Where do you remove unwanted programmes from the start menu in XP home? In the start menu's I have found all loaded programmes are listed,dont want to delete programmes, just stop them firing up on start up, know where to find the start up menu in XP pro at work :confused:

Start Menu -> All Programs -> Startup

This will show some software that will run when you start up. Right click on the program name and 'Delete' to remove it from the menu.

For the other programs, click Start and then "Run..." - enter "regedit" and click "ok"

Navigate through the options on the lefthand side to get to the following 'branch' of the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

All the entries shown on the righthand side show programs that will run when you start up. If you're sure you know which ones you want to remove, click the key name and hit your delete key...

(Usual warning should go here about playing with the registry can screw your PC up, don't blame me, etc, etc )

Try a demo of system mechanic from http://www.iolo.com/downloads.cfm

They have a function to disable start up items. that way you dont kill one you need.

cheers

Lee

On a similar topic, how do I add programmes to the bottom LHS of the task bar next to the Start button. The RHS shows programmes running, eg NIS, but I want to add Explorer and Outlook to the LHS. I managed to do this on our 'spare' ME converted to XP PC but can't remember how.

Startup Control Panel from Mike Lin

http://www.mlin.net

On a similar topic, how do I add programmes to the bottom LHS of the task bar next to the Start button. The RHS shows programmes running, eg NIS, but I want to add Explorer and Outlook to the LHS. I managed to do this on our 'spare' ME converted to XP PC but can't remember how.

Denis,

I assume you mean the Quick Launch toolbar, and that you haven't altered it (moved its path) ...

Choose Start -> Run, and type (or c&p) the following:

%userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

This should bring up a new Explorer window containing the quicklaunch icons. Any shortcuts you create in here will appear next to the Start button. If there isn't enough space to display them all then unlock the taskbar by right-clicking on an empty bit of it and de-selecting "lock the taskbar" and then resize the Quick Launch toolbar. Remember to re-select "lock the taskbar" when you're finished to avoid accidentally moving / resizing things later.

Start Menu -> All Programs -> Startup

This will show some software that will run when you start up. Right click on the program name and 'Delete' to remove it from the menu.

For the other programs' date=' click Start and then "Run..." - enter "regedit" and click "ok"

Navigate through the options on the lefthand side to get to the following 'branch' of the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

All the entries shown on the righthand side show programs that will run when you start up. If you're [u']sure[/u] you know which ones you want to remove, click the key name and hit your delete key...

(Usual warning should go here about playing with the registry can screw your PC up, don't blame me, etc, etc )

Good advice although in xp you are better off with start => run then typing in "msconfig" go to the startup tab and it shows everything in the run folder of the registry. Much safer, and has the added bonus of being able to uncheck them instead of deleting. If it goes belly up a quick trip into safemode and you can re-enable them

Denis' date='

I assume you mean the Quick Launch toolbar, and that you haven't altered it (moved its path) ...

Choose Start -> Run, and type (or c&p) the following:

%userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

This should bring up a new Explorer window containing the quicklaunch icons. Any shortcuts you create in here will appear next to the Start button. If there isn't enough space to display them all then unlock the taskbar by right-clicking on an empty bit of it and de-selecting "lock the taskbar" and then resize the Quick Launch toolbar. Remember to re-select "lock the taskbar" when you're finished to avoid accidentally moving / resizing things later.[/quote']Many thanks- now done. Show Desktop and Character Map were the 2 other quicklaunch icons I missed.