Startup Monitor for Win8x

Does anyone know if Mike Lin's StartupMonitor (written for WinXP)
https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052937/http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
works on Win8? StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs
transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when
any program registers itself to run at system startup.

I had a friend ask me (I use it in my WinXP box) if it would run on
Win8, but I don't know. If not, does anyone know of a Win8
equivalent?
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Crap Cleaner contains a list of startup program along with the ability to
disable each. Works fine in Win 8 or 8.1.




-Alamoman
Como Tejas, no hay otro

"CRNG" wrote in message ...

Does anyone know if Mike Lin's StartupMonitor (written for WinXP)
https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052937/http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
works on Win8? StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs
transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when
any program registers itself to run at system startup.

I had a friend ask me (I use it in my WinXP box) if it would run on
Win8, but I don't know. If not, does anyone know of a Win8
equivalent?
--
Web based forums are like subscribing to 10 different newspapers
and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
Email list-server groups and USENET are like having all of those
newspapers delivered to your door every morning.

"CRNG" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know if Mike Lin's StartupMonitor (written for WinXP)
https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052937/http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
works on Win8? StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs
transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when
any program registers itself to run at system startup.

I had a friend ask me (I use it in my WinXP box) if it would run on
Win8, but I don't know. If not, does anyone know of a Win8
equivalent?

I have it installed on my Win8.1 64-bit laptop, and it works just fine. I
had it on my Win7 desktop, and it worked too well there- I installed Avast
and every time it tries to run a definition update at boot, I get notified
of a program trying to start. Avast changes the name of the update
executable each time it runs (or I'm assuming that's what it is), and that
triggers Startup Monitor.
--
SC Tom

CRNG wrote:

Does anyone know if Mike Lin's StartupMonitor (written for WinXP)
https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052937/http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
works on Win8? StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs
transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when
any program registers itself to run at system startup.

I had a friend ask me (I use it in my WinXP box) if it would run on
Win8, but I don't know. If not, does anyone know of a Win8
equivalent?

Mike Lin's home page is all he has now. All links to his products at
his site just go to his home page (apparently the only page he has now).
For his StartupMonitor program, I found:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...pMonitor.shtml
which says:
StartupMonitor has been tested on Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows ME,
Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP; unfortunately, it does not
function correctly under Windows 95 because of some unimplemented
routines in the operating system.

If you look at the datestamp of when the program got submitted to
Softpedia for distribution from there, that program is almost 8 years
old. I couldn't find out at what intervals his program checks for
changes to the Run[Once] HKCU and HKLM registry keys (no description
what startup locations he monitors versus, say, SysInternals AutoRuns
that checks almost all of them but is not a monitoring program but a
manual checker). Any program that intercepts the event (rather than
check for it at intervals) can interfere with anti-virus programs that
also include heuristic checking which can include looking at the startup
items. If StartupMonitor is checking more than just the Run keys, I
have to wonder if it is effective on a 64-bit version of Windows with
its last update being 8 years ago. "Win8" doesn't specify if you are
using the 32- or 64-bit version.

WinPatrol also checks for changes in your OS config, including the
startup items. Alas, the free version doesn't include the real-time
monitor. Instead the free version only checks at periodic intervals.
The defaults are way too long so change them down to 1 minute (the
shortest check interval the free version permits). It doesn't make
sense to check something at 10 or 15 minute intervals because by then
you won't remember what you did before that caused the alert popup
(unless you are very slow at using computers). WinPatrol even checks
changes to scheduled tasks since those can be configure to load on
Windows startup or on logon so they are also startup items. Not only
does it let you disable or delete startup items but it will let you
delay them by a specified period. This is handy if, say, you don't
immediately need a startup program but can wait 5 minutes for it to run
and easy up on the load when starting the OS and/or when logging in.
Some programs are so busy when they load that multiples of them can
render Windows unusable for awhile.

Note that when using utilities to disable startup items that they will
be unknown to other such utilities. Each moves the startup item into
their own "save" registry location. That way, when you choose to
reenable them, they just copy the saved item back to its normal location
in the registry. So if you disable a startup item in msconfig,
AutoRuns, WinPatrol, or Startup Control Panel (Mike Lin's other tool)
then you won't see them listed as disabled in the other utilities.
Before uninstalling a program, be sure to reenable its startup item so
its uninstall will include removing that startup item; else, you'll be
left with entries shown as disabled in the utility and if you reenable
it later then it gets put back in the regular location in the registry
but the file to which it points for the progoram no longer exists.

