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Chameleon Startup Manager Standard 3.4 Giveaway
$24.95
EXPIRED

Giveaway of the day — Chameleon Startup Manager Standard 3.4

Chameleon Startup Manager can control programs that run at Windows startup, which makes Windows start faster and operate with increased stability.
$24.95 EXPIRED
User rating: 342 56 comments

Chameleon Startup Manager Standard 3.4 was available as a giveaway on February 3, 2012!

Today Giveaway of the Day
$49.95
free today
Helps you get back all kinds of lost or deleted data on Android devices.

Chameleon Startup Manager can control programs that run at Windows startup, which makes Windows start faster and operate with increased stability.

Programs can be run according to various functions including startup order change, startup delay, priority, consecutive program launch, day selection and much more.

System Requirements:

Windows XP/ 2003/ Vista/ 2008/ 7

Publisher:

Neosoft Tools

Homepage:

http://www.chameleon-managers.com/windows-startup-manager/

File Size:

5.22 MB

Price:

$24.95

Comments on Chameleon Startup Manager Standard 3.4

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#56

I haven't seen anyone ever mention PC Magazine's utilities. They have one called Start-up Cop that is great. Does all that this one does and a lot more. Costs a wopping $7.97 (or pay $19.97 for a year of their utilities, unlimited). pcmag.com I love their programs.

Reply   |   Comment by Amo  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#55

#14 Computers nowadays are fast enough to handle multiple programs starting at once. Yes it does take longer, but starting programs one after another is not the solution as it just means that let's say 10 programs will be starting one after another which in turn is going to keep your RAM, CPU and Hdd busy longer.

Best way to do it is by utilizing the CPU better by setting up startup programs to use different cores. Also you can setup some programs to start with a delay by using computer management, just be sure that you know what you are doing. Same goes for using startup management softwares as you can stop some programs from starting up, but don't go and stop something that your computer or one of the other software might need running to get the best out of you computer.
Startup management programs are great for those who don't know much about how to manage operating system with the hidden tools provided.

Best not to use a software that has no credentials to take control of your computer (I am skeptical of even the ones that do have credentials). Most computers are fine with a lot of programs starting up at once and it's not a problem if your computer takes few extra seconds to start, at least it will start. do something wrong and you can kiss a lot of time and money good bye.

Reply   |   Comment by Havoc  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+4)
#54

Installed twice (and rebooted) and both times it shows up as Chameleon Startup Manager Lite (Free Version) and needs a "Registraiton Code" to update to the "Standard" version!?! I'm uninstalling...

Reply   |   Comment by IamaDreamer  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#53

This program was offered here about two years ago. I do not quite remember why I removed it, but I do remember having a terrible time getting rid of it completely.

So my advice to you dear folks is: think twice before downloading and installing today’s offer especially that the pitch by the developer is not overly honest.

Also please be extremely careful about the suggested above alternative- Soluto.

Just let me say that on the advice of one of the GAOTD users, I decided to install Soluto back in 2010. That proved to be a big, big mistake!!!

If Chameleon was a pain in the neck to remove, the Soluto was even worse. I couldn’t remove it no matter what tricks I tried to pull off, or how many cleaners I tried to use. Every time after being detected and cleaned, some Soluto files kept returning with the vengeance.
That drove me up the wall. Finally I got rid of Soluto, sort of, when my computer crapped out on me. LOL. The ultimate solution to the Soluto hell.

So stay away folks from these two apps and you will be glad you listened to me.


I will never touch these two programs again. Never!

Reply   |   Comment by consuella  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#52

@#31 doofus: GOTD offered "Startup Defender." I wonder if that's the one you are speaking about. I have used it since install. It has many options, but the one I use the most is the simplest: Waring me of programs trying to attach themselves to startup. Nothing get's buy it, and it always gives me a choice. It's small, and I hardly even know it's there, until it announces a program is trying to attach itself. You can also decide what starts, etc. (I don't think there is a delay thing, but it's pretty useful.) - From the suggestions here, I'm off to try "WinPatrol" because this one didn't get past my AV Heuritics anyhow.

