Startup Tool (XP)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jordan
  • Start date Start date
J

Jordan

I'm looking for a Startup monitoring/control program that allows me to
*permanently* block disabled programs from re-inserting themselves into my
startup list. For example, in Startup Cop, even though I have disabled
qttask.exe (Quicktime), it enables itself every time I run QT. I've heard
that RealPlayer also does the same thing.

TIA
 
I'm looking for a Startup monitoring/control program that allows me to
*permanently* block disabled programs from re-inserting themselves into my
startup list. For example, in Startup Cop, even though I have disabled
qttask.exe (Quicktime), it enables itself every time I run QT. I've heard
that RealPlayer also does the same thing.
Click to expand...

Programs that don't offer an option to not automatically run at
startup are crapware that should be uninstalled IMO.

You could remove their registry Run entries to see if that permanently
disables their annoying behaviour. Use a Trojan Finder such as the one
available at my web site. Besides the registry, they might hook other
startup axis points such as win.ini and even autoexec.bat on older
systems.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
Jordan wrote in said:
I'm looking for a Startup monitoring/control program that allows me to
*permanently* block disabled programs from re-inserting themselves into my
startup list.
Click to expand...

Not sure, but I think Winpatrol can do that
<http://www.pricelessware.org/2004/PL2004SYSTEMUTILITIES.htm#ZZ213>
I use RegRun, a shareware app for the same functions (and it can do
what you want) and that is s why I can not say for sure if Winpatrol
can - do not have it installed...one way for you to find out I guess
:)

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Programs that don't offer an option to not automatically run at
startup are crapware that should be uninstalled IMO.

You could remove their registry Run entries to see if that permanently
disables their annoying behaviour. Use a Trojan Finder such as the one
available at my web site. Besides the registry, they might hook other
startup axis points such as win.ini and even autoexec.bat on older
systems.
Click to expand...

Quicktime does offer an option to not automatically run at startup. However,
QTtask.exe is Quicktime's checker to see if its associations have changed.
Though I have disabled it, it will re-enable itself and begin running as
soon as I run Quicktime.

But I'm not just interested in QT. I'd like a startup tool similar to the
new Startup Cop Pro (shareware) that *permanently* blocks programs and tasks
I have disabled without removing them.

TIA
 
Jordan said:
I'm looking for a Startup monitoring/control program that allows me to
*permanently* block disabled programs from re-inserting themselves into my
startup list. For example, in Startup Cop, even though I have disabled
qttask.exe (Quicktime), it enables itself every time I run QT. I've heard
that RealPlayer also does the same thing.

TIA
Click to expand...

I use a tiny program called startup monitor-StartupMonitor is a small
utility that runs transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and
notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
 
dansheen wrote in said:
I use a tiny program called startup monitor-StartupMonitor is a small
utility that runs transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and
notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
Click to expand...

But can it block a program, so you will not have be notified about it
(and respond to it) again - after the first time around? I think that
was the question.

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Bjorn said:
But can it block a program, so you will not have be notified about it
(and respond to it) again - after the first time around? I think that
was the question.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I'd like a program that allows you disable programs from your
startup list and *keeps* them disabled.

Startup Cop Pro (shareware) does this. From the website
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1407864,00.asp :

"Permanently Block Disabled Programs. No means no. You may have noticed-and
been annoyed by-applications that rudely keep reinserting themselves into
your startup sequence, such as RealPlayer and QuickTime. That won't be a
problem anymore. Startup Cop Pro keeps a watchful eye on programs you've
disabled and keeps them out of your startup list."
 
Exactly. I'd like a program that allows you disable programs from your
startup list and *keeps* them disabled.

Startup Cop Pro (shareware) does this.
Click to expand...

One for the wishlist maybe?
 
Bjorn Simonsen said:
But can it block a program, so you will not have be notified about it
(and respond to it) again - after the first time around? I think that
was the question.
Click to expand...

I don't have XP, so am wondering, does the following article mean that XP,
at least the pro version, has tools for this this built in, to disable Real
and similar's habits?

<quote>
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314488

This article explains how to use the Group Policy snap-in to create or
modify the list of programs that start automatically when you log on to
your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer.

Windows XP has two separate Run policies:

* Run at Startup

-and-

* Legacy Run at Startup

The items that you added to the Items to run at logon list start
automatically the next time that you log on to Windows on your computer.
A list of these items is located in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\Run

[...]

