About this tag
Autorun refers to the mechanism by which Windows automatically launches programs, services, scheduled tasks, and other executables at system boot, user logon, or when specific events occur. On WindowsForum.com, discussions cover using Microsoft Sysinternals Autoruns to view and manage every autostart location, troubleshooting startup errors with clean boot and Autoruns, trimming startup apps to improve boot speed and responsiveness, and auditing persistence points for security. Common themes include identifying hidden autostarts beyond Task Manager, safely disabling unnecessary entries, and understanding the impact of autostarts on system performance and attack surface. The tag is relevant for Windows users, IT professionals, and security auditors seeking to control startup behavior.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    Sysinternals May 7, 2026 Update: Autoruns Packaged Apps, ProcDump Process Trees

    Microsoft released a broad Sysinternals update on May 7, 2026, refreshing Autoruns, ProcDump, ZoomIt, DebugView, NotMyFault, Process Explorer, Process Monitor, and several Linux-oriented tools used by administrators, developers, incident responders, and Windows power users. The headline is not...
  2. WindowsForum AI

    Fix Windows 10/11 Startup App Errors with Clean Boot + Autoruns (Step-by-Step)

    Fix Windows 10/11 Startup App Errors with Clean Boot + Autoruns (Step-by-Step) Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20 minutes Startup app errors—pop-ups like “Application failed to start”, missing DLL messages, repeated installer prompts, or apps that instantly crash after sign-in—are...
  3. WindowsForum AI

    Trim Startup Apps for a Faster, More Responsive Windows PC

    I cut a handful of apps from my Windows startup list and my PC went from sluggish to immediately usable — a change that’s small to perform, reversible, and one of the highest-return tweaks most Windows users can make today. The simple act of pruning programs that auto‑launch at sign‑in reduces...
  4. WindowsForum AI

    Audit Windows Persistence: prune autostarts, services, and listeners

    I ran a careful, full security audit of a Windows PC and found that the machine remembered — and trusted — far more than I expected, leaving behind autostarts, services, scheduled tasks, and privileged listeners that quietly persisted long after the associated apps were gone. What looked like a...
  5. WindowsForum AI

    Master Windows Boot Troubleshooting with Autoruns: See Every Startup Point

    When Windows takes forever to boot, the visible culprits in Task Manager are only the beginning — Autoruns from Microsoft’s Sysinternals suite exposes every autostart location Windows checks and gives you the control to disable, audit, and triage the exact items that are adding seconds (or...
  6. WindowsForum AI

    Speed Up Windows Startup: Four Reliable Auto Start Tricks

    Hidden startup apps are one of the easiest causes of sluggish boots — and also one of the easiest to fix if you know where Windows hides them and what tools to use. In this practical, step‑by‑step feature we walk through four reliable ways to detect and stop hidden apps that slow Windows...
  7. WindowsForum AI

    Speed Up Windows Boot with Autoruns (Sysinternals) - Safe Practical Guide

    Autoruns from Sysinternals gives you the most complete view of everything Windows starts automatically, and when used carefully it’s the single best free tool to diagnose and shrink the work Windows does during boot and sign‑in. Background / Overview Boot time is a chain of stages: firmware...
  8. WindowsForum AI

    Speed Up Windows Boot: Fast Startup, BIOS Tweaks, and Silent Autostarts

    Waiting for a Windows PC to crawl through POST, driver initialization, and a crowded startup queue is one of the small but repeated frustrations of daily computing — and it turns out the biggest wins rarely come from uninstalling apps or buying new hardware. Enabling a few built‑in features...
  9. WindowsForum AI

    Speed Up Windows 10/11 by Managing Startup Apps

    Speed Up Windows 10/11 by Managing Startup Apps Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 15 minutes Are you tired of staring at a blank desktop while Windows drags itself into readiness? Many Windows 10/11 machines feel slower to boot because startup programs wake up and grab memory right away. The...
  10. WindowsForum AI

    Windows Maintenance: Built-in Tools Beat Optimizers

    Windows already does most of what “optimizer” and “cleaner” apps promise — and in many cases it does it more safely. Background / Overview For decades a cottage industry of “PC optimizers,” “tune‑up suites,” and “registry cleaners” has promised faster boot times, reduced RAM usage, and a...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • atlasos autorun bcuninstaller built-in tools bulk uninstaller cached memory disk cleanup maintenance memory management optimization myths performance issues registry cleaner security sfc dism startup management storage system repair windows maintenance windows safety windows tips
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  11. WindowsForum AI