Reply   |   Comment by RackAttack  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#51

I've used Chameleon for years on my old desktop and laptop (XP, SP3) with great success. I'm grateful it is being offered again for my new WIN7 HP laptop. Installed and activated easily. Works fine. User friendly. I also use Scotty. Both work well together. Thanks GAOTD and Neosoft.

Reply   |   Comment by DOS_Is_Boss  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-1)
#50

Very serious problem here, hoping someone will recognize the solution and bail me out. I have not been able to get ANY of the GiveAwayoftheDay "Setup" programs to execute successfully for over a month now on my WinXP SP3 computer. Tried MANY times for each software and at different times of day. Upon clicking Setup for today's offer I'm immediately presented with "NSIS Error, Error launching installer". At that point my only option is to click on "OK" to close the error window. Today I also tried with and without my avast Antivirus modules disabled ... still doesn't work. No other known problems with my PC.

Reply   |   Comment by Charles  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#49

@44 Xcitement4u. The many features of Winpatrol have been described above. One of the things that it is very strong at and this software lacks is real time monitoring of system changes to start-up as well as the registry and other critical areas.

As far as a start up manager, Winpatrol only has the ability to delay based upon a time determined by the user. You can set the number of minutes\seconds to delay a program. This offering will allow you to set it based upon the % of free CPU and hard disk activity which then launches the programs when the computer is not busy doing something else.

I think that setting a % of CPU usage is easier because then you only have to decide which programs to delay and not worry about how long you should delay them but that is my personal preference.

I am concerned about the posts above about difficulty uninstalling this program. I did not experience that but if it is mentioned more than once I would be wary.

Reply   |   Comment by gaitch32  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#48

Glary Utilities, which was given not too long ago, has a start up manager that will delay programs with a time of your choosing. Just letting everyone know :)

Reply   |   Comment by Gina  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+6)
#47

#31, doofus

It could be "Smarty Uninstaller 2012" by WINner Tweak (6/7/2011), "Process Lasso" by Bitsum (6/8/2011), "TaskmgrPro" by Goldgingko (8/1/2011), "Startup Defender" by Zards (10/24/2011) or "Your Uninstaller" by Ur (11/21/2011).

Reply   |   Comment by jikol  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#46

Well, actually... Tried this program, looks nice enough. But for delaying programs I would use Soluto (although it's database is not updated frequently enough). And I didn't like the fact that Chameleon Startup Manager starts, EVEN if you told it NOT to start. This is because the start of the program is decided with a scheduled task... This is bad practice and I do NOT like it ;)

Also keep in mind that many people here complain about the fact that the program is almost impossible to remove. I never remove, only disable but if this is important to you: create a restore point first.

Just to keep my startup entries guarded, I use an old dotTech Exclusive: Free AnVir Task Manager Pro! Posted: May 16th, 2009 (http://dottech.org/freebies/7292/).

Also for an after-the-fact tuning AnVir TM works great. The program actually is a task manager (duh!) with many many handy features. If you ever see a newer Pro version for free, grab it! Using it for years now ; )

Peace!

Devvie

Reply   |   Comment by devnullius  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#45

I'll skip today's offering, but many thank to Chris [# 4] and ArtKns [#8] for introducing me to Autoruns, it's truly wonderful, and this was the first I've heard. Thanks also to GOTD for providing the forum and starting the conversation.

Reply   |   Comment by nwcurtis  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#44

In comparison to a lot of start up manager installations I have tried over the years. I always come back to http://www.wheresjames.com/index.php?page=startupmgr. It is user friendly, flexible and free.
Thanks GOTD

Reply   |   Comment by SkullCollector  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#43

start > Run > msconfig = this GUI garbage software!

Reply   |   Comment by babba Ganuche  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-18)
#42

# 14 Gaitch32
First of all, I would like to say THANKS to GOTD and all of GOTD users...While I am particularly fascinated with your impressive knowledge and contributions to the GOTD community, since we're currently discussing this topic, I was wondering if you could tell us if WinPatrol has similar capabilities as todays giveaway.BTW,once again I would like to applaud you for your thorough/detailed explanation on how this program works/function and also sharing your knowledge/info about the features which I find to be very critical & essential to me and probably most users.

