Many programs have the bad habit of trying to start up with the operating system when they don't need to. This makes your computer boot at a snail's pace, while background processes keep eating up memory and CPU cycles. The Safe Startup tool helps you detect and control all those programs easily.
Is there anything worse than preinstalled bloatware? Yes: preinstalled bloatware that starts with your computer. The system tray ends up taken over, and the user simply ignores what those icons do. Three different sound controls, an ink monitor for the printer, cloud file uploads... a horror. The best way to get rid of bloatware is to cut it at the root using something like Bulk Crap Uninstaller, but that's only half the equation. The other half requires keeping a close eye on all the programs that start with Windows even when they're useful. That's where Safe Startup comes in.
Block Unwanted Program Startups with Safe Startup
Safe Startup's interface is divided into two parts. On the left side, you'll find a list of every program and service that starts with your PC. On the right side, you see a brief description with the exact name, the company that made it, whether it has a security certificate, and its path in the Windows registry. Safe Startup lets you approve or reject these entries as you like by clicking the corresponding button. However, the developer puts a lot of emphasis on its monitoring ability. If a program adds a new startup entry or restores one after it was deleted, Safe Startup will let you know.
The free version of Safe Startup includes all the basic features you'd expect, but if you want to back up every change you make, you'll have to get the Pro edition, which costs $15—a bit excessive in my opinion. At the same time, the installer takes far too long for a program that doesn't exceed 700 kilobytes. It would make sense for the developer to offer a portable edition in the future. Personally, I don't think Safe Startup will fully replace my favorites, Autoruns or Startup Sentinel, but it definitely works as a complement.
