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Windows Autorun FAQs: Programs dealing with autoruns
Linked from the Original article- "Windows Autorun FAQs: Description".
Que: Can you list programs that help me to view/modify the autoruns on my Windows PC?
Ans: Other than Sysinternals Autoruns, there are only a few programs which are good enough to be used when dealing with autoruns. For more information about Sysinternals Autoruns, read Que-7 in Windows Autorun FAQs: Description. Some of them are listed below:
1. Silent runners: Most of the Windows experts know about Sysinternals Autoruns program and consider it the best tool for autorun programs. But there is another VBscript available which is at least equivalent (if not better) to Sysinternals autoruns. It is called Silent Runners.
For average computer users, I would like to tell that "Scripts" are often treated as distinct from "programs", which execute independently from any other application. The web page for Silent Runners is here. Silent Runners is free for personal or internal business use. Silent Runners is not free for commercial use.
The purpose of Silent Runners is to identify the programs that start up with Windows. The original author of Silent Runners is Andrew Aronoff (although many have contributed to development of the script). According to Silent Runners website- "Silent Runners is not an anti-virus, an anti-trojan, or a spyware scanner. It only pinpoints how programs start up i.e. it does not scan the system to identify every trace of malware. The text file it creates can be removed for study or stored as a benchmark".
The script changes absolutely nothing on your system other than adding its report file. It has no option to change anything and no such option will ever be added. Silent Runners can be run simply by double-clicking it. It can also be run from the command line under CScript.exe, in which case output will be directed to the console. It creates a text file and places it, by default, in the same directory as the script.
For more details visit Silent runners FAQs or Using the Script web pages.
Direct download link for Silent runners VBscript
2. ASviewer: Autostart Viewer allows you to see all known autostarts on your system, all on the one screen. It also gives you complete control over the autostart references, and allows you to modify or delete them at will. A list of autostart locations that are monitored on ASviewer is present on this page.
Company/Author- DiamondCS
Key Features:
- Freeware
- Over 50 different autostart locations checked!
- Right-click menu allows you to take complete control over each autostart
- Add New Autostart feature allows you to add new programs to automatically start
- Save/Print functions allow you to take snapshots
- Resizable, easy-to-use interface that shows every autostart on the one display
- All sizes, positions and settings are remembered
Direct download link for ASviewer
3. StartupRun: The StartupRun utility displays the list of all applications that are loaded automatically when Windows boots. For each application, additional information is displayed such as Product Name, File Version, Description, and Company Name in order to allow you to easily identify the applications that are loaded at Windows startup.
Company/Author- NirSoft
Key Features:
- Freeware for personal and non-commercial use.
- If a spyware/adware is found, it is painted in pink color
- Edit, disable, enable and delete the selected startup entries
- Save the list of startup items into a text or HTML files
- Add a new startup entry to the Registry
- Standalone executable (doesn't require any installation process or additional DLLs)
- Command-Line Options
Direct download link for StartupRun
4. Windows XP Startup Tracker: This small GUI (Graphical User Interface) utility will check the Start Menu and the System Registry for items that load at startup. It will also check for Disabled Startup items and changes to the default "Shell" value.
Company/Author- Doug Knox
Key Features:
-Freeware (registration mandatory for a licensed version)
-Support for listing all running Processes and Services
-create a log file each time its run, or choose to create the log file automatically
-Requires VB6 Runtime Library
Direct download link for Windows XP Startup Tracker
5. Startup Inspector for Windows: Startup Inspector for Windows is a Windows platform software that helps both novice and expert user manage Windows startup applications. On Welcome to Startup Inspector for Windows, there are more than 4,900 known programs in the database. Startup Inspector for Windows can thus provide a consultative information on the programs that are running at your Windows startup process. Whether a program is necessary to the system, or is the program a spyware. The "Startup Programs Knowledge Base" is located here.
Company/Author- Welcome to Startup Inspector for Windows
Key Features:
-Freeware
-Scans all programs that are in the Windows Startup Folder, Registry and provide you with a background information of the program.
-Remove harmful programs like spyware, virus, diallers, make your system healthier.
-Remove unnecessary programs like reminders, monitors, improve your system performance.
Direct download link for Startup Inspector for Windows
6. Startup Monitor: Startup Monitor is a small monitoring program, it keep a constant eye on your system's startup entries. When ever a change is made, you will be notified and given a choice to either allow the change or not to change. This program is in Beta version at the time of this writing.
Company/Author- Welcome to Startup Inspector for Windows
Key Features:
-Freeware
-Friendly GUI
-keep an eye on startup applications changes
Direct download link for Startup Monitor
7. Startup Control Panel: Startup Control Panel is a nifty control panel applet that allows you to easily configure which programs run when your computer starts.
Company/Author- Mike Lin
Key Features:
-Freeware
-simple to use
-small
Direct download link for Startup Control Panel
Direct download link for Startup Control Panel (Standalone EXE Version)
8. StartupMonitor: StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup. It prevents annoying programs from registering themselves behind your back.
Company/Author- Mike Lin
Key Features:
-Freeware
-watches the Start Menu's Startup folders and the Run entries in the registry
Direct download link for StartupMonitor
There are many other programs which deal with autoruns but I have tried to produce a list of best of freeware programs that are considered at least equal (if not better) to their commercial counterparts.
NOTE: The licensing status (free/non-free) of programs in this article is at the time when this article was actually written and there is a finite probability that this status may change with time. And so, refer to the original site or contact the author of the program for licensing details.
Other Links:
1. Windows Autorun FAQs: Overview
2. Windows Autorun FAQs: Description
3. Windows Autorun FAQs: List of autostart locations