As a NOVICE, I strongly depends on the many deligent TECH SAVVY GOTD users like yourself to improve my computer experience. Thank you much for your outstanding contributions...

Reply   |   Comment by Xcitement4u  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+2)
#41

I just can't see the benefit of this Software when the Windows Task Scheduler can do it all and is very robust. With WINDOWS TM one can schedule everything you want to start up and put it conditions and pre conditions and repeat clauses, can base opening some applications based on no connection or connected, can base on users, etc... I fail to see why adding Software that probably just plainly reformats the WINDOW TM.

Reply   |   Comment by Roger Bertrand  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-2)
#40

You forgot one Giovanni!

Its FREE and shows you all specs of machine at start-up and while your computer is running:

"PROCESS HACKER" ... dont let the name scare you, I have used this for over a year and its from open source leader "Souceforge.net"
(I DO wish they would change the name though)

http://processhacker.sourceforge.net/

Reply   |   Comment by Marcay Marcoo  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+9)
#39

Just for the record, I have tried Chameleon in the past and did not keep it because of problems that I had with it (I don't remember all the details.) Actually, that was when I only had a single-core CPU, so maybe it works better with a multi-core?

Also, I had a similar experience with WinPatrol, except that I recall a little bit more, namely, that its little Scotty dog kept interrupting what I was trying to, over and over, to the point that I found it hard to get anything done.

So, I won't be installing either of the above even if they're free.

Reply   |   Comment by internetexplorer  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+1)
#38

If you mess up the sequence of launching programs, you may do more damage to your system than you think.
For starters, some encrypting programs must start first before you start some of your other software, otherwise you may be locked out of your system, it happened to me few times by disabling (delaying) some of the cryptic files.
Also, some memory management program must load first, including process lasso, otherwise most of the software loaded may have no effect in your system loaded by convenience and not logical reason.
You may think that you are in control of your system, but you are not.
Avoid, software that modifies win original system file loading order.

Reply   |   Comment by Fred3  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+22)
#37

Overkill - too complicated. Wanted something easy to understand and use.
Didn't appear to stop unwanted startup entries.

Reply   |   Comment by peter s  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#36

This is *not* simply a utility to enable/disable program start-ups. The really nice element is that it can delay programs such that they do not bog down your boot process. I liked using this program in the past when we got it as a GAOTD but make sure you turn off updates! In the past this was working well for me but when it auto-updated I lost much of the facilities.

Reply   |   Comment by John W  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)
#35

Some words have been mentioned, some have not ..

msconfig has been mentioned, this is built into windows to help navigate both start up items as well as services.

the next thing is services, you can alter the start up timing within this built in windows utility.

not enough? ok, one last built in windows feature to help customize the way your system starts up. try using schedtasks to set up when, why and how quickly an application or service starts on boot, login etc ..

no added software, like today's offering .. which is .. yes, just another thing needing to be removed from windows start up.

Reply   |   Comment by Hanks_Bits  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+6)
#34

This is a nice program; I have used the Pro version before and like it. One great thing is that it will notify you whenever ANYTHING configures itself to run automatically on startup (can't stand programs that do that without informing). However, I personally don't need something like that running all the time. I have and use a very effective startup manager (the one built in to Revo Uninstaller) that I just run from time to time and anything I see that I don't need or want running on startup, I blow it out of there!
However, programs like this are good if you want that process automated or those decisions made for you.

Reply   |   Comment by Bangle Bud  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (0)
#33

I use WIN PATROL PLUS paid for but well worth it it keeps homepage for internet catches things should not be, and will do more than todays giveaway and is cheap well worth paying for, that said this today would not even work on win 7 ultimate 64bit so thumbs and fingers down on this one

Reply   |   Comment by Brent  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+5)
#32

I agree with #24 Col. Panek, check out Soluto.

https://www.soluto.com/

Reply   |   Comment by Lord Necron  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-3)
#31

Today's giveaway is a nice tool that does what it claims effectively and flawlessly, although once again it's not the PRO version but just the Standard limited one.

