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    Any harm in deleting unused startup entries?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Drjones, Dec 30, 2009.

  1. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    We all know how to use MSCONFIG to disable unwanted programs from starting at boot, but is it safe to delete them completely?

    ccleaner allows you to actually delete those entries, say, for iTunes or Adobe Reader, and I'd think that it's perfectly safe to do so, though I learned long ago that assumptions get you into trouble.

    I've already deleted such entries on a few computers with no ill effects, but just wanted to double-check.

    Thanks
     
    Drjones, Dec 30, 2009
    #1
  2. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    Never had a problem with deleting a program entry as long as it was disabled first, checked, then deleted.

    I have on rare occassions run into issues where deleting or disabling a startup entry prevented a boot up. Re-enabling is easier if you only disabled the startup entry.
     
    gerryf19, Dec 30, 2009
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  3. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You can delete those entries, however I only suggest you do that for programmes that have been removed.

    Interestingly CCleaner and Autoruns (MS Sysinternals) work differently.

    If I untick the box in Autoruns CCleaner no longer sees the entry? Autorruns does (last time I checked).

    The key problem is if you delete an entry incorrectly - things like Adobe Reader are fixed by repairing/reinstalling - however, you may run into trouble if you delete a system entry and then cannot "resurrect" it.
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 30, 2009
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  4. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    True, but I only intend to delete stuff like Adobe, iTunes/quicktime, etc. - stuff that can be easily re-downloaded & reinstalled.
     
    Drjones, Dec 30, 2009
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  5. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Well, you have your answer then :) no harm done.
    (although no gain over just unchecking either)
     
    DetlevCM, Dec 30, 2009
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  6. Imperfect1

    Imperfect1 Notebook Evangelist

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    A prudent way to handle the situation would be to disable the program/app and then wait a sufficiently long time before you remove it, to make sure no harm has been done (i.e. that the disabling hasn't caused any problems.) I do the same thing with the installation of Windows Updates --- only install one at a time, and then wait a day or so until I see that the Update hasn't caused a problem. If not, I go ahead and install the next one.
     
    Imperfect1, Dec 31, 2009
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  7. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Make sure you have a very recent System Restore checkpoint.......
     
    newsposter, Dec 31, 2009
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  8. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    It shouldn't harm anything... but don't expect any benefit either. If they're not running, then they're not running... it doesn't matter if they're in the list or not.
     
    swarmer, Dec 31, 2009
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  9. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    If that's the case, then why do people bother uninstalling and deleting unused programs, especially bloatware that comes pre-installed?

    I'd prefer to not have them on at all....
     
    Drjones, Jan 1, 2010
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  10. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Real life comparison:

    Entry - one line on a register
    Bloatware - a book, or a row of books on the shelf

    See the difference ;) :)
     
    DetlevCM, Jan 1, 2010
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  11. Kocane

    Kocane Notebook Deity

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    The list is empty on a clean install, so ofcourse there wouldn't be any harm.. Only you would experience some issues like hotkeys on a laptop not functioning because you disabled the drivers program startup or something :)
     
    Kocane, Jan 1, 2010
    #11