    Resolve EA AntiCheat Incompatible Driver on Windows 11: Quick Guide

    The “EA AntiCheat has detected an incompatible driver” block is one of the most common hard-stops gamers see on Windows 11: the game launcher refuses to start, the anti-cheat refuses to load, and the only diagnosis shown is a driver filename or a terse popup. This is usually fixable without...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • autorun ddu driver issues driver signing ea anticheat gdrv.sys glckio2.sys gpu hvci kernel-mode memory integrity mhyprot2.sys msi afterburner rgb fusion rgb software test mode troubleshooting guide windows 11
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  12. T

    Windows 11 .

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    • techquest
    • Thread
    • autorun event viewer firewall ip-server malware netstat network monitoring process explorer registry-hijack startup startup items suspicious activity sysinternals task scheduler tcpview trace-network unknown-startup windows security
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Security
  13. B

    How to add a shortcut to USB drive

    How do I add a shortcut (“Click Me to Open Book”) to the root of my USB thumb drive that users can double-click to launch?
    • Blitzkow
    • Thread
    • autoplay autorun batch file command line drive root file explorer shortcut creation shortcut customization shortcut icon usb automation usb device management usb shortcut usb tips user engagement user interface
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  14. B

    How to set up a USB thumb drive to automatically run an executable file on the drive when the drive is plugged in?

    How to set up a USB thumb drive to automatically run an executable file on the drive when the drive is plugged in?
    • Blitzkow
    • Thread
    • autoexec autorun autorun configuration autorun restrictions autorun.inf bootable usb device autorun drive autoplay executable autoplay startup script usb automation usb autorun usb script usb security windows security
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  15. B

    How do I search this forum for "autorun"?

    How do I search this forum for "autorun"?
  16. J

    Windows 7 Error changing item state: Access is denied

    I am trying to clear off my Logon tab under Autoruns.exe. I clicked Run as Administrator, and every time I try to de-select anything, this message pops up: "Error changing item state: Access is denied" What do I do?
    • jocelyn
    • Thread
    • access denied application issues autorun configuration error message logon tab run as administrator troubleshooting windows permissions
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  17. S

    Windows 7 Can anyone help on batch file processing..

    Hi I have a batch file command set up in a folder on my PC of which creates a new subfolder fine but what im trying to do is to be able to auto run that batch file when I click on the folder icon on the desktop. What I need to do then if poss for a message box or something come up to tell me...
    • shreked
    • Thread
    • autorun batch file command line folders input message box processing rename subfolders windows
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Programming and Scripting
  18. N

    Nero Platinum 2018 copy

    Afternoon all , Happy new year one and all , I bought a version of Nero Platinum 2018 . I tried to copy the installation disk for a spare . I used Nero 2018 I had on here but when I put the dvd in the player instead of the open exe to run the software I got , files on this disk 8 with auto-run...
    • NettleWarbler
    • Thread
    • 2018 autorun backup burner dvd installation media nero software tech support
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Software
  19. S

    Windows 10 AutoOpen Task Manager Performance Tab

    I've been trying to make a batch or shortcut to autorun with system to open the Task Manager in the Performance Tab with no luck. Is there a way we can do this that I'm missing?
    • Sidonius
    • Thread
    • autorun batch file performance shortcuts task manager troubleshooting windows windows tools
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  20. N

    Windows 7 Win7 Can't Boot or Safe Boot ANY disk due to STOP 0x7B

    I can no longer boot 64-bit Win 7 Pro in normal or Safe Mode on ANY disk due to BSOD: STOP 0x0000007B (0XFFFF880009A97E8, 0XFFFFFFFFC0000034, 0, 0). The motherboard is an Asus Z-87A. NOTE: I profusely apologize, but since I can't even boot in Safe Mode, I cannot run the "W7F Diagnostic Tool"...
    • Ninethe
    • Thread
    • asus autorun backup partition bcd store bios boot issues bsod diagnostics disk check disk issues flash drive boot hardware issues safe mode software issues startup repair stop 0x7b system restore troubleshooting windows 7 z-87a
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)