If you take the time to modify Windows XP startup programs, you will dramatically shorten startup times. You can either use MSConfig, Windows Defender, or a registry key to clean up your Windows XP boot sequence.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use MSConfig

Step 1. Open MSConfig
Go to To start up -> Execute and enter msconfig. Press on Entrance to start the program. The following window should appear.
- Choose Selective start.
- If you can't find Execute in the Start menu, to add the Run command: right click on To start up -> Properties -> select the tab Start menu -> Personalize -> Customize Start Menu -> tick the box Execute -> To apply -> OK.

Step 2. Here you will see a list of programs like below:

Step 3. Disable your programs
Uncheck the programs that Windows should not run on startup.

Step 4. Click OK
A new window appears, asking you to restart your computer.

Step 5. Click Restart
Method 2 of 3: Use Windows Defender

Step 1. Download Windows Defender from Microsoft and install it

Step 2. Click Start at the bottom left of your screen
Click on All the programs, then select Windows Defender.

Step 3. Choose Tools and Software Explorer

Step 4. Turn off your programs
Click on the names of all the programs in the column name that you want to deactivate. When you are finished, click Deactivate.
Method 3 of 3: Use registry keys

Step 1. Open the Start menu and click Run
Type regedit in the text field.
Step 2. Locate one of the following registry keys:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ RunOnce

Step 3. Find the program to remove
To do this, see the start-up sequence. Remove this program from one or both of these registry keys.
Warning: Do not delete other items in regedit. Many are unknown, the system files are particularly of this type. You risk making your system unstable or worse, totally inoperable
Advice
- If you are unsure whether or not a program is participating in the runtime, search for its name on ProcessLibrary.com to see if you can remove it without harming the platform.
- If you are not sure which programs are slowing down your computer, disable all Windows XP startup programs by clicking the button Deactivate everything from the Start window. Restart your PC, and if the speed improves, reinstall the programs one by one until you find out which program is slowing your startup.
Warnings
- Back up your registry before you start anything, just in case you make a mistake.
- Some programs are essential for system stability, such as ctfmon.exe, cmd.exe, and svchost.exe. Don't turn them off.