Track down startup programs

As you may know, Windows XP provides several methods for automatically launching programs at startup. Of course, an obvious option is the Startup folder on the Start menu, and there's also the Run key in the registry.

If you're trying to track down exactly what programs XP launches at startup, you might think that you have to check several places. However, that's not the case. Windows XP provides two ways to view all the startup programs in one place.

The first place is the Startup tab of the System Configuration Utility. To access it, follow these steps:

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing [Windows]R.
2. Enter msconfig in the Open text box, and click OK.
3. Select the Startup tab.

The second option is the Startup Programs section in the System Information utility. To access it, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Information.
2. Expand the Software Environment branch.
3. Select the Startup Programs section.