoRuns that is really easy to use, and makes removing unwanted start-up apps a breeze! Once the app runs, it lists all the applications that choose to run on start-up, and shows you who manufacturered the application. By right-clicking on the application, you can delete it or go directly to the spot in the Registry where the reference is located.

Warning: It is quite easy to remove programs your PC actually needs at start-up using either of the above methods! Do not even bother using this tool if you aren't a geek! ;)