A startup app is crashing my PC, how do I stop it from loading?
September 18, 2005 2:54 PM Subscribe
One of the applications which loads on startup is crippling my computer. I can start in Safe Mode; is there a way of disabling them from there?
I'm pretty sure it's either Steam (from Valve) or Trillian (free IM client). I tried using Add and Remove programs from within safe mode to get rid of them and even though Trillian was removed it still tries to load it up when I start in normal mode. Steam can't be removed for some reason (the INSTALL.LOG can't be loaded).
Of course I could be wrong - it might be something else entirely. I did a couple of major downloads with Steam just before it happened, however the problem only became apparent on a restart. I hadn't restarted for a while so it might have been something I did previously.
Whatever is going wrong causes a total breakdown. Initially things start okay, but then programs start failing to load; I get messages about there not being enough resources to perfom x and y task and eventually even the OS is broken (windows open with text missing etc. The Add and Remove programs dialogue for example lists only the first few applications).
It's just very frustrating because in Safe Mode (with networking) the computer runs fine.
(Windows XP Pro, SP2).
I'm pretty sure it's either Steam (from Valve) or Trillian (free IM client). I tried using Add and Remove programs from within safe mode to get rid of them and even though Trillian was removed it still tries to load it up when I start in normal mode. Steam can't be removed for some reason (the INSTALL.LOG can't be loaded).
Of course I could be wrong - it might be something else entirely. I did a couple of major downloads with Steam just before it happened, however the problem only became apparent on a restart. I hadn't restarted for a while so it might have been something I did previously.
Whatever is going wrong causes a total breakdown. Initially things start okay, but then programs start failing to load; I get messages about there not being enough resources to perfom x and y task and eventually even the OS is broken (windows open with text missing etc. The Add and Remove programs dialogue for example lists only the first few applications).
It's just very frustrating because in Safe Mode (with networking) the computer runs fine.
(Windows XP Pro, SP2).
Best answer: Or you can use msconfig which is already installed.
posted by grouse at 3:06 PM on September 18, 2005
posted by grouse at 3:06 PM on September 18, 2005
Or, you know, use msconfig which has all that stuff in one place. :)
posted by grouse at 3:20 PM on September 18, 2005
posted by grouse at 3:20 PM on September 18, 2005
Best answer: If you do use msconfig (which I recommend, as opposed to doing registry editing or downloading software), the link above provides very good step-by-step instructions, except for one thing:
After you have adjusted the startup items, the next time that you do start the computer, you'll get a dialog box saying (essentially) that a "temporary" configuration is in effect for starting up. When you see this, you should check the small box that says, essentially, "okay, I know this; never bother me again". Then your computer will always start in the "temporary" mode (with regard to startup items) and won't bug you.
Of course, you can run msconfig anytime you want to adjust or reverse the "temporary" changes you've made.
posted by WestCoaster at 7:18 PM on September 18, 2005
After you have adjusted the startup items, the next time that you do start the computer, you'll get a dialog box saying (essentially) that a "temporary" configuration is in effect for starting up. When you see this, you should check the small box that says, essentially, "okay, I know this; never bother me again". Then your computer will always start in the "temporary" mode (with regard to startup items) and won't bug you.
Of course, you can run msconfig anytime you want to adjust or reverse the "temporary" changes you've made.
posted by WestCoaster at 7:18 PM on September 18, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 3:00 PM on September 18, 2005