Mike Lin's Startup Monitor was last updated back in 2006 so it looks
like it is abandonware. WinPatrol is supported with the last update on
March 22, 2014. I only mentioned WinPatrol because I've used it. There
are probably plenty of other security products that will monitor changes
to the startup list. For example, firewalls with HIPS (host intrusion
protection systems) will include monitoring for changes to the startup
list (i.e., they monitor critical areas of the registry and changes to
them). It's been too long since I last used the free Comodo Firewall
(without its worthless AntiVirus component) but recall it monitoring the
startup items. Like Avast (even in the free version) in its Behavior
Shield (now rolled into its File Shield), claim to monitor for changes
to the startup list but it doesn't. You have to get beyond the vague
descriptions regarding to protection to find out what they really do and
what they imply but don't do. WinPatrol, even the free version, is
better than Avast at monitoring the startup list.

On 30/03/2014 22:51, Leo wrote:
Crap Cleaner contains a list of startup program along with the ability
to disable each. Works fine in Win 8 or 8.1.

As does Task Manager


--

Chris Elvidge
England

Chris Elvidge wrote:

On 30/03/2014 22:51, Leo wrote:
Crap Cleaner contains a list of startup program along with the ability
to disable each. Works fine in Win 8 or 8.1.

As does Task Manager

Yep, as shown in the pic at:

http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/ITKE/upload...tm-startup.jpg

Except how would the user know the path of the item? That is, it shows
name (the descriptive text from the memory image), publisher (also
descriptive text from the image), status, and startup impact. How does
the user know in which registry key used to load the item, or if it is a
Startup folder item, or if it is a scheduled task (never included in
Microsoft's startup lists) configured to load on Windows startup or on
login, or if it was a WinLogon event, and importantly where is the path
to the file that gets loaded? Can columns for that information be
added?

Even Mike Lin's 8-year old abandoned Startup Control Panel gives more
information. SysInternals AutoRuns gives a lot more detail while also
showing a lot more locations for startup processes. While Windows 8
added a Startup Items tab to Task Manager, it seems only a starting
point in analyzing the startup processes. Of course, it obviously is
not a startup monitor to alert the user to a change in the startup list
as is Mike Lin's Startup Monitor (and neither are his Startup Control
Panel or Autoruns or CCleaner). Mike Lin's startup tools look only at a
very few and common locations for changes to the list of startup items
but it's still more than the Startup Items tab in Task Manager will
alert on (which is none).

The OP wants to get an alert when the list of startup items change.
AutoRuns, CCleaner, and the Startup Items tab in Task Manager won't do
that. WinPatrol will do that but the free version only polls for
changes (with 1 minute as the minimum polling interval) which the paid
version is faster to respond to notify the user of a change and ask the
user for permission to allow the change. HIPS in security software,
like some firewalls, will do the same: prompt for permission to allow
the change at the time the change is detected.

Tools that show what are the startup items are handy but they aren't
alerting the user to the change at the time it happens. The OP doesn't
sound like someone that wants to load checker tools after installing
software plus he wants alerts when he isn't himself making changes to
his setup. He wants software to do the work of monitoring AND alerting.

On Sun, 30 Mar 2014 14:17:59 -0500, CRNG
wrote in

Does anyone know if Mike Lin's StartupMonitor (written for WinXP)
https://web.archive.org/web/20131105052937/http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml
works on Win8? StartupMonitor is a small utility that runs
transparently (it doesn't even use a tray icon) and notifies you when
any program registers itself to run at system startup.

I had a friend ask me (I use it in my WinXP box) if it would run on
Win8, but I don't know. If not, does anyone know of a Win8
equivalent?

Thanks to all for the comments. As I mentioned above, I need
something that does "real-time" monitoring for additions to the system
startup registry. As I understand the replies, per SC Tom
StartupMonitor does indeed work on Win8; and per VanguardLH the
WinpatrolPro utility provides real time monitoring of the startup
registry (as well as many other functions).

If anyone has anything to add, please feel free to do so, and thanks
again for the comments.
--
Web based forums are like subscribing to 10 different newspapers
and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
Email list-server groups and USENET are like having all of those
newspapers delivered to your door every morning.

On 31/03/2014 14:47, VanguardLH wrote:
Chris Elvidge wrote:

On 30/03/2014 22:51, Leo wrote:
Crap Cleaner contains a list of startup program along with the ability
to disable each. Works fine in Win 8 or 8.1.