LEGACY RUN AT STARTUP

The legacy programs that are configured to start when you log on to your
computer are listed in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Many third-party programs, such as RealAudio, can be included in this
category.

You can either enable or disable the legacy run list. You cannot modify it
directly from within the Group Policy snap-in. If you want to add items to
the list of programs that start automatically when you log on to your
computer, see the "Run at Startup Policy" section of this article.
[...]
</quote>


"You can either enable or disable the legacy run list."

I can't see any disadvantage in that (?) That which you do choose to run
at startup, why not have it launched from another location (?)
 
I'm looking for a Startup monitoring/control program that allows me to
*permanently* block disabled programs from re-inserting themselves into my
startup list. For example, in Startup Cop, even though I have disabled
qttask.exe (Quicktime), it enables itself every time I run QT. I've heard
that RealPlayer also does the same thing.
Click to expand...

Try this freeware (sorry haven't got a link, do a google):

Startup Control Panel
---------------------
by Mike Lin ([email protected])

Startup Control Panel is a nifty control panel applet that allows you
to control what programs run at system startup. I wrote it because
I was tired of digging through the registry all the time; I hope you
like it!

TO INSTALL:

Simply run install.exe from the zip. It will extract the compressed
program file to your control panel.

TO USE:

Open control panel and select "Startup".

You are presented with a dialog box with several tabs. Each tab
represents a different method of starting a program at system
startup. These include:

Startup (user) - Run the program from the current user's Startup
folder.

Startup (common) - Run the program from the common (all users) Startup
folder (NT only)

HKLM / Run - Run the program from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (all users)
Registry key.

HKCU / Run - Run the program from the HKEY_CURRENT_USER Registry key.

Services - Run these system services before the user logs on. This
is usually used for things like virus scanners.

Run Once - These programs are run once and once only at the next
system startup.

To add an item to a list, right-click some blank space in the list
and select "New...". Here you can enter a descriptive name for the
program, and the path to the program's executable (you can also
browse for it).

To modify an existing item, right-click it and select "Edit...".

To delete an item, right-click it and select Delete.

You can also drag & drop files from Windows Explorer into one of
the lists to add it to the list.
 
omega wrote in said:
I don't have XP, so am wondering, does the following article mean that XP,
at least the pro version, has tools for this this built in, to disable Real
and similar's habits?

<quote>
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314488
Click to expand...

Yes, but as you seem to have noted the article you pointed to only
applies to XP PRO and the 64-bit edition. I am not sure about XP Home,
don't run it my self (but win2k) - but from what I can remember
reading - it does not offer this option. Btw: NT and Win2k does. In
other words, all NT based system does - except XP-home I think.

IMHO, adding an application for exclusion via group policy this way is
rather "involving", compared to using a startup monitor utility that
will let you "black list" any app with a click or two when prompted.
But AFAIK it seems non of the free startup monitoring tools can do
this (just had a look at Winpatrol, but no).

As mentioned I use a shareware app for this my self - RegRun (gold
edition) from <http://www.reatis.com>. The Pro and Gold editions
offers a black-list feature (always deny) as well as a exclusion list
(never deny). It can also add any new found startup app to the
blacklist automatically if you so please.

Btw: While the group policy configuration options offered by NT based
systems is very useful, it presupposes that you know how - and what
apps to add for exclusion when. In other words, it presupposes that
you have admin privileges, and know how to use them. And as for
startup apps, it requires that you either pay very close attention to
the startup loading locations your self (check them every time you
log-on and off), or that you use a free monitoring application like
Winpatrol or Startup Monitor that at least will warn when new startup
apps are added - so you can add and permanently disable the most
annoying ones (those that attempt to load more than once/often) in
your NT/2k/XP-pro run policy. Me -
I rather prefer a startup monitoring app with a one (or two:) click
"add-to-black list" choice.

While on the subject, adding a few notes (or ramblings - you choose)
about identifying startup applications - when you notice new ones
added to your system: what are they? - what program do they belong to?
- what do they do? - do I really need them? - are they harmful in any
way? and so on...

