AutoRuns for Windows

Description:

This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.

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Why it's best: Applications running in the background is one of the largest contributors to a PC’s slow performance. AutoRuns displays a comprehensive list of all startup monitors and programs scheduled to run at boot or startup. You can then choose the ones that you do not want to run, resulting in increased performance and faster boot times. Similar in functionality to MSConfig, but much more powerful.