shift key doesnt work - disable startup items
Hi, I just switched to Win 7 from XP. The left shift key no longer prevents startup items from running. Not sure if something is wrong with my keyboard or if there is a different way to prevent startup items from running in Win 7.
here is an article I found but seems there is not a solution:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/which-hot-key-disables-startup-items-in-windows-7/72c0bc94-2bf4-4bcc-8d6d-13016fde1a5a
thank you
here is an article I found but seems there is not a solution:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/which-hot-key-disables-startup-items-in-windows-7/72c0bc94-2bf4-4bcc-8d6d-13016fde1a5a
thank you
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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"The Shift key
Believe it or not, you can actually use the Shift key to prevent some startup programs from running with Windows XP. Here's how this trick works:
Boot Windows in the usual way.
When you get to the login screen, enter your username and password and then click OK.
Immediately after clicking OK, hold down the Shift key.
Continue to hold the Shift key down until all of the desktop icons appear.
Although this trick works really well, it doesn't give you quite as clean of a boot as booting to Safe Mode. After all, you are booting Windows normally, so all of the usual device drivers will be loaded. Holding the Shift key down only prevents applications from launching automatically from the following locations:
\Documents and Settings\Username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Windir\Profiles\Username\S
Windir\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Note: The Windir path is only valid if the system was upgraded from Windows NT 4.0.
One important thing to keep in mind about this technique is that applications may still launch from other locations. For example, it is common for applications to be launched by instructions embedded in the system's registry. If an application is called from the registry, it will still load, regardless of whether the Start key was held down or not.
Remember that while the Safe Mode menu and shift key are both effective ways of temporarily disabling some startup programs, these techniques are not appropriate for every situation. In the next article, I will continue this discussion by showing you some of the more advanced techniques for disabling annoying startup programs."
Source: http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/tip/Disabling-annoying-Windows-XP-startup-programs
It is interesting to know how "shift" key works for XP, but "Shift" key will never work that way as:-
"Windows StartUp folder - Windows 7/Vista/XP/2K/NT/Me/9x
If you click on Start ¿ All Programs ¿ StartUp (Windows 7/Vista/XP) or Start ¿ Programs ¿ StartUp (Win9x/Me/NT/2K) you may find programs loading from here via shortcuts. If this is the case, you have two options :-
Delete the shortcut from the StartUp directory (based on your OS):
Windows 7/Vista
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\W
C:\Users\<username>\AppDat
XP/2K
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
NT
C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Winnt\Profiles\<usernam
Win9x/Me
C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup (single-user machine)
C:\Windows\Profiles\<user>
Source: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
What only works among different versions of windows is msconfig command only.
Believe it or not, you can actually use the Shift key to prevent some startup programs from running with Windows XP. Here's how this trick works:
Boot Windows in the usual way.
When you get to the login screen, enter your username and password and then click OK.
Immediately after clicking OK, hold down the Shift key.
Continue to hold the Shift key down until all of the desktop icons appear.
Although this trick works really well, it doesn't give you quite as clean of a boot as booting to Safe Mode. After all, you are booting Windows normally, so all of the usual device drivers will be loaded. Holding the Shift key down only prevents applications from launching automatically from the following locations:
\Documents and Settings\Username\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Windir\Profiles\Username\S
Windir\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Note: The Windir path is only valid if the system was upgraded from Windows NT 4.0.
One important thing to keep in mind about this technique is that applications may still launch from other locations. For example, it is common for applications to be launched by instructions embedded in the system's registry. If an application is called from the registry, it will still load, regardless of whether the Start key was held down or not.
Remember that while the Safe Mode menu and shift key are both effective ways of temporarily disabling some startup programs, these techniques are not appropriate for every situation. In the next article, I will continue this discussion by showing you some of the more advanced techniques for disabling annoying startup programs."