As does Task Manager
Yep, as shown in the pic at:

http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/ITKE/upload...tm-startup.jpg
Dear Vanguard,

I replied to Leo with the information that Task Manager also has a list
of startup programs and the ability to disable each.

Now **** off with your rant.


--

Chris Elvidge
England

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 07:47:24 -0500, VanguardLH wrote in


Tools that show what are the startup items are handy but they aren't
alerting the user to the change at the time it happens. The OP doesn't
sound like someone that wants to load checker tools after installing
software plus he wants alerts when he isn't himself making changes to
his setup. He wants software to do the work of monitoring AND alerting.

That is exactly what I'm interested in. Thank you for summarizing.
--
Web based forums are like subscribing to 10 different newspapers
and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
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newspapers delivered to your door every morning.

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 07:47:24 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Chris Elvidge wrote:

On 30/03/2014 22:51, Leo wrote:
Crap Cleaner contains a list of startup program along with the ability
to disable each. Works fine in Win 8 or 8.1.

As does Task Manager

Yep, as shown in the pic at:

http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/ITKE/upload...tm-startup.jpg

(and more, clipped for brevity)

That was a useful and thorough presentation, with a couple of good ideas
for a problem I hadn't thought about: scanning for a change of startup
items.

I have no idea why Chris Elvidge responded to your post in that very
inappropriate manner...

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Chris Elvidge wrote:

I replied to Leo with the information that Task Manager also has a list
of startup programs and the ability to disable each.

Yes, everyone knows you said Win8 Task Manager has a Startup tab.
Doesn't address the OP's issue, does it?

Now **** off with your rant.

I don't do requests. You shot your own webrep foot with an inane reply.

Gene E. Bloch wrote:

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 07:47:24 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Chris Elvidge wrote:

On 30/03/2014 22:51, Leo wrote:
Crap Cleaner contains a list of startup program along with the ability
to disable each. Works fine in Win 8 or 8.1.

As does Task Manager

Yep, as shown in the pic at:

http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/ITKE/upload...tm-startup.jpg

(and more, clipped for brevity)

That was a useful and thorough presentation, with a couple of good ideas
for a problem I hadn't thought about: scanning for a change of startup
items.

Manually checking is useful and I do that when I want to learn about
what is starting up, how it starts up, and where it is. In fact,
WinPatrol which I mentioned does not cover all the startup locations.
For example, I noted about 3 years ago to its author that it doesn't
alert when a WinLogon event is created or modified (I haven't bother to
test again since then). I don't use Mike Lin's StartupMonitor probably
because it checks far fewer startup locations. So I use AutoRuns to
manually check once in awhile. Still, it's handy to get alerts on
changes to as many startup locations as possible to know at the time
that something just added itself. It isn't just adding startup items
that the user should get notified about. Deleting startup items should
also issue an alert. After all, if you permitted the startup items, do
you want something to go delete them (so they aren't available anymore)?

Manually checking the startup list doesn't address using the computer to
automate tasks for you, like alerting you when there was a change to the
startup list. Similarly, most who use anti-virus software want it
monitoring in real-time, not to use it occasionally as a
manually-instigated on-demand scanner. The got the software to have
*it* do the checking. Why get a computer if you aren't going to have it
do some of its own monitoring and protection? Doing it all manually is
a waste of the user's time.

I have no idea why Chris Elvidge responded to your post in that very
inappropriate manner...

I even asked him if the Task Manager Startup tab could show more
information. Maybe his response had more substance and applicability
than he mentioned. His response was childish. He thought I attacked
him by showing it was a non-solution to the OP's query.

On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 07:47:24 -0500, VanguardLH wrote in


WinPatrol will do that but the free version only polls for
changes (with 1 minute as the minimum polling interval) which the paid
version is faster to respond to notify the user of a change and ask the
user for permission to allow the change.

I decided to give WinPatrol FREE a try on this WinXPpro box. I
thought that if I liked it, I would upgrade to the Plus version to get
the real-time polling that I would want.

Within a few minutes I had installed it and started experimenting with
the Startup and Delay Startup tabs. I moved 3 or 4 entries from the
Startup Tab to the Delay Startup tab (w/ 30 second delay) and
rebooted. Unfortunately, I found that half the items in the Delayed
Startup did not start after 5 minutes and as I changed the entries in
the Dalay Startup list, different entries would not "delay-start".

