Windows Vista Security: Praxisorientierte Sicherheit für Profis

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Chapter 4: Installing, Configuring, and Maintaining Software

Viewing and Managing Startup Programs

Some software programs you install, such as antivirus or backup software, are con-

figured as startup programs. As the name implies, startup programs run in the back-

ground and start automatically when you log on. You can view the currently

configured startup programs using Software Explorer. Software Explorer also allows

you to enable, disable, or remove startup programs.

Viewing your startup programs

You can open Software Explorer and view your startup programs by completing the

following steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Windows Defender.

2. On the Windows Defender toolbar, click Tools and then click Software

Explorer.

3. In Software Explorer, the Startup Programs option is selected in the Category list

by default. When you click a program in the left pane, details about the pro-

gram’s configuration are displayed in the right pane, as shown in Figure 4-12.

Figure 4-12. Viewing your startup programs

Managing Software Once It’s Installed

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Table 4-2 provides a summary of the configuration details for startup programs.

Enabling, disabling, and removing your startup programs

You can configure startup programs for your account specifically or for all users on

your computer, depending on whether you installed a program only for your use or

for all users. You have three options for managing startup programs. You can:

Disable automatic startup

If you don’t want a program to start automatically when you log on, you can dis-

able it. A disabled startup program will no longer run on startup.

Enable automatic startup

If you previously disabled a startup program, you can change this by enabling

the program to run at startup.

Remove

If you no longer need a startup program or you want to prevent it from being

enabled in the future, you can remove it.

Before you remove a startup program, you should first disable it. You

should then restart your computer and determine whether there is any

negative impact on your computer.

Table 4-2. Overview of configuration details for startup programs

Configuration aspect Description

Classification Lists the classification of the executable file as either permitted or not permitted

Date Installed Lists the date and time that the file was installed

Description Lists a description of the application

Digitally Signed By Lists the company that digitally signed the program’s executable file

Display Name Lists the application name that Windows Vista uses

File Name Lists the executable filename

File Path Lists the complete file path to the executable file

File Size Lists the size of the executable file in bytes

File Type Lists the type of file listed in the File Name field, such as whether a file is an application file or

an application extension file

File Version Lists the version and revision numbers of the executable file

Location Lists the folder path where the startup program shortcut was created, or the Run registry key

value

Publisher Lists the company that published the software

Ships with Operating System Lists whether the executable file ships with the operating system

Startup Type Lists how you have configured the program to start automatically, such as whether the star-

tup program is in the Startup folder for all users or is in your personal Startup folder

Startup Value Lists the options or parameters passed to the program at startup