If your familiar with MSConfig and HijackThis, you already know how important Process Explorer Utilities are to optimizing Vista performance. Autoruns is is in this category. There are two versions, Autorunsc (systems console, aka command line) and Autoruns (image below) the graphical interface. You can easily sort processes by type (Startup, Login, etc.), with options to drill down to explore the performance of each process on your system (requires additional Process Explorer Utility), then make a decision to disable or delete entirely. This article focuses on installing AutoRuns and the Process Explorer Utilities, with beginner steps.

Autoruns Interface with Process Explorer

autoruns-with-process-explorer

Installation

Autoruns is a stand alone executable. To use the drill down Process Explorer option you will need to download the Process Explorer utility separately. The procexp.exe executable needs to be moved into the autoruns folder after extraction, so autoruns can use it.

  • Download the latest AutoRuns and Process Explorer zip files. I recommend extraction to your downloads directory, separate partition or storage drive.
  • After extracting the two utilities, move the contents (not the folder) of Process Explorer into the Autoruns folder.
  • Create a link to autoruns.exe somewhere (Desktop, etc). I drag a Link to the App Launcher Sidebar Gadget (see Article).

Usage

For this part we will use autoruns.exe with procexp.exe.

  • Always create a System Restore Point before disabling or deleting any processes. I cant tell you how many times this has saved me from myself over the years.
  • Configure autoruns.
  • Highlight the autoruns.exe file and verify “Run As Administrator” is checked (click on properties–>Compatibilities tab). If its not check the box. If its greyed out and not checked, simply specify to Run as Administrator.
  • Under Options, check Hide Microsoft Entries. Refresh list Explore the Logon, Winlogon, and Scheduled Tasks tabs.
  • Drill down on a process Highlight, and click on Process Explorer option.
  • If you find an offending process hogging performance, Uncheck (disable) the Logon, Winlogon, or Scheduled Tasks processes.

Processes Safe to Disable

There really is no list. All depends on your configuration. I usually start the process with - disable, test for a while, then delete unnecessary Non-Microsoft Browser Helper Objects (BHO), Scheduled Tasks, and Startup processes. Which ones are unnecessary? Depends. Why I specified hiding Microsoft Entries, creating a Restore Point, and disable only before experimenting.

Example(s):

  • Quicktime schedules and starup applications
  • Adobe schedules and starup applications
  • Yahoo and MSN Messenger starup
  • Purchase Reminders for Software schedules.
  • Scheduled scans, notifications, updates (if unnecessary)

Once you have completed this, remember to do a Registry scan, then a disk defrag. Browse articles for additional information.