Extra Topics (Joe’s Blog Site)

Usually after installing some applications in your Windows operating system, you would notice that it gets longer and longer for your Windows XP/2000/Vista to start. A lot of applications automatically adds entries to your start up list to automatically load every time you start Windows. Some of these entries are features for automatically checking the internet for updates, some are for making other applications load faster, some are for providing additional shortcuts or functions, and many more. But in most cases, you won’t need them…

You have probably used msconfig or Microsoft System Configuration Utility, (or simply System Configuration in Windows Vista) right? Using this tool, you can troubleshoot the Windows startup process. But there’s a better one. You can use Sysinternals Autoruns instead.

Sysinternals was a Web site (formerly known as “ntinternals”) operated by the company Winternals Software LP and was acquired by Microsoft on July 18, 2006.

Anyway, one of the utilities by Sysinternals is Autoruns. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.

How to use Sysinternals Autoruns

1. Go to Microsoft’s page and download Autoruns.zip from there or you can directly download Autoruns.zip from here. It’s only about 490KB.
2. After downloading, extract the zip file into a folder. The package contains 4 files, namely autoruns.chm, autoruns.exe, autorunsc.exe, and Eula.txt.
3. Now, execute autoruns.exe and wait for a few seconds while it scans your system’s registry.
   

   Autoruns initial display

   It shows you the currently configured auto-start applications in the locations that most directly execute applications.
   • Logon This entry results in scans of standard autostart locations such as the Startup folder for the current user and all users, the Run Registry keys, and standard application launch locations.
   • Explorer Select this entry to see Explorer shell extensions, browser helper objects, explorer toolbars, active setup executions, and shell execute hooks.
   • Internet Explorer This entry shows Browser Helper Objects (BHO’s), Internet Explorer toolbars and extensions.
   • Services All Windows services configured to start automatically when the system boots.
   • Drivers This displays all kernel-mode drivers registered on the system except those that are disabled.
   • Scheduled Tasks Task scheduler tasks configured to start at boot or logon.
   • AppInit DLLs This has Autoruns shows DLLs registered as application initialization DLLs.
   • Boot Execute Native images (as opposed to Windows images) that run early during the boot process.
   • Image Hijacks Image file execution options and command prompt autostarts.
   • Known DLLs This reports the location of DLLs that Windows loads into applications that reference them.
   • Winlogon Notifications Shows DLLs that register for Winlogon notification of logon events.
   • Winsock Providers Shows registered Winsock protocols, including Winsock service providers. Malware often installs itself as a Winsock service provider because there are few tools that can remove them. Autoruns can uninstall them, but cannot disable them.
   • LSA Providers Shows registers Local Security Authority (LSA) authentication, notification and security packages.
   • Printer Monitor Drivers Displays DLLs that load into the print spooling service. Malware has used this support to autostart itself.
   • Sidebar Displays Windows Vista sidebar gadgets
4. Disable or delete entries. If you don’t want an entry to active the next time you boot or login you can either disable or delete it. To disable an entry uncheck it, you can recheck it if you change your mind later. Once an item is deleted or unchecked, it is automatically applied.If you don’t know what an entry is for, you can right click and select “Search Online…”
   

   Search online if you don't know what the entries mean

5. After deleting and/or unchecking entries, there’s still one last thing to do. On the right column of each tab is the Image Path. This shows the paths where the files are located. Now, try to look for entries that says “File not found“. You’d surely find at least 5 or more. Delete these entries! These entries also slows your boot time because Windows looks for them every time you start your system but the files no longer exists.
6. Although it’s not necessary, you may Save the results later so you can Compere the results in some other time. You can compare the current Autoruns display with previous results that you’ve saved. Select File|Compare and browse to the saved file. Autoruns will display in green any new items, which correspond to entries that are not present in the saved file. Note that it does not show deleted items. See more details on the save, load, and compare feature.

That’s it!!!

Always run at high speed. Running at high speed makes others think that you’re a racer and a darn good rider. This is best done when you’re in town where there are lots of vehicles and pedestrians. Anyway, you’re such a good driver you can quickly avoid all the vehicles and pedestrians in case they suddenly cross.

Get rid of your side mirrors. Why would you need side mirrors when you can just turn your head left and right for a shoulder check all the time? Aerodynamically, side mirrors add drag to your speed performance. Remember that whenever you do a shoulder check, you loose visual at the road ahead of you for a while. But who cares about safety, as long as your bike looks cool right?

Use your horn, not brakes. If another vehicle or a person is about to cross your path, blow your horn like hell, and don’t slow down. This is an opportunity for you to let other people hear your newly installed horn. Beep Beep!!!! If you use the brakes, you’re a whimp!

Replace your exhaust with a loud and noisy one. If you have a loud noisy exhaust, you won’t have to use your horn. People would be so annoyed, they will surely notice you when you’re coming. Having this in mind, you can always run through intersections without slowing down.

NOTE: Having other people notice you would make you feel better… especially if you have S.A.D. (Severe Attention Deficiency)

Replace tail light with a different bright colored one. Having the old red tail light is lame. All vehicles have red tail lights, so why not be different? Why not replace them with a light blue one with intense color for example? Or why not a bright yellow color similar to your headlight? This would surely confuse other drivers whether you’re moving along or moving towards them.

Remove headlight. Heaving your headlight especially at night is a terrible idea. Those vehicles running towards you would easily notice you if you have your lights on. Remove the headlight and run like a stealth rider. Vehicles passing towards you wouldn’t see you right away therefore having 80% chance of collision.

Get between vehicles while moving. Getting between is one way to show how good you are at driving. Don’t think that those vehicles might squeeze you, you got that noisy exhaust pipe right? They’d surely hit the brakes before they might squash you. That’s because they are whimps, and you’re not!

Don’t wear a helmet. Helmets could ruin your hair style, especially if you have a styling gel on. Besides, chicks won’t see who’s driving that modified ultra-annoying motorcycle of yours.