StartCaptor

StartCaptor is a lightweight and portable application you can use to remove programs from a Windows autostart sequence, in order to increase the computer boot time. It doesn't include complicated options or configuration parameters, making it accessible to all types of users.

The entire tool's wrapped in single .exe file that you can save to a preferred location on the disk or copy to a USB flash drive, in order to directly run it on any PC with minimum effort and no previous setup. It doesn't have software requirements, create files on the disk without asking for your permission, or add new entries to the Windows registry. A simple file deletion is enough to eliminate it from the disk.

When it comes to the interface, StartCaptor opts for a classical window with a minimalistic appearance. It doesn't put emphasis on graphical elements, yet it's easy to navigate.

The system autostart programs are automatically identified at startup, so you can check out the description, full path and registry location of each entry. All you have to do is select an entry and click a button to remove it from the autorun lineup.

There are no other notable options provided by this piece of software. For example, it doesn't implement features for adding new autostart applications or for editing their properties.

Although it hasn't been updated for a long time, StartCaptor worked smoothly on newer Windows models in our tests, without hanging, crashing or prompting error messages. It used a low amount of CPU and RAM, so it didn't hog system resources.

On the other hand, it failed to detect all autostart entries and it features a light set of options without leaving room for configuration. Nevertheless, you can test it for yourself, since it's free and open-source.