Some times it seems rather easy, the name or location of the exe (or
whatever) that wants to load at startup says it all. At least you can
deduce from this which (main) program the startup app belongs,
although sometimes both the name (and location) can seem rather
"cryptic". But anyway - it is not always clear what they do, or if you
really need them, or if they may cause any harm or not. Some times the
"mother" application provides the info needed (help file) about what
the startup program will do - and when or if you need it. The well
behaved ones will also prompt you about it when you install the
"mother program", asking: "do you want to load X at startup?" or
similar. Other times (very often) they are silently installed without
even so much as a prompt during installation, and/or their purpose and
use are not mentioned/explained in the help or readme. Then it is not
easy knowing if the program is useful, needed, harmful spyware or
trojans, etc. And even if the "mother program prompts you during
install, and offers a disable choice after, and even if it offer loads
of info, you can never be sure - if the startup app is harmful or not.

The shareware version of Winpatrol offers database lookup feature
(direct online lookup in their database think). This is AFAIK the only
thing that separates the free from the full version of Winpatrol. The
shareware app RegRun offers a similar feature, but here you get a
local copy of the database (frequently updated) - which you can also
lookup online if you please. Thing I like about the RegRun approach,
the database can be edited - so you can add your own notes (the
interface is rather basic, but it serves the purpose just fine IMHO).

If you use any of the free monitoring tools, you will have to perform
searches your self. But note - you might have to that even if you use
any of shareware apps with Look-up features, since there is no
warranty the app you find in your startup is known and listed by the
(shareware) app (database) you use.

So - in any case - www.google.com is our friend. Search on exe/program
name. There are also some dedicated databases/webpages online that
list lots and lots of startup apps with info about them; here are a
few links (including the Regrun database):

<http://www.greatis.com/regrun3appdatabase.htm> : "breaks hundreds of
possible start-up components into four easy-to-understand categories:
necessary, useless, at your option, and dangerous." (this is the
online version of the same database I get with Regrun. Online version
can be accessed freely by anyone).

Start-up Applications:
<http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm>

PestPatrol search pages:
<http://pestpatrol.com/Search/SearchPestInfo.asp>

Spybot threats list:
<http://spybot.eon.net.au/index.php?lang=en&page=knowledgebase/threats>


All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Bjorn Simonsen wrote in said:
As mentioned I use a shareware app for this my self - RegRun (gold
edition) from <http://www.reatis.com>.
Click to expand...

correction to URL, should be: <http://www.greatis.com>.

While I am at it. Below is a note from a previous post of mine
(elsewhere) - where I have listed some startup utilities and indicated
if they offer either configuration [conf] or monitoring [mon] or both
[mon and conf).
As for black-list feature, as said - the only ones I have seen
offering this is shareware apps, like the before mentioned RegRun
<http://www.greatis.com> and Startup Cop Pro (mentioned by Jordan)
<http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1407864,00.asp>

Apps that offer either startup configuration, monitoring of, or both:

Free WinPatrol [mon and conf]
<http://www.winpatrol.com/>
Detect, Disable Un-Wanted Programs, Cookies & Tasks. Safely
monitors changes to your system without slowing down other
applications and more..

Startup Monitor[mon] og StartupCPL [conf] <http://www.mlin.net>.

RegistryProt[mon] og Autostart viewer [conf]:
<http://www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=products>

"Winsonar 2003 Freeware Edition" [mon and conf]
<http://digilander.libero.it/zancart/winsonar/index.htm>

AppPaths [conf]
http://www.gregorybraun.com/AppPaths.html
"Application Paths 2000 is a small Control Panel extension that
will allow you to edit various startup settings defined in the MS
Windows System Registry. AppPaths includes facilities to modify
the startup (Run) settings found in the MS Windows System
Registry as well as MS Windows System Services, AppPaths and Help
settings."

Spybot - Search & Destroy [conf],
<http://spybot.safer-networking.de/>
In addition to its spyware search and remove, offers a nice
interface for config. of startup, Windows services and BHO's (bs)

Starter [conf]
<http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/news.shtml>.
For latest beta, check the program's Yahoo forum
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/codestuff>.

All the best
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Mike said:
Try this freeware (sorry haven't got a link, do a google):

Startup Control Panel
Click to expand...

This will not permanently block disabled programs from loading. For example,
setting QTtask.exe, the system tray component of Quicktime, to "disabled"
will work only until the next time Quicktime is run at which time it will
become "enabled", reinsert itself into the startup sequence and start
running again.
 
Bjorn said:
Bjorn Simonsen wrote in said:
As mentioned I use a shareware app for this my self - RegRun (gold
edition) from <http://www.reatis.com>.
Click to expand...

correction to URL, should be: <http://www.greatis.com>.

