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Your Computer's Starting Process

When you press the power switch of your computer, a small program stored in a permanent circuit called the "Boot ROM" runs automatically.

This software performs a few very important tasks. First, it tests the most important computer hardware -- the CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory and keyboard -- making sure they're up to the job ahead. This process is called the "Power-On Self Test", or POST.

Next, it detects more of your computer's hardware, discovering and identifying your disk drives, video circuits, ports (serial, parallel, USB and Firewire), adapter cards, and more.

Finally, the Boot ROM program copies the first 512 bytes of your hard disk (called the "Master Boot Record", or MBR) to your computer's memory. It then turns control of your computer over to a small program found in the MBR.

Sound like a lot of work? Your computer's startup routine has only just begun!

The MBR program now searches the root directory of your hard disk, looking for another program to load and run. If you're running Windows 95, 98, 98 SE, or Me, that next program is stored in two files named IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS.

Computers running Windows NT, 2000, XP or Server 2003 have files named IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS too. But if you look closely, those files are empty! Each is zero bytes long! On these computers the next program is stored in under a different location, in a file named NTLDR (NT Loader).

Whatever the name, the program run by the MBR does the same job. First, it performs a more complete analysis of your computer's hardware. It then locates, and copies into memory, any special software (called "device drivers") needed to let that hardware go to work.

Finally, it loads a portion of Windows itself. This first bit of Windows loads the rest of Windows, performs any tasks left over from the last time Windows shutdown (such as the completion of program installations), asks you to log in, and finally recalls your desktop and other Windows settings.

Windows is still waking up! It has one more important job to do, before turning the computer over to you ...

The Startup Folder:

Windows now searches a special place on our hard disks, known as the Startup folder. The exact full name and location of this folder varies, depending on the version of Windows you're and the login name of the computer's current user. But you can always view this folder's contents by selecting Programs, then Startup, after clicking Windows' Start button.

Your Startup folder may be empty. But most of the time, there are entries in the folder (shortcuts or links to programs to be started every time your computer starts up). In some cases, way too many items!

Some of these programs run quietly, staying in the background, working without displaying any outward signs. Others show a small icon in the Windows system tray (that area in the lower-right corner of our computer screen), and wait patiently for us to tell them what to do. And a few make a showy splash, displaying a conspicuous banner or initial window.

That's because there are no restrictions on the type of programs that can be linked to the Startup folder. Any icon (or shortcut) placed there will be run, just as if you double-clicked the icon right after Windows starts.

Most entries in a Startup folder are placed there by installation programs, ensuring their programs run whenever Windows is running. But you can place shortcuts there too.

Other Places:

While the Startup Folder is the most visible place where you can see what's running, there are programs (and services) running that are not listed in the Startup Folder!

Sometimes a program has a setting that you can check or uncheck that tells Windows to run that program every time Windows starts. However, that program may NOT be listed in the Startup Folder! In lieu of an entry in the Startup Folder, that program places an entry in the Windows registry. And it could be in one of many places within the Windows Registry!

If you are interested in see where these places are take the following steps but do NOT change any of the entries you see unless you know what your are doing. Incorrectly changing an entry in the registry could render your system unbootable requiring you to reinstall Windows!):

Click on Start — Run and then type the following:

regedt32.exe

and then press Enter. The registry will be displayed.

Double-left click on each of the following:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion

Left click once on each of the following entries:

Run
RunOnce
RunServices
RunServicesOnce

The entries you see on the right side of the screen are those programs that run each time Windows starts!

Unfortunately there are other places within the registry wherein programs (and services) that start each time Windows is started are listed. It can be rather difficult to look at all the appropriate places! Fortunately there is a free program you can download and install that will display all the programs (and services) that start each time Windows starts. The program is called autoruns and can be downloaded from the following web site:

Autoruns

Other than the fact this program is free, with this program you can disable those programs you do not want running each time Windows starts just by clicking the checkbox in front of the entry. By removing the check mark in front of an entry, you are harmlessly changed the registry and if for some reason your computer does not run properly after disabling the entry, you can just go back into autoruns and place the check mark back in the checkbox. Then by restarting your computer, you have enabled the autorunning program!


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Questions?

This page last updated: APril 12, 2009