So, like yesterday and the day before yesterday, I give it a THUMBS UP with some reservations though, because it would be nice if the developers of this programs gave us their full edition rather than their limited one, as trick to induce us to buy their PRO version.

Besides that, I was just wondering why we should pay 25 BUCKS for a tool like this (STANDARD EDITION only) if we can do the same things and even more with award winning and always FREE programs like WINPATROL??

And how about AUSLOGICS TASK MANAGER??

It can find rogue programs (and even hidden Trojans) taking up too much CPU, RAM, Disk Usage or Internet bandwidth in a blink of an eye (Portable Version available)!

http://www.fileinspect.com/task-manager/portable/


Alternatively or in addition to it, to find and kill hidden startup programs and/or malicious processes running on your PC, you can also use this excellent free alternative:

http://www.logixoft.com/process-revealer-free-edition.html

But if you wish to manage and even EDIT any suspicious STARTUP ENTRIES, sitting in the registry of your system, in a very secure and professional way that even a noob can do it without any hassle, just use this FREE APP:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Launchers-Shutdown-Tools/Shadow-Slash-Teknologies-Startup-Manager.shtml


And finally...

a) to prevent annoying and hungry resource programs from registering themselves behind your back at Windows Startup, there is also a great FREE tool called "StartUp Eye" that does this job magnificiently for FREE without charging you a dime for it:

http://tcpmonitor.altervista.org/startupeye-monitor-registry-startup/


b) to dramatically speedup the boot process of your Windows machine, just use the freeware STARTUP DELAYER:

http://www.r2.com.au/page/products/show/startdelay

Screenshots:
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/Startup-Delayer-Screenshot-32344.html

Then, to check out how much speed your system has gained during boot, use this free GEM:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/BootRacer.shtml

Enjoy everything for FREE!!

Ciao
Giovanni

Reply   |   Comment by Giovanni (King of Freebies)  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+45)
#30

Pay attention to the above comments about how hard to uninstall. I am still working to remove and it is going to take a lot of my time if I ever am able to do it.

Reply   |   Comment by Don fredell  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+34)
#29

Several months previous there was a start up program offered. I had to do a system restore and lost it. New company I believe. Part of there advertising said they designed so very user friendly. The main advantage for me was it would show all of the programs you had. With windows you can only see several rows. I tried just for fun and loved it. Cannot find the name. Hope they offer a free basic version. I know not much to go on but can anyone remember the name. Is there anyplace you can find a list of all the programs that have been offered on gotd for like the last 6 months.

Reply   |   Comment by doofus  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+3)
#28

Julia 25#.
Thanks for pointing out that delays could be set up in WinPatrol, somehow I was under the impression that this was only available in the paid version.
Whichever program you use, creating an orderly start-up is often advantageous.

Reply   |   Comment by OldScotty  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+10)
#27

System Explorer is free and has an excellent tool for managing startup programs.

http://systemexplorer.net/

Forum: http://systemexplorer.net/forum2/

Reply   |   Comment by Jason  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#26

Launch delay is an interesting feature however I don't use it. Having a tool that would also help me manage the libraries in my system and user paths would be feature I could use.

Reply   |   Comment by Oravendi  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-7)
#25

I am impressed by this program and have installed it on two of my laptops now. If you want to know what this does that the above mentioned programs do not, go here:
http://www.chameleon-managers.com/windows-startup-manager/demo/

I use Winpatrol (AKA Scotty The Watchdog) and SpywareGuard by Javacool to protect against unwanted start-ups. msconfig built into windows is great but Chameleon Startup Manager does more. Why we aren't getting the full version is beyond me but even this standard version shouldn't be passed up. It has an option to snapshot your system to undo any changes to your start-up registry. It can control what is started first and last and help identify start-up programs and more.

One last freebie I must mention is Soluto. It's taking 'start-up control and identification' on a new path, however, once uninstalled, it undoes changes it makes but meanwhile you have learned what all the processes do.

To Peter Bruce, SlimComputer is supposed to get rid of the Conduit spybar you got yesterday but ironically it also has adware you can opt out of during installation. (Just read the print during install) BHO Demon is also real good for removing BHOs. Also, there are lots of tech help forums that will tell you what to remove from your registry.

