If you use a specific program everyday, such as Outlook or Outlook Express, configure it to open automatically at bootup. Now that you’ve killed what you don’t need at bootup, you are ready to add some things you do need. If you always use a specific program when you start your computer, such as Outlook Express, Microsoft Word, or Adobe Photoshop, you can configure that program to open automatically each time you boot your computer. This won’t speed up boot time, of course, but it will allow you to boot the computer and have the programs you always use open automatically.
To configure any program to start automatically when Windows boots:
- Click Start | All Programs and point to the Startup folder. There may or may not be items in that folder. (Items in that folder do start automatically when Windows boots, so if there are unnecessary programs there you may want to remove them.)
- On the All Programs menu, locate the program you want to have automatically start when you boot your computer.
- Right-click that program and drag it to the Startup folder. If there are no items in the folder, drop it on top of Startup. If there are items in that folder, drag it over to the area where those items are listed and drop it there.
- When you let go of the mouse, select Copy Here.
You can also browse to the Startup folder using Windows Explorer. Rightclick Start and click Explore to open Windows Explorer. Under your local disk, expand Documents and Settings and find your user folder. Expand it, expand Start Menu, expand Programs, and select Startup.
Note that you can also drag items to this folder if you can’t find them on the All Programs menu, including folders and files. Whatever you add here will open or start automatically on reboot.