winxp home ed. just installed.
Compaq P3 550 hz.
Several programs load when I boot up.
I am stumped: this seems simple, but I cannot find my way to the answer.
I want to stop these programs from loading every stinking time I start the computer.  I do not want to delete them, just start when I choose.
Please do not laugh at me, for I am trying to learn.
OK, this is pretty stupid, when compared to the other tech stuff you all post.
Thank you for your kindness.
RossStart-> run -> msconfig ->ok

The last tab should be startup!

This is KINDA of trick so becarefull in here,.. but here is were every program that starts up from the time windows loads is held.

when your done that go to the general tab.. and select SELECTIVE startup...hit ok.. and restart.. it should prompt you that changes have been make .. and just click the box that pops up!You can usually stop them from starting up from within each program, I think it's a CLEANER way to do it because I suspect msconfig allows the programs to start at boot up then turns them off again (messy).
Tell us what programs are doing it & we may be able to guide you through it.
Once you are sorted out you may wish to look at the unwanted services xp is starting too, your P3 will be even happier then.I use StartUpMonitor to control these types of programs. You can find it at http://www.mlin.net/StartpMonitor.shtml

good luck! Another utility for controlling programs loaded at startup is Startup Cop, from PC Magazine.Thank you for the input.
The msconfig changes worked fine, but I will follow up with the other suggestions.
I loaded a tax program from taxact.
The uninstall screen appeared at boot, the tax program started, the readme file for the taxes, msmessenger, realplay, and a couple others.
I believe it is not simply not starting, but more like turning on and off, due to lots of little clicks and hard disk noise when booting, but then all is quiet.
So, on to the start up control utilities.
This is a great place.
Many thanks,
RossYou are still a pompous *censored* with nothing to say. I notice you remove a lot of the spam you post. Too ashamed to leave it up where we can all enjoy it? Realize it is just trash?

Please put your hand back in your pants and away from the keyboard, loser.

You should try finding more on-topic posts.No, the general topic for this thread is: how to stop programs from loading at boot. That's it!Post your gripes about the Internet in the Internet Explorer forum. Leave perhapsure alone, already! This has nothing to do with the internet!In what way? You're in the wrong thread, pal. The internet doesn't start at boot unless you tell it to.  Shut up.*censored*, for a minute I thought it worked.

Speaking of intellectuals, let's discuss YOU. You *censored* into a Windows thread and complain (again) about Internet *censored*, which wasn't even remotely mentioned before. We try to get you to put the thread back on topic, and you stray further from the topic. Then you try to hijack the thread even further, so I tell you to shut up because I'm sick of you doing this to legit threads. In fact, you IGNORED my suggestion to complain in the IE thread about *censored*. I agree, in a PERFECT world *censored* wouldn't be here. But this is NOT the place for that kind of DISCUSSION. Get that through your thick skull.

Basically, as you said when you were first banned: F*ck off. Quote

Start-> run -> msconfig ->ok

The last tab should be startup!

This is kinda of trick so becarefull in here,.. but here is were every program that starts up from the time windows loads is held.....

Start-> run -> msconfig ->ok

The last tab should be startup!

This is kinda of trick so becarefull in here,.. but here is were every program that starts up from the time windows loads is held.

when your done that go to the general tab.. and select Selective startup...hit ok.. and restart.. it should prompt you that changes have been make .. and just click the box that pops up!