How to Use Autostart Explorer to Speed Up Windows A sluggish Windows boot time is often caused by too many programs trying to launch at startup. While the built-in Windows Task Manager offers a basic startup tab, it misses dozens of hidden background processes. To completely clean your boot sequence, you need Microsoft’s Autostart Explorer—officially known as Autoruns for Windows. Part of the advanced Sysinternals suite, this free tool reveals every hidden application, driver, and browser extension that loads when you turn on your PC.
Here is a step-by-step guide to using Autostart Explorer to reclaim your computer’s speed. Step 1: Download and Launch the Tool
Because Autoruns modifies system files, you must run it with elevated privileges.
Download Autoruns directly from the official Microsoft Sysinternals website.
Extract the downloaded ZIP folder to a location of your choice.
Right-click on Autoruns.exe (or Autoruns64.exe for 64-bit systems).
Select Run as administrator to ensure you can disable protected items. Step 2: Navigate the Interface
When the program opens, it scans your system and displays a comprehensive list of startup entries.
The “Everything” Tab: This is the default view showing every single startup item on your PC. It can be overwhelming.
Category Tabs: Filter your view by clicking specific tabs like Logon (standard apps), Scheduled Tasks, Services, or Drivers.
Color Coding: Yellow rows indicate file paths that no longer exist (safe to delete). Pink rows highlight entries that lack digital signatures or publisher information. Step 3: Filter Out Microsoft Items
To avoid accidentally disabling critical Windows functions, you must hide official Microsoft files. Click on Options in the top menu bar. Check the box for Hide Microsoft Entries. Check the box for Hide Windows Entries.
The list will instantly shrink, leaving only third-party applications, hardware drivers, and software updates. Step 4: Analyze and Disable Startup Items
Now you can safely audit the remaining programs that are draining your system resources.
Go to the Logon tab to see apps that open visually when you sign in (e.g., Spotify, Discord, or printer software).
Uncheck the box next to any program you do not need immediately upon boot. Unchecking disables the item without deleting it, allowing you to re-enable it later if something breaks.
Look at the Scheduled Tasks tab to disable background updaters for software you rarely use. Step 5: Verify Unknown Files
If you encounter a cryptic program name, do not guess what it does. Autoruns has built-in tools to identify mystery files.
Right-click the suspicious entry and select Search Online to open a web search for that specific executable file.
Go to Options and enable Check VirusTotal. This automatically sends the file hashes to VirusTotal to scan them against dozens of antivirus engines, highlighting potential malware in red. Step 6: Delete or Reboot Once your cleanup is complete, close the program.
If you found yellow “File Not Found” entries, you can right-click them and select Delete to clean up registry clutter. Restart your computer to experience the faster boot time.
By taking control of your startup sequence with Autostart Explorer, you prevent useless background processes from hogging your CPU and RAM, keeping Windows running like new. If you want to optimize your system further, let me know:
Are you experiencing slow boot times or overall lag while gaming/working? What version of Windows are you currently running?
Do you suspect your PC might have malware or adware infections?
I can provide specific troubleshooting steps tailored to your computer’s performance needs.
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