deleting startup menu items

[Bob in Jersey]

I just downloaded CCleaner today and so far it seems very user friendly. However, I think the sluggishness of my computer is due in large part to startup junk. I see how I can use this program to delete it. But i'm not knowledgable enough to know if any of the programs that run with my startup are critical. The files shown are ".exe" files, and Ive heard you shouldn't mess with them unless you really know what you're doing.....WHICH I DON'T. Most of the "keys" for the files are: "HKLM:Run". There are also some that say "HKCU:Run", some are "Startup Common" keys, and one "HKLM:RunOnce" My question is: does CCleaner only list startup files that can safely be removed? Or do I need to know which ones are, and are not, critical to Windows booting up, or other critical files. I'd appreciate any guidance on this.

Thanks

[TwistedMetal]

It shows everything that starts up when your computer does. I wouldn't remove anything unless you know what you are doing.

[Whiteshark]

I just downloaded CCleaner today and so far it seems very user friendly. However, I think the sluggishness of my computer is due in large part to startup junk. I see how I can use this program to delete it. But i'm not knowledgable enough to know if any of the programs that run with my startup are critical. The files shown are ".exe" files, and Ive heard you shouldn't mess with them unless you really know what you're doing.....WHICH I DON'T. Most of the "keys" for the files are: "HKLM:Run". There are also some that say "HKCU:Run", some are "Startup Common" keys, and one "HKLM:RunOnce" My question is: does CCleaner only list startup files that can safely be removed? Or do I need to know which ones are, and are not, critical to Windows booting up, or other critical files. I'd appreciate any guidance on this.

Thanks

 

As Twisted Metal said, CCleaner list everything is starting at Windows start. And yes, you must

know exactly which applications can be safely removed before proceed. If unsure, don't do nothing there,

since every change made by CCleaner will be unrecoverable!

 

As workaround, you can use Windows msconfig dialog box (Start > Run > type 'msconfig' > OK ),

that allow to deactivate (uncheck) each entry, without delete it.

[fredvries]

You could try to use StartUpLite.

 

See here for more info.

[Glenn]

Another good freeware is AutoRuns