In previous versions of Windows, you can help it start up faster by disabling startup programs with System Configuration. You can still do it in Windows 8, but the process is different. Here’s a look at managing start up items in the new OS.
Note: This article has been updated for the final version of Windows 8.
On the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Metro Start screen, type: msconfig and hit Enter or click the msconfig.exe icon.
This brings you to the familiar Configuration Utility on the Desktop. But, you’ll notice nothing is listed under the Startup tab except for a link to Task Manager. Click on that.
Or to get directly to Task Manager, use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + R and type: taskmgr.exe and hit Enter or click OK.
The new Task Manger opens. Click the Startup tab to see the items set to run when you boot your system. Right click on any program to and click Disable.
The program will still appear on the list, but the Status will change to Disabled. Right click again and select Enable to have it run during start up.
For more details, check out our guide on new features available in the Windows 8 Startup tab in Task Manager.
As ever, all of your tips are great!
Thanks for all of your hard work
Alan
Thanks for reading Alan! We’ll continue to bring everyone the best we can!
Here are a couple other ways to get to Task Manager:
1. My Favorite – CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Or CTRL+ALT+DEL and click “Task Manager”)
This key is inherited from previous versions of Windows including
Windows NT 5.0 (Windows 2000)
Windows NT 5.1 (Windows XP, Server 2003, Home Server [codenamed Quattro])
Windows NT 6.0 (Windows Vista, Server 2008)
Windows NT 6.1 (Windows 7, Server 2008 R2, Home Server 2011)
As a side note it really bugs me that Windows NT 6.2 was called Windows 7, Microsoft should have either increased the internal version to 7.0 or called it Windows Vista R2 to mirror what they did with Server 2008′s upgrade being called Server 2008 R2.
This is my favorite because if a program is misbehaving and somehow prevents the mouse or keyboard from working you can use this shortcut to switch away from the program and use Task Manager to kill it.
If even Task Manager can’t open then you can shutdown or restart the computer from the CTRL+ALT+DEL menu as that shortcut key is reserved by Windows and no running program can override it.
2. If you move your move to the bottom left of the Windows 8 taskbar and right click you get a menu of tools to select including Task Manager.
3. You can pin Task Manager to the Windows 8 Start Screen.
4. You can pin Task Manager to the Taskbar.
The ability to pin things to the Taskbar was added with Windows NT 6.1 but you could add shortcuts to the Quick Launch toolbar in previous versions.
In Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 you got the Quick Launch via installing Internet Explorer or the Windows Desktop Update patch.
Windows 98/98SE/ME and Windows NT 5.x bundled Internet Explorer so they got features like Quick Launch built-in.
It is possible to rip out Internet Explorer from Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP but you lose many features like Quick Launch and the ability to surf the internet without another web browser installed.
How do we ADD programs to the startup list?
ok, I just found “Task Scheduler” under computer management. which allowed me to create a task to run a program at startup. probably bot the correct way to do it but it works
@disqus_sCieidrNJ4:disqus another option is to try the “Startup” Folder.
It’s not as easy to find as it was in Windows 7 – http://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-7-make-programs-run-automatically-during-startup/
however just go into Desktop Mode and open Windows Explorer and Navigate to this folder:
C:UsersSTEVEAppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartup
Obviously you will want to replace my username with yours. I’m not near my computer so if this works, let me know.
Yeah, finding the Windows 8 Startup folder can be tricky… Here’s a full explanation of where it’s located:
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-8-startup-folder-location/
Nice write-up! Thanks Austin!
Finding the Windows 8 startup folder sure can be tricky…
Here’s the full guide on getting to the Windows 8 startup folder:
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-8-startup-folder-location/
You can also just type “shell:startup” (or “shell:common startup”) at the Start screen to get to the user (or all users) Startup folder.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jasone/archive/2012/08/19/windows-8-where-did-the-startup-folder-go.aspx
Excellent! Thank you!
It’s a pity Microsoft have removed the option from the msconfig program as Task Manager does NOT list all the individual programs which can get started on startup. If you’re looking for where some rogue program is getting started from, Task Manager may not help you – there are at least 5 places (probably more) in the registry that can start programs; msconfig used to list them all, TM seems to filter them somehow.
In my opinion the new TM is a backward step giving you less information.