[Money Pit]

lotuseclat79: WAIT a second here LOL. Let's get Startup Monitor working first, before we install another program. Are you using "Startup Monitor" yourself? Why won't this program open so I can view it or configure it? Is it supposed to be like this? Thanks Dave

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by Money Pit

lotuseclat79: WAIT a second here LOL. Let's get Startup Monitor working first, before we install another program. Are you using "Startup Monitor" yourself? Why won't this program open so I can view it or configure it? Is it supposed to be like this? Thanks Dave

Dave,

My understanding of how Startup Monitor works is that when a program trys to install itself into your startup, it notifies you. Have you installed any programs that would startup from your startup menu, etc. If not, then nothing will happen according to my understanding.

Now, with regard to "Process Explorer", I have found that it always helps if you have an alternative means/mechanism available to double-check yourself.

Install/Don't Install - your choice. Process explorer displays the process tree hierarchy, and can associate handles and dlls with a process - quite handy!

How I would proceed from here would be:
Start-> Run->msconfig.exe

then uncheck everything, and reboot.

When the system comes up and you login, the System Monitor should be telling you about every program you unchecked in your startup from msconfig.exe, and you can individually allow/deny each one according to your assessment of whether it should be running or not.

Also, please do download and run autoruns - it is much better than msconfig.exe, and shows all of the hidden Registry entries from where a program might install itself to run.

-- Tom

[Money Pit]

lotuseclat79: I went into Start>Run>msconfig and unchecked a couple items (needed items but ..) when rebooted, Startup Monitor came up and asked... so I guess it's working. I also loaded 'auto run' and the only things it detected as running that msconfig didn't was: C:\Windows\system32\Userinit.exe AND Explorer.exe. No surprises there, all the others it detected, I already was aware of. I keep a VERY close eye on my startup list in msconfig and check on ANYTHING I'm not sure of. Auto run might be a useful tool to hang on to though. Thanks Dave

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by Money Pit

lotuseclat79: I went into Start>Run>msconfig and unchecked a couple items (needed items but ..) when rebooted, Startup Monitor came up and asked... so I guess it's working. I also loaded 'auto run' and the only things it detected as running that msconfig didn't was: C:\Windows\system32\Userinit.exe AND Explorer.exe. No surprises there, all the others it detected, I already was aware of. I keep a VERY close eye on my startup list in msconfig and check on ANYTHING I'm not sure of. Auto run might be a useful tool to hang on to though. Thanks Dave

The beauty of Process Explorer is that it displays the process tree hierarchy which is sadly missing from Task Manager. Also, it can associate handles and dlls with the highlighted process.

When you shutdown a process in your system tray, are you sure that when the icons are removed from the system tray that there isn't a process still running? Process Explorer will show you, and maybe even Task Manager if you know the name of the process, but the Process Explorer display is less ugly to view and quicker to find out what is still running than with Task Manager.

My $0.02 worth,

-- Tom

[Space Cowboy]

Spybot warns me whenever somthing is added to startup on boot.

But the Startup Control Panel Utility of Mike Lin's .. is wonderful and I've used it for years.

Good Luck
Cowboy

[BIGALX58]

Hi...I just downloaded Startup Monitor. I followed the directions and appear to have installed it, but I can't find it in my 'Programs' list, only in the control panel, there's an icon and in my unzipped folder. How do I know it's running? I am supposed to do something with the icon in the control panel??? I'm afraid I'm lost. Please help. Thanks.
P.S. I just noticed that my evaluation version of WinZip has expired...could that be the cause of my problems?? If so, are there any other good 'free' unzippping programs available? Thanks.

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by BIGALX58

Hi...I just downloaded Startup Monitor. I followed the directions and appear to have installed it, but I can't find it in my 'Programs' list, only in the control panel, there's an icon and in my unzipped folder. How do I know it's running? I am supposed to do something with the icon in the control panel??? I'm afraid I'm lost. Please help. Thanks.
P.S. I just noticed that my evaluation version of WinZip has expired...could that be the cause of my problems?? If so, are there any other good 'free' unzippping programs available? Thanks.

Bigalx58,

Read msg #17 of this thread to see how to proceed. Hint: you have to uncheck at least one of your startup items to test Startup Monitor and see it in action.

Consider downloading "Process Explorer" and Autoruns from the website:
http://www.sysinternals.com

Autoruns displays hidden startup Registry items which may/may not have any entries - but, not all tools probe these items.

Process Explorer will display a process hierarchy tree and can associate handles and dlls with the highlighted process.

Sorry, but WinZip is not free. It sounds like you just got in the unzip prior to the expiry on the trial download. Try 7-zip or Bzip - they might be able to handle unzipping Winzipped zip files, but they have their own zip format and most likely will not be able to be unzipped with Winzip.

-- Tom

[BIGALX58]

I'm sorry, but this isn't working out. I unchecked a few programs from my startup list and I got no response from Startup Monitor after I checked them back.. I guess Startup Monitor isn't installed. If that is the case, I shouldn't have to uninstall it...will simply deleting it do it? It's not listed anywhere where I can uninstall it in the usual ways. Maybe I can unzip the program with another 'unzipper' afterward? Sorry to be such a pain...Startup Monitor seems an easy program to install...I don't know why I can't do it!

[WhitPhil]

I don't think selecting or unselecting items via Msconfig is going to trigger Startup Monitor. The programs that you see here are already in the registry.

To test Startup monitor you need to install a program that is going to attempt to place itself in your startups. Then, the monitor should kick in.

Or, UNinstall the program you you are UNselecting, and then reinstall it.

[BIGALX58]

I uninstalled and reinstalled 3 programs and still I the startup monitor didn't kick in. How can I uninstall Startup Monitor now (it's not in any place that I know of where you can uninstall it) and try installing again?
I uninstalled WinZip and installed another zip program. Then I deleted all references that I could find to Startup Monitor. Then I downloaded Startup Monitor again and.....voila!!! Startup Monitor is now appearing everywhere a newly installed program should be. Sorry to have bothered you all.

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by BIGALX58

I uninstalled and reinstalled 3 programs and still I the startup monitor didn't kick in. How can I uninstall Startup Monitor now (it's not in any place that I know of where you can uninstall it) and try installing again?
I uninstalled WinZip and installed another zip program. Then I deleted all references that I could find to Startup Monitor. Then I downloaded Startup Monitor again and.....voila!!! Startup Monitor is now appearing everywhere a newly installed program should be. Sorry to have bothered you all.

Bigalx58,

Just asking, but were the programs that you uninstalled and reinstalled programs that introduce themselves into your startup list? If not, then they would not have an effect on Startup Monitor anyway. WinZip, as far as I know is not such a program. The goal here is to use a program such as AVG Free or some other AV software that can be introduced to run on startup. Uninstall such a program - your choice as to what is in your startup list - and then install it and reboot - the Startup Monitor (if installed at that point) should kick off and do its thang!

-- Tom

[BIGALX58]

Startup Monitor works now!!! It just takes me usually a little longer to get things working.....afterall, wouldn't life become boring?? lol