Just a few observations on StartUpLite/startup managers (mostly for lurkers using Win XP, reading this thread):

 

- I use it as does ky331: to detect some unnecessary startup programs, based on a limited list of common unnecessary programs (typically which come pre-installed with new Dells). I do not use it to do anything else; I'm not sure it adds value if one uses a good startup manager, but may be of benefit to those without one. I have used it for a long time without problems.

 

- I would emphasize that StartUpLite is not designed to detect malware added to one's startup, and in fact all the programs it currently detects are legitimate- just not needed at startup. Do not delete or uninstall any of them! Just disable them from loading using a good startup manager. (I realize I'm just restating what has been said already- this is directed at novices).

 

- StartUpLite does not detect all optional startup programs loaded.
For example, every time I use my AIO Dell 922 printer, it inserts  dlbttime.dll in HKLM_Run.
(full path C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\DLBTtime.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16)
These files are required for the Dell Ink Management System (or so they say; in fact I have disabled this for 3 years now, with no adverse consequences). When loaded, it does not show up in msconfig/Startup, nor in StartupLite. It is detected (and can also be disabled) by both WinPatrol and by Spybot.

 

- Conversely, I have chosen to add "unnecessary" startup programs (such as "Folding at home" and "Erunt", for various reasons specific to my system) that again, are not detected by StartUpLite. Nor should they be, as I've decided they are necessary for me.

 

- StartUpLite is a standalone program that is not installed, just run on-demand. You will not find it in Add or Remove Programs. The only way to update it is to go to the download site and see if a more recent version is available for download. You do not have to (nor can you) uninstall previous versions; just delete the older exe file. The current version is 1.0.0.7.

 

- Finally, there are many in these forums that advocate the use of Run>msconfig/Startup as a means of disabling startup programs. This is certainly do-able, but is not the purpose for which this diagnostic utility was intended. Like many of the regulars here, I think there are better free programs to manage Startup (such as WinPatrol, Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel, or Window's Defender) which do so much more, and are designed specifically for that purpose.

 

[Thanks for raising this topic, ky331. Not only can I not recall it being discussed before, turns out my version of StartUpLite was out of date].

 

 

ky331:

 

A bit off-topic here, but in re: duelling pop-ups~

 

I now have the choice of using the following resident anti-malware alerts, all with a potential for conflict:

 

- Spybot's TeaTimer (not used for a long time now. I defer to your experience with it ...)
- a-squared antimalware (my current choice for resident protection)
- Windows Defender (currently disabled, but available on-demand only)
- BOClean (Currently enabled; no conflicts to date)
- Comodo FW Defense+ HIPS (currently enabled, no conflicts to date)
- WinPatrol (currently enabled, no conflicts to date).
- MBAM (currently disabled, on-demand only).

 

And of course my NOD32 has considerable built-in antimalware activity, which does not conflict with anything above. I am not bothered with multiple popups these days.

 

My problems with TeaTimer might well be historical, and since rectified. If I haven't re-tried it, it is only because  my other defenses are over the top, and no doubt redundant.

 

No neck-wringing here!

Like Ky331 i use WinPatrol (on this forums recommendation) to manage startup (and services etc), but have tried StartUpLite. As the only 5 things i have running at start up are; Firewall (OA), Anti-virus (Avira), Anti-spyware (WD, BoClean) and of course WinPatrol, It didn't offer any other suggestions but looking at it's database, it would have done pre-WinPatrol. I feel sure users not using a StartUp Manager such as WinPatrol would benefit from it.

 

A tool for measuring start up times can be found here. (It says its for windows XP/NT but Donna at Dozleng/CoU recently used it as part of a survey on her Vista laptop so i take it it has been updated.)

This one is an oldie, but has always been good, too:
StartupInspector:
OS: Win95/98/98SE/Me/2000/NT/XP
Easy to use for newbies – shows startups and gives a description of each so no searching is needed.

http://www.windowsstartup.com/startupinspector.php
http://www.windowsstartup.com/download.php

I don't know if windows defender is any better in vista than in XP but i found (using XP) WinPatrol to be better at dealing with persistant offenders such as ITunes, QuickTime, Google toolbar etc. After warning you a couple of times it then asks if you would like whatever has put itself back in start up removing automatically when WinPatrol finds it back in start up, without having to warn you constantly.