Source: http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/tip/Disabling-annoying-Windows-XP-startup-programs
It is interesting to know how "shift" key works for XP, but "Shift" key will never work that way as:-
"Windows StartUp folder - Windows 7/Vista/XP/2K/NT/Me/9x
If you click on Start ¿ All Programs ¿ StartUp (Windows 7/Vista/XP) or Start ¿ Programs ¿ StartUp (Win9x/Me/NT/2K) you may find programs loading from here via shortcuts. If this is the case, you have two options :-
Delete the shortcut from the StartUp directory (based on your OS):
Windows 7/Vista
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\W
C:\Users\<username>\AppDat
XP/2K
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
NT
C:\Winnt\Profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Winnt\Profiles\<usernam
Win9x/Me
C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup (single-user machine)
C:\Windows\Profiles\<user>
Source: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
What only works among different versions of windows is msconfig command only.
ASKER
Ok ... Just want to make it clear that i am "temporarily" disabling startup items on boot only.
Let me know if this changes something.
Let me know if this changes something.
In XP, press shift key before logon only disable the shortcuts in startup folder, but in windows 7, there is no such feature.
To temporarily disable start-up for a clean boot use the msconfig,
http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-7/
I use this Startup Inspector windows 7 x 32
http://www.windowsstartup.com/startupinspector.php
includes another start-up inspector
http://www.windowsstartup.com/
http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows-7/
I use this Startup Inspector windows 7 x 32
http://www.windowsstartup.com/startupinspector.php
includes another start-up inspector
http://www.windowsstartup.com/
pdvsa--Forgive me. I have not read all the Experts' comments in detail, so maybe this has been suggested.
When you open the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) |Startup tab, you will see most of the non-Windows programs that could start at boot. The "Startup Item" column has a box to check for each program . If you uncheck a box and then click Apply|OK that program will not start at boot. (You need to reboot for the change to take effect.)
I never have had a problem with any legitimate program rechecking itself. But it is very easy to go back to msconfig and recheck a box yourself, when you want the program to start at boot. The entry for the program remains in msconfig even after the box is unchecked so rechecking is, as I said, easy.
When you open the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) |Startup tab, you will see most of the non-Windows programs that could start at boot. The "Startup Item" column has a box to check for each program . If you uncheck a box and then click Apply|OK that program will not start at boot. (You need to reboot for the change to take effect.)
I never have had a problem with any legitimate program rechecking itself. But it is very easy to go back to msconfig and recheck a box yourself, when you want the program to start at boot. The entry for the program remains in msconfig even after the box is unchecked so rechecking is, as I said, easy.
@pdvsa - We have all by now showed how Windows 7 works and this will work for you.
In addition, for a very small fee, Startup Organizer provides some addition flexibility around booting. You can get a trial copy (Meta Products) and see if it fits your needs. If it does, the price is cheap enough.
... Thinkpads_User
In addition, for a very small fee, Startup Organizer provides some addition flexibility around booting. You can get a trial copy (Meta Products) and see if it fits your needs. If it does, the price is cheap enough.
... Thinkpads_User
ASKER
Jackiman, i think you have provided the solution. When a user uses the shift key like in xp, it is disabling the shortcuts for only that boot. I dont know hiw to explain that well but i dont believe using msconfig is what i was after.
I beleive win 7 doesnt have the same functionality.
Thank you ... Will wait before award pts just i case.
I beleive win 7 doesnt have the same functionality.
Thank you ... Will wait before award pts just i case.
ASKER
Thinkpaduser: i see your response, which was the first, about win 7 shift key not functioning like it does in xp.
@pdvsa - Thanks.
.... Thinkpads_User
.... Thinkpads_User
http://www.techspot.com/downloads/2029-microsoft-intellitype-pro-keyboard-software.html
On mine I have a key set
You could also use ccleaner, just use the start-up part
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
I found it works,
disabling them from msconfig doesn't always work next time I booted they would be back as based on the program settings, please note if some programs don't run a windows start they may not run at all.
ccleaner startup delete items