The Start > All Programs > Startup folder contains programs that open automatically every time you start Windows. To save yourself a few clicks or keystrokes every time you log on, you can place your own shortcuts to programs or documents in this folder.
To open an item each time you start Windows:
1. Choose Start > All Programs; right-click Startup; then choose Open.
Choose Open All Users (instead of Open) to change the Startup folder that applies to all users, not only yourself.
2. In Windows Explorer or My Computer, navigate to the disk, folder, program, or document that you want to open automatically.
3. Right-drag the item to the Startup window; then choose Create Shortcuts Here (Figure 6.10 ).
4. Close the windows you've opened.
From now on, the item opens each time you (re)start your PC or log on.
Tips
For an uncluttered desktop, open Startup programs as taskbar buttons rather than as windows. Right-click a Startup shortcut; choose Properties > Shortcut tab; then choose Minimized in the Run list.
To identify startup programs, choose Start > Run; type msconfig.exe and then press Enter. You can use the Startup tab's check boxes to isolate startup problems. Try also Startup Control Panel (free; www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.l).
Too many programs add their own shortcuts silently to the All Users Startup folder (or the registry). Many of these programs are unnecessary, slow the boot process, and run invisibly in the background, chewing up processor time. If you know that you can delete a Startup shortcut without affecting your system or a program adversely, do so. (You'll want to keep some programs, such as virus scanners.) If you have trouble identifying a Startup item, visit www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index for help.