Features
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License:
Free
- Editor's Rating:
- Average User Rating:
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Downloads:
670,692
- Operating Systems:
Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 98
- Additional Requirements:
No additional requirements
- Limitations:
No limitations
- Date Added:
January 19, 2009
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Previous Versions:
Publisher's description of Startup Inspector for Windows
From William Yang:Startup Inspector for Windows helps manage your startup applications and provides information on programs that run when you start up Windows. It can tell whether a program is necessary to the system or if it is spyware. The application scans all programs in the Windows startup folder and registry, and provides you with background information. There are more than 4,300 programs in the database. The application's features also include the ability to remove harmful programs such as spyware, viruses, and dialers, as well as remove unnecessary programs like reminders and monitors, thus improving your system's performance and health.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- Microsoft Windows,
- spyware
Editor's review of Startup Inspector for Windows
stars
- "Lackluster results"
- Reviewed on: June 22, 2009
- Version reviewed: Startup Inspector for Windows 2.2
This free program scans start-up applications to differentiate the necessary programs from any potential spyware threats. We found its user interface awkward to read and its results mostly inconclusive.
Startup Inspector for Windows features cartoonish icons, and the overuse of colors makes it hard on the eyes. The interface can be resized to full screen, and you can resize the information columns, but we still had problems with the Comments section getting cut off. A tree menu gives you the option of displaying all of your start-up programs or drilling down to only reveal specific Registry folders. The few command buttons offered were vague but, on a hunch, we clicked the Consult button hoping it would start the scan process and that turned out to be the right guess. The program very quickly scanned and produced results for each of our start-up programs; however, most of the scan results came up inconclusive. The program could not produce any viable information regarding most of the start-up programs' spyware threat status. For a few programs, Startup Inspector for Windows was able to tell us what, exactly, those programs did, the memory used, and whether they were necessary. The Apply button seems to serve no purpose. We were able to deselect a start-up program simply by unchecking the box, so there was nothing to apply.
The program contains links to the publisher's Web site, and a so-called information guide, but we were unable to find any real help there. We recommend you keep looking for a more effective and user-friendly start-up manager.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 104 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 7 user reviewsSee all 7 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Startup Inspector for Windows 2.2
"Minimal help, small database"
Pros: Found a few unnecessary programs.
Cons: Most programs were unknlwn to SI.
Summary: Easy to use but not much help.
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Version: Startup Inspector for Windows 2.2
Pros: Information in a familiar, windows explorer-like interface
Cons: 1) Awkward delays to display every change (even column resorts) - makes you wonder if program has frozen. 2) You click "Disable", it tells you it's going to delete - what's up with this?
Summary: Try Ashampoos' Startup Tuner instead
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Startup Inspector for Windows 2.2
"Worked for me. My PC is fast again"
Pros: did what is it is supposed to. It's free!!!!!!
Cons: NONE that I found
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Startup Inspector for Windows 2.2
Pros: Lists programs running at startup with descriptions of many of the MS and other companies' function specs. Lets you know if they are vital to the PC operation or are flab.
Cons: Missing a good many proprietary program description but just needs more users to send in info about items, e.g. Logitech keyboard/mouse monitors, etc.
Summary: Excellent way to clean up your startup for Windows.
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Startup Inspector for Windows 2.2
"works great, highly reccommend"
Pros: easy to use
Cons: could have more help on the action to take
- See all 7 user reviews Write review
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