Reply   |   Comment by softwarejunkie  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+12)
#24

@11 OldScotty, you said "The main advantage of this program is the ability to delay start-ups, this stops a bunch of programs fighting for the CPU at the same time, this feature is not found in CCleaner or msconfig. The last time I used it on my old machine it reduced my boot time considerably and I reckon it is well worth giving it a try."

I agree with you about the advantages of startup management, and that's why I recommend the free version of WinPatrol. A couple of people have already recommended WinPatrol and for some strange reason they have been voted down for doing so. The reason that I use WinPatrol rather than Microsoft Autoruns is that WinPatrol offers the ability to delay startups. WinPatrol also pops up to inform you about new additions to your startup, and changes to your file associations, which often happens unexpectedly when programs are being registered, and it gives you the choice to reverse these changes. The free version includes nearly all of the functionality of the Pro version; the Pro version appears to be offered for those people who actively want to support the developer. So like the others, I recommend WinPatrol.

Reply   |   Comment by Julia  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+61)
#23

I've used Soluto and shaved a minute off starting Windows 7.

Reply   |   Comment by Col. Panek  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+11)
#22

I'm a big fan of Chameleon Task Manager (given here awhile ago) but not this one. Aside from the whole bait and switch thing of describing the Pro and offering the Standard it offers nothing more than a number of others. Advanced Uninstaller Free, for instance.


Pass on this and choose one that does not lie to you.

Reply   |   Comment by Swim  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+8)
#21

Solouto and WinPatrol will do more and are free and updated. This is nonsense.

Reply   |   Comment by Emrys  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+18)
#20

I have baeen using Starter and it does much more and is free. Check at http://www.snapfiles.com/get/starter.html

Reply   |   Comment by Arnie  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+11)
#19

I didn't bother downloading this for one Major reason. The description of the program and what it actually does is not coherent. Sounds more like they're giving the description for the pro version , which is not being given away today. If Neosoft Tools can't give a accurate summery of their own products I find that suspicious, almost to the point of being dishonest. Whom would want to support a company like that? lmo

Reply   |   Comment by debbie gray  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+25)
#18

Having an application "startup" to control startup applications is not my idea a way to maintain your system. In mind it just doesn't make sense. Additionally, Chameleon Startup Manager seems way too complicated for the average PC user. This may be a great tool for the advanced user however.

I recommend Revo Uninstaller Free to all of my customers to achieve startup management. Within Revo Uninstaller is the function "Autorun Manager" which is much more user friendly. The added uninstaller functionality of this application is an invaluable tool to all PC users, especially to those of us here at GAOTD. If you are interested, you can obtain Revo Uninstaller Free here: http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

Reply   |   Comment by DataPoint Systems  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-3)
#17

Not for the first time is a debt of gratitude owed to GAOTD not only for the way it releases free software each day but also for the facility GAOTD has created here whereby people can report on their personal experience of a download-of-the-day.

A big thankyou then to Greg at post #3, because if ever an alarm bell was rung loudly, then it's Greg's post.

Had it not been for Greg's comment, I was just about to D/L and try this, because on the face of it Neosoft Tools certainly offers more than that component of CCleaner relating to start up management.

But, as always with apps such as this, Chameleon Startup Manager needs to be compared not with CCleaner but with the daddy of 'em all: Bill Pytlovany's WinPatrol, the very first startup manager to be created other than Windows' early effort.

Bill's deceptively simple yet amazingly comprehensive app is a staple ingredient of not merely thousands but millions of computers worldwide. That's because it seems to have been around since the dawn of time and also. . . because it works. Bill is still around, still improving and refining WinPatrol as the years go by, and Bill's now world-famous Scotty dog is still around too, ready to bark a warning at anything that looks like it may have the potential to place a computer at risk.

And it's that darn dog, and that huge range of abilities -- WinPatrol is far, far more than merely a Windows Startup organiser: it's one of the best PC management tools ever created -- which makes me wonder what on earth Neosoft Tools is thinking of if it is counting on earning $25 for a startup program manager alone: for only another $4 it's possible to pay for a lifetime licence of WinPatrol Plus.

