How to disable Windows 8 startup programs

One of the reasons why our Windows 8, or any previous version, can start more slowly, is because of the programs that we load during system startup. Sometimes we ourselves are the ones who cause a program to start like this. Other times it is because when installing new software, it offers the option to start with the system and, either by consenting to it, or because we have not noticed the option, it is thus installed.

The trick that we are explaining to you today has a double objective: temporarily disable the startup of these programs (a possible scenario is that we are going to execute any action that requires restarting the system several times), or definitive way.

h2. Programs that start with system

Many programs start with the system by having direct links in folders that have that functionality. Programs that start on our initiative are loaded when there are direct links in the folder:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Start

Those that boot at startup as an installation option, usually place the direct link in the folder:

C:\Users{UserName}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Start

Both “ProgramData” and “AppData” are folders that are hidden in the default installation. We assume that Windows 8 is installed on drive “C” and {UserName} has to be changed to the username we have on the system.

h2. Disabling Boot Temporarily

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In earlier versions of Windows, one way to accomplish this task was through msconfig, a normally hidden system utility. In Windows 8 it exists, but for what we want it is not necessary to use msconfig, because the functionality to enable or disable programs at startup has been transferred to the Administrator of tasks>."

To start the Task Manager, the fastest way is the key sequence ++. Yes, it's more direct than ++ because it saves you a step.

The Windows 8 Task Manager starts by default in the “Processes” tab. We look for the fourth tab, starting to count from the left: "Start". Once inside, we will have the list of programs that start with the system.

"To temporarily disable any of them, mark the one you want with the mouse or your finger. We will then see that in the lower right corner of the window the Disable> button comes to life"

"Logically the situation is reversible. If we want to restore the startup with the system of a temporarily disabled program, we repeat the process, and when we click on it, the bottom button located on the right changes the title (and the function) to Enable."

h2. How to permanently disable

If we want to delete the start of a program permanently, which starts by the mechanism described (direct link), there is no other choice than to manually delete the existing links within the aforementioned hidden folders.

In Xataka Windows | Tricks and guides for Windows 8