I also use WinPatrol. I have for several years. I have the one time paid version. I like the delayed startup option.

Ky331 or Bugbatter can you use StartUpLite or StartupInspector with WinPatrol?

Evermore,

 

you can certainly use StartUpLite, StartUpInspector --- or just about any other startup manager [including MSConfig] --- in addition to WinPatrol.

 

HOWEVER, for the sake of organizational simplicity --- lest you have several different programs being disabled from various distinct "managers" --- I would strongly advocate using one (and like you, I use WinPatrol) to actually do all the work.    My suggestion of StartUpLite was that it might offer you some RECOMMENDATIONS as to which items, among those currently auto-starting, could [SHOULD] be disabled.   But rather than using StartUpLite to DO things, I would actually implement its recommendations through WinPatrol.   Just my opinion/advice.

 

What Melboy was saying, about WinPatrol being "better" in controlling "persistent offenders", is what I was trying to say when I mentioned that the DISABLE command in WinPatrol "remembers" your decisions, "and will not allow them to restart on their own".   QuickTime and RealPlayer are two chronic offenders that can be effectively stopped in this manner.

 

(Additional note:  Spybot's TEATIMER module, when told to "remember this decision" ["blacklist" an item], can likewise prevent the persistent/nagging items from reinstating themselves.

by the way, SpyBot itself also offers a startup manager, as part of its ADVANCED mode interface / TOOLS / System Startup.  

So we see, there's really an abundance of startup managers available to choose from.)

I have been following this thread and have a question. Can Spybot's Teatimer and Win patrol be used together or is it one or the other. 

Annie,

 

Yes, Spybot's Teatimer and WinPatrol can be used together... in that they're compatible --- there's no conflict between them... (and what's more, you can even throw-in Avast [which now includes anti-spyware protection], as well as Windows Defender, without any conflict/incompatibility.)

 

keep in mind that WinPatrol only offers what i've referred to as "pseudo"-resident protection:   it does not continually monitor your system --- rather, it inspects your system's status at most once a minute [or even less, depending on how one has configured it].  in contrast, both Windows Defender and SpyBot's TeaTimer both offer [compatible] resident protection.

 

a while back, Joe and I did some elementary testing of these products against a "simulated threat" program called SpyCar.   Because of some problems encountered, Joe has edited that thread to remove the link to SpyCar itself... but the rest of the thread, including our results, remain there intact.   If you read message #2 here:

 http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=67757

which tested avast+TeaTimer+winpatrol on a windows ME system, you'll see that each of these offered me some protection, with avast being the first defender against 5 threats, TeaTimer the first defender against 4, and WinPatrol the first defender against 1.

By "first defender", I mean the first program to react/intercept a threat.   Since WinPatrol offers only "pseudo"-resident protection [checking only once per minute], it only had an opportunity to react (as FIRST defender) to a lone threat that neither avast nor TeaTimer jumped on first.   There is no doubt in my mind that WinPatrol would have "discovered" some additional threats in this test, had not avast/Teatimer intercepted/prevented them first.

 

in short, I believe these work nicely together, with each adding something to the mix that the others don't.

 

HOWEVER, there is one caveat/downside that I feel compelled to mention (before Joe rings my neck here :smileywink: ):

each of TeaTimer and WinPatrol [as well as Windows Defender] offer you popup notices when it encounters an issue, generally waiting for you to allow or deny the process.   for those items in both [or all of] their databases, this means having to put up with --- and respond to --- double [or triple] notifications.   Personally, I don't mind this, since I believe there are some threats that only one may be detecting, so I'm willing to put up with the duplicate notices on that basis.   But I'll state here that Joe feels the duplication to be significant/bothersome enough that he does not use TeaTimer.

 

So to summarize:  Yes, they are compatible --- in that they will not conflict/crash your computer.   nor can I say I've experienced any slow downs using these together.   But if you can't tolerate duplicate notices, then you may not "want" both.

 

Finally, keep in mind that with each of these products, when prompted to allow/deny something, you have to have the knowledge and confidence how to respond in each case.   if not, they may be more troublesome than helpful.   

 

 

 

Thanks you guys. You sure do give us novice some good information on programs to protect our computers. This was a good thread. Some very good useful information.