In Windows 98 or Me, how do I keep undesired programs from loading during startup?

Note: Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Vista Enterprise or Ultimate are the only Windows operating systems recommended for use on the Indiana University network. For more information, see For Windows computers on the IU network, why does UITS recommend Windows 2000, XP Professional, or Vista Enterprise or Ultimate? Because of security enhancements to the IU network in May 2006, Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me computers can no longer authenticate to ADS, print to some network printers in departments and campus housing, or map drives to other computers.

There are three ways to configure Windows 98 and Me to prevent undesired programs from loading during startup:

Using the System Configuration Utility

1. Click Start and select Run... . In the "Open:" field, type msconfig , then click OK.
   
   
2. A System Configuration Utility window will appear. At the top of the window, make sure the Startup tab is selected.
   
   
3. You should see a list of all the things that start when the computer is booting. To keep an item from starting, click the item's checkbox to remove the checkmark. (If you later want to check an item that you have unchecked, you can repeat this process and click the checkbox again.)

   Some items on the list are necessary for your computer to function properly. To distinguish between items that are necessary and those that are not, you can consult: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm If you're uncertain about an item, it's best to leave it checked.

There is also a way to disable all startup items, but use this option with caution. On the General tab, there is an option for Selective Startup. If that option is selected, the option Load startup group items is checked. If this option is unchecked, it will prevent all startup items from loading. Some of these items are necessary for various features to work on your computer. For instance, if a keyboard has volume control, Internet hotkeys, or other accessories, then a program needs to run on startup for those things to work. Also, there are some programs, such as firewalls and antivirus programs, that need to run whenever your computer is running to be effective.

Removing items from the StartUp folder

1. To disable programs listed in this folder, click Start and select Programs.
   
   
2. Right-click StartUp, and select Open. Windows will list your startup items here, and you can delete the items that you don't want.

Editing the registry

Warning: This document contains instructions for editing the registry. If you make any error while editing the registry, you can potentially cause Windows to fail or be unable to boot, requiring you to reinstall Windows. Edit the registry at your own risk. Always back up the registry before making any changes. For information on how to back up your registry, see In Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me, how do I make a backup of the registry? or In Windows NT, 2000, and XP, how do I back up the registry? If you do not feel comfortable editing the registry, do not attempt these instructions. Instead, seek the help of a computing support provider.

1. To open the registry editor, click the Start button, and select Run... .
   
   
2. In the "Open:" field, enter regedit . The startup information is stored in: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

   Note: If you don't have the directory Run on your system, it means that the Windows registry does not have any programs to load during the startup process.

3. Remove unwanted lines by right-clicking the line, then selecting Delete from the menu that appears.

Also see:

• How do I install or uninstall components of Windows 95, 98, or Me?
• What is Windows Update and how do I use it to update my Windows installation?
• In Windows 98, how do I use the built-in tutorial?