I've had Scotty (he has his own fan club) barking on all my computers for the past 12 years and I wouldn't even run a computer without his little black silhouette sitting there, ever watchful, in the tray.

Though I still find it inconceivable that anyone here would not have WinPatrol as both a startup manager and a valuable line of defence, that's evidently the case where so many posters are concerned who seem to think only of CCleaner and Windows auto-run. On which basis, then, here's the link:

http://www.winpatrol.com/

Just download the FREE version because you can unlock the paid-for Plus features at any time if you decide you want / need them. That said, the free version is anything but 'lite'.

As for today's GAOTD, I've no doubt that, according to the developer's own website, the PRO version of Chameleon is more fully featured than WinPatrol Free. But what's available from Neosoft Tools today is the Standard version. . . and whether free today or $25 tomorrow, it offers nothing in the way of a meaningful, fundamental improvement over WinPatrol Free.

Factoring in Greg's experience at #3 then, many thanks as ever, GAOTD, and Neosoft Tools, but no thanks: I don't want to face a $25 bill for re-installing this single-function app when WinPatrol Free offers so very much more for nothing at all.

Reply   |   Comment by MikeR  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+76)
#16

I've enough of "hard to remove crap" such as f@#king conduit engine!!!!

Any app that users say is hard to remove I skip, unless the authors respond and explain how to remove their prof@#ked easily. When the authors don't respond then I am out of their market permanently!

'nuff said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply   |   Comment by Peter Bruce  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-31)
#15

Broken sentence above. Supposed to say...The comments above that say this is like......

Reply   |   Comment by gaitch32  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-23)
#14

The comments above say this is like Autoruns, CCleaner, Msconfig are not totally correct. While all of those programs let you decide what is going to start up, they don't allow you to control what you leave to start up.

Windows will attempt to start all of the programs that you leave to start up all at once which is why after you see the desktop your computer still seems sluggish when you try to do anything right away. It's launching all of those background programs at the same time. This program lets you determine when they will start. You can set the order and a delay. You can set that a program or series of programs won't start until the CPU or disk is below a certain activity level. Items like antivirus and firewalls can start right away while less important stuff like your printer\scanner suite, Skype, etc can be delayed until your computer calms down which will give you a more usable computer right after the desktop comes up.

I use Startup Delayer, which works fine for me, but give this a good look before you dismiss it.

Reply   |   Comment by gaitch32  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+44)
#13

like Ccleaner, spybot s&d does start-up managing too, and with a description of each line, if it's useful or not, malicious or not, ...)

Reply   |   Comment by alliandra  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+7)
#12

winpatrol does much more,free version.a lifetime licence of winpatrol plus costs less.they often do promos where you get plus version for a dollar.

Reply   |   Comment by glen  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+30)
#11

The main advantage of this program is the ability to delay start-ups, this stops a bunch of programs fighting for the CPU at the same time, this feature is not found in CCleaner or msconfig
The last time I used it on my old machine it reduced my boot time considerably and I reckon it is well worth giving it a try.

Reply   |   Comment by OldScotty  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+27)
#10

Thanks to Neosoft Tools + GOTD.
This program is good.
I know.
I use and have tried various start-up managers.
Before this, was using Startup Inspector which was good too.
Ignore the naysayers.

Reply   |   Comment by ric  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (-81)
#9

CCleaner->Tools->Startup
why to pay 25$?

Reply   |   Comment by COCOMA  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+57)
#8

#4 beat me to it so I'll just second the recommendation. Autoruns is by far the best startup manager going: It's free; It's compact; and it lists and gives you control over a dozen different locations/registry keys that launch startup processes including programs, services and even drivers.

Reply   |   Comment by ArtKns  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+45)
#7

There are just so many free programs out there that accomplish this (and ways to accomplish this without a program), that I just don't see the value in paying for such a program.

Reply   |   Comment by Synchrony  –  12 years ago  –  Did you find this comment useful? yes | no (+57)
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