Auto-startup is HUUUGE! What to remove?

Per my request, my brand new laptop was set-up with Win7 as its OS. (Yes, I know it's no longer MS-supported -- no sermons, please). I checked Autoruns & found that this laptop starts up with a huge bunch of files (exe, dll, sys, etc).

Using Autoruns, I un-checked a few files from startup after carefully researching each of them on the internet. When I googled any given file, I always got a list of 8 or 9 websites. Each of them briefly described what the file does & most of them flatly said whether or not the file should be deleted. However, they were usually VERY wishy-washy (or totally silent) about whether or not the file needed to be loaded at startup. Once in a while neuber.com or bleepingcomputer.com would make such a recommendation, but such recommendations were extremely rare.

QUESTION: Is there a website where I can find much of this information in ONE place, or must I keep doing the laborious task of file-by-file/website-by-website research?

 

unfortunately, there's no website where you can find it all in one place. but if you could just share a screenshot of your startup list, maybe we can help you decide what to keep and what to remove.

 

@imdb -- Wow! I would very much appreciate your help. I will do the screenshots on Thursday because, today & tomorrow, I am "patient advocate" for an ailing granddaughter.
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@JRViejo -- Double wow! I had totally forgotten about BlackViper's site. It's a gold mine for us Win7 die-hards. Thanks to the nth for remembering it for me. (At 91, I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast.)

 

Good old Black Viper.

 

i will be more than happy to be of help.

 

You might want to consider installing and running Autorun Organizer. You can find the link here: Autorun Organizer 5.15: Free Windows Boot Acceleration (chemtable.com)
I've found it very useful and beneficial and gives you a ton of information. It also can monitor how long it takes your PC to boot. From their website:
**Disables unwanted Windows startup programs
**Checks startup programs for viruses in VirusTotal
**Notifies of new entries in Windows startup list
**Shows results in a very clear form
**Free of charge

 

Not a fan. I've had to go in behind someone that applied this to a PC at work and fix it as it no longer had functional networking and other issues I can't remember. I understand it is a classic go to but I'd much rather see a list of what someone actually has installed. If anyone does use this site's recommendations be sure to make note of everything you changed so that if you encounter any issues it will be easier to determine why.

 

Exactly, I see little point in disabling a bunch of services that probably have no impact on performance and that may bork your machine.

 

So, you worked at a place where users had the privileges to tweak their system? That's quite some IT department.

Where some absolutely do have impact on performance.

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While Black Viper's work is mostly outdated for Win10 (and absent for Win11, of course), users for earlier versions can benefit.

For Win10 users with the requisite expertise, it provides a convenient memory jog for most of the basics.

As for borking a computer, if one is meticulous and paying attention to what they're doing in services and autoruns (among other utilities), the bork is easily unborked.

Generally speaking, those who bork their systems deserve it. Been there, done that. Windows Borker Update being the blatant exception.

Autoruns lists every nut and bolt under the hood in that kind. So, yes... huge. When that is overwhelming, the user should limit concern with the items under the Startup tab in msconfig.exe or Task Manager, depending on the Windows version.

Cheers.

 

I have to disagree... in my opinion, though many services might not impact performance so much, there are many that can increase attack surface for malware and/or potentially compromise privacy. For example, I turn off all remote access, bluetooth, wifi, and non local printer services, as well as gaming related and audio/video streaming services which I have no need for... there are others as well.

Edit: My event viewer shows no serious errors and my pc (W10 21H2) is running very well.... Ill admit that there is a lot of potential for mistakes, so monitoring event viewer, and searching the internet is very important.
I search Autoruns with keywords like bluetooth, wifi, remote, RDP, RAS, Xbox, etc, etc, to find what I want to disable.

I have to admit, I cant remember W7 services specifically, but Ive been disabling services since W XP, and overall it has worked for me without too many problems.

 

Why did you install Win 7? AutoRuns also works on Win 10.

 

@Alexhousek -- Great app!!! I downloaded Autorun Organizer, per your suggestion, & find it to be VERY useful indeed. Thanks for the link

 

He was part of the IT department. I didn't hire him.