Is there a limit to the entries in the Delay Startup in the Free
version? I didn't see any mention of such a limit.
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and having to visit 10 different news stands to pickup each one.
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On Mon, 31 Mar 2014 17:56:07 -0500, VanguardLH wrote in


Manually checking is useful and I do that when I want to learn about
what is starting up, how it starts up, and where it is. In fact,
WinPatrol which I mentioned does not cover all the startup locations.
For example, I noted about 3 years ago to its author that it doesn't
alert when a WinLogon event is created or modified (I haven't bother to
test again since then). I don't use Mike Lin's StartupMonitor probably
because it checks far fewer startup locations. So I use AutoRuns to
manually check once in awhile. Still, it's handy to get alerts on
changes to as many startup locations as possible to know at the time
that something just added itself. It isn't just adding startup items
that the user should get notified about. Deleting startup items should
also issue an alert. After all, if you permitted the startup items, do
you want something to go delete them (so they aren't available anymore)?

Manually checking the startup list doesn't address using the computer to
automate tasks for you, like alerting you when there was a change to the
startup list. Similarly, most who use anti-virus software want it
monitoring in real-time, not to use it occasionally as a
manually-instigated on-demand scanner. The got the software to have
*it* do the checking. Why get a computer if you aren't going to have it
do some of its own monitoring and protection? Doing it all manually is
a waste of the user's time.

Excellent and well written points.
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CRNG wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

WinPatrol will do that but the free version only polls for
changes (with 1 minute as the minimum polling interval) which the paid
version is faster to respond to notify the user of a change and ask the
user for permission to allow the change.

I decided to give WinPatrol FREE a try on this WinXPpro box. I
thought that if I liked it, I would upgrade to the Plus version to get
the real-time polling that I would want.

Within a few minutes I had installed it and started experimenting with
the Startup and Delay Startup tabs. I moved 3 or 4 entries from the
Startup Tab to the Delay Startup tab (w/ 30 second delay) and
rebooted. Unfortunately, I found that half the items in the Delayed
Startup did not start after 5 minutes and as I changed the entries in
the Dalay Startup list, different entries would not "delay-start".

Is there a limit to the entries in the Delay Startup in the Free
version? I didn't see any mention of such a limit.

I believe that their web site notes some apps will refuse to be delayed.
Why they are like that only the software owner can answer. One cause
might be that they must get loaded before something else does upon which
it is dependent. For services, they don't start until their
dependencies are met (you see the list of dependencies when you look at
the properties of a service). Startup items in the Run[Once] registry
keys, Startup folder, and scheduled tasks don't have that feature. They
could check for dependencies and hold running their memory image until
the dependency was met but maybe some don't. If you load multiple
security programs (firewall, anti-virus, HIPS, etc), you may find that
you have to load them in a certain order to eliminate conflicts,
especially if they link into the same system API (i.e., they're trying
to stack onto the same function). Some of those, especially anti-virus,
don't like or refuse to being delayed.

http://www.billp.com/support.html
See section titled "Programs in Delayed Startup do not run."

I've used delayed load in WinPatrol before but eventually stopped using
it (except for magicJack which I delay because they don't just load
their program but also connect to their site to find an update and if
available then apply it without the user's permission). It gives me a
chance to load something before that program to help regulate its rude
behaviors. Despite being super cheap, call quality was so poor that
after my subscription expired I decided to use my ISP's VOIP service at
$10/month (as a 2nd line to replace magicJack).

I've found the free version sufficient for my needs to alert me to
changes in the startup list, helpers added to the web browser, changes
in the scheduled tasks, and even changes to fonts and the home page;
however, 1 minute is the longest that I'll wait for such an alert. The
payware version is supposed to be more immediate. Yet the process is to
catch the change and then offer to change it back. That means you get
notified after the change. Some HIPS products will pend the change and
require your permission (remembered or always prompted) before allowing
the change. Rather than undo the change, they block the change. They
tend to more "heavy" monitors than WinPatrol.

I'd first use AutoRuns to review all startup items to research them and
determine if you really need them to load. For example, AMD/ATI has a
startup item that merely preloads a stub of their program to ensure it's
available in Windows prefetch cache to speed up a later load. I don't
need this. I can wait an addition 2-3 seconds for a fresh load for the
few times per year I need to run it. Apple likes to run their qttask
program on startup but it's fluff so I disable it.

By the way, some programs are rude in that if they load and find their
startup item missing that they will re-add their startup item. They
don't ask. They don't even alert. Their program is so wonderful that,
of course, you want every nuance of it. That's where WinPatrol comes in
handy that if you disable a startup item and it shows up again that it
will get disabled again. qttask is like this. Phuck me? Phuck them!!!
My computer, not theirs.