While I am at it. Below is a note from a previous post of mine
(elsewhere) - where I have listed some startup utilities and indicated
if they offer either configuration [conf] or monitoring [mon] or both
[mon and conf).
As for black-list feature, as said - the only ones I have seen
offering this is shareware apps, like the before mentioned RegRun
<http://www.greatis.com> and Startup Cop Pro (mentioned by Jordan)
<http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1407864,00.asp>

Apps that offer either startup configuration, monitoring of, or both:

Free WinPatrol [mon and conf]
<http://www.winpatrol.com/>
Detect, Disable Un-Wanted Programs, Cookies & Tasks. Safely
monitors changes to your system without slowing down other
applications and more..

Startup Monitor[mon] og StartupCPL [conf] <http://www.mlin.net>.

RegistryProt[mon] og Autostart viewer [conf]:
<http://www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=products>

"Winsonar 2003 Freeware Edition" [mon and conf]
<http://digilander.libero.it/zancart/winsonar/index.htm>

AppPaths [conf]
http://www.gregorybraun.com/AppPaths.html
"Application Paths 2000 is a small Control Panel extension that
will allow you to edit various startup settings defined in the MS
Windows System Registry. AppPaths includes facilities to modify
the startup (Run) settings found in the MS Windows System
Registry as well as MS Windows System Services, AppPaths and Help
settings."

Spybot - Search & Destroy [conf],
<http://spybot.safer-networking.de/>
In addition to its spyware search and remove, offers a nice
interface for config. of startup, Windows services and BHO's (bs)

Starter [conf]
<http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/news.shtml>.
For latest beta, check the program's Yahoo forum
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/codestuff>.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bjorn for your comprehensive analysis and investigation. Looks like a
freeware startup tool that blacklists programs does not yet exist. However,
I have written the author of StartupRun, Nir Sofer
(http://members.lycos.co.uk/nirsoft/), and suggested adding that feature.
 
Bjorn Simonsen wrote in said:
So - in any case - www.google.com is our friend. Search on exe/program
name. There are also some dedicated databases/webpages online that
list lots and lots of startup apps with info about them; here are a
few links (including the Regrun database):
Click to expand...

Just to complete the list, since Windows Services runs and loads at
startup - a tad OT here perhaps - but still - here are some links to
pages that list or describes Windows NT/2k/XP services, and
configuration of. Some/most of the startup config and monitoring tools
mentioned previously in this thread also covers Windows Services.

blkviper explains and comments on various services:
XP: http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm
2k: http://www.blkviper.com/WIN2K/win2kservice411.htm

blkviper suggests different service configuraitons:
XP: <http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm>
2k: <http://www.blkviper.com/WIN2K/servicecfg.htm>

Minimizing Windows network services
- Examples with Windows 2000 and Windows XP
<http://www.hsc.fr/ressources/breves/min_srv_res_win.en.html>

Windows Services list, Windows Processes list,Complete list of
unknown services <http://camica.netfirms.com/services.htm>

Windows XP Services Tweak Guide
<http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/>
same - but all in one page:
<http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/print.shtml>

Windows 2000 Services Tweak guide
<http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/win2k_services/>
same - but all in one page:
<http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/win2k_services/print.shtml>

How to secure Windows2000 / XP
<http://www.markusjansson.net/exp.html> (part about services)

Windows XP Services removal guide by Matt
<http://www.overclockersclub.com/windowsxpservices.shtml>

Glossary of Windows 2000 Services
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/howitworks/management/w2kservices.asp>

mvh
Bjørn Simonsen
 
Jordan wrote in said:
I have written the author of StartupRun, Nir Sofer
(http://members.lycos.co.uk/nirsoft/), and suggested adding that feature.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have seen this one, forgot to add it to my list. Btw, that
page does not display well in Opera (7.20 for Windows). Not at all in
fact. Front page shows, but when I try any of the subpage, no go. Oh
well, not your problem - I sent the author a (kind) note about it :)

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen
 
Jordan said:
Mike Echo wrote:

This will not permanently block disabled programs from loading. For
example, setting QTtask.exe, the system tray component of Quicktime,
to "disabled" will work only until the next time Quicktime is run at
which time it will become "enabled", reinsert itself into the startup
sequence and start running again.
Click to expand...

A work around could be:
Use one of those apps that let you perform tasks at shutdown/log off.
Set it to remove the defending registry entries.

HTH
 
Back
Top