I want to delay Startup Programs & Control the order of Startup Programs in Windows. Are all those startup programs necessary? When I load Windows, I feel it takes the eternity before I can actually get to open any program. The reason is of course the n number of startup programs that Windows tries to load before presenting you with a usable desktop. You can check out startup programs by typing msconfig in the Run dialog box (WinKey + R). And often, you would notice programs that you don't really need: Google Updater, igfxtray, hotkeycmd and all those unwanted processes.
Delay Startup Programs
In my case, I remove most of the unwanted programs. Just to make sure that removing a program will not affect your operating system, copy the process name and google it. If it says the program is essential for functioning of Windows, keep it else remove it using MSCONFIG.
Better still, use WinPatrol from winpatrol.com. It lets you check for a processes by right clicking on it. The free version is enough to maintain your startup programs. It also allows for delaying programs without having to edit the Windows registry. Right click on a process and select move to delayed programs. In the delayed programs tab, click on delay options and select the time by which you wish to delay the startup item. It is that simple.
Normally, all the updaters go to the delayed programs list in my case: Javaupdate, Java scheduler; dotnet update; google update (better remove this one completely). I also delay the Synaptics Touchpad and Touchpad helper. Before I actually feel the need to use scroll/edgemotion etc features, I can still use the touchpad to open programs so why load it with the OS? This is because the touchpad will function as a PS2 mouse until Synaptics enhanced features load.
Let me know what you do to speed up Windows load time.