1. Click on the Windows 7 start icon in the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. Type MSCONFIG in the search box and then either press enter on your keyboard or double-click on the MSCONFIG program that appears in the search results.
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3. Windows 7 will launch Microsoft's System Configuration Utility. Click on the Startup tab.
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4. This takes you to a page with a list of "startup items." Startup items are programs that are automatically loaded every time you turn on your computer. Some startup programs are absolutely necessary, others are simply a waste of RAM.
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In Windows 7, allmost all of Windows' essential programs are loaded through something called "Windows Services." This means that most of the startup items you see in Windows 7 are completely optional and can be turned off. However, a good rule of thumb is to disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on