Scott's Windows Startup Program Manager

(c) SB-Software / Scott M. Baker, smbaker@sb-software.com

Purpose:

Scott's Windows Startup Program manager is a utility designed to let you manage the programs that automatically start when your Windows PC boots up. These programs are generally stored in the windows registry, and are difficult to edit, unless you are familiar with how the windows registry works. This software is designed to be a much easier interface to let you add, remove, and edit items from the startup list. This program is free for non-commercial use, and has no expirations, time limits, disabled features, adware, spyware, or any other junk that will keep you from using it.

Motivation:

So why do you need to edit the windows startup programs? Well, there are several reasons. The first is that some program you installed put something annoying in there that you don't want. For example, my Kodak Digital Camera software installed an auto-update program that was polling every day for new versions -- I didn't want the thing, so I had to get it out of the startup registry. A second situation is that maybe you've been the victim of an adware or spyware attack. The adware programs often place themselves in the windows startup settings so that their adware program gets loaded each time. So you go in, find something that doesn't belong, and nuke it. Finally, there's one other situation I can think of where you might find this software useful -- let's say you actually *want* something loaded at startup (maybe a tool you find useful...), then you can use this software to add the thing you want to the list.

Installation

Installation is very straightforward -- the built in install program should install the software to a program group in your start menu, as well as place an icon on your desktop. It's all automatic, and there's a built in uninstall program that should be able to get rid of everything if you decide you don't want the software.

Quick Start:

1. Launch the program (via start menu, desktop icon, or whatever....)
2. You'll see a dialog box with a big list. The list contains entries that look like this:
   • Type: HKCU or HKLM, and the key that is used (Run, RunOnce, etc)
   • Name: A descriptive name of the thing that is to be loaded
   • Destination: The program executable and any parameters
3. There are buttons at the bottom -- <add>, <delete>, <edit>, etc to let you do what you want

Features:

• No Disabled Features - No Limitations - No Adware - No Spyware - No Expiration.
• Lets you edit keys in both HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
• Lets you edit all of the run keys: Run, RunOnce, RunOnceEx, RunServices, RunServicesOnce
• User-friendly GUI interface

Register

Normally, I don't charge a registration fee for small tools like this. However, if you would like to contribute to the project (any contributions go toward helping to develop my shareware applications), then go over to the Groovy Hex Editor page and download and register that!

Registrations may be paid for online in a variety of methods (credit card, etc), or may be made through the mail. See the website site at http://www.sb-software.com/

Revision History

• Version 1.0
  • Initial public release
• Version 1.1
  • Fix problem with taskbar icon on startup
  • Remember window position
• Version 1.2
  • Second try at fixing the taskbar problem
  • Make taskbar icon always lit rather than turning on/off when shrunk/restored
  • Added popup menu to taskbar