Startup Programs: Why Windows Takes Ages to Start and Lags After Switching On

The computer has switched on and the desktop has appeared — but for several more minutes nothing really works: the cursor spins, windows open slowly and the fan roars. There are fifteen icons in the notification area, and every time you switch on, windows pop up from programs you barely use. Most often the culprit is an overloaded startup list. Let's look at how it works, why it grows over time and how to tidy it up without breaking the programs you need.

What startup is

Startup is the list of programs, services and tasks Windows launches automatically when you sign in. Some of them are essential: sound and touchpad drivers, antivirus and security tools. But many programs add themselves to startup when they're installed "just in case" — to open faster, check for updates or show notifications. Over time there are dozens of them.

Programs that typically sit in startup

• Messengers: Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, Skype, Discord, Zoom, Teams.
• Cloud storage: OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud.
• Updaters: update checkers for Adobe, Java, browsers and drivers.
• Game launchers: Steam, Epic Games, EA, Ubisoft, Battle.net.
• Manufacturer utilities: programs for the laptop, printer, graphics card, keyboards and mice.
• "Optimisers" and "speed-up" tools — which often slow the system down themselves.
• Adware and unwanted programs bundled with free software.

How startup affects speed

At start-up, each program reads files from the drive, loads itself into memory and connects to the internet. When there are twenty such programs, they compete for the drive, processor and network all at once. On an SSD this is much less noticeable, but it still adds to the time until the system is fully ready. On a computer with a hard drive, an overloaded startup list can stretch "waking up" to 5–10 minutes. On top of that, background programs keep using RAM all day.

What can be disabled and what can't

Safe to disable: game launchers, messengers you open manually, cloud clients if you don't need constant syncing, individual programs' update modules and utilities whose features you don't use.

Don't disable: antivirus and security tools, drivers for the laptop's sound, touchpad, keyboard and function keys, backup programs, corporate VPN clients and remote-access tools you need for work.

If you're not sure what a program does, it's better not to disable it at random — some "mysterious" items control things like screen brightness or the laptop's buttons.

Unwanted programs are a separate story

Sometimes startup contains programs you never knowingly installed: "speed-up" tools, browser toolbars and "protectors" that show adverts. Simply disabling them isn't enough — they often restore themselves or install other components. These programs need to be removed completely, and the system checked for malicious code.

When startup isn't the problem

If startup has been cleaned up and the computer still takes a long time to start, the cause may lie elsewhere:

• a worn hard drive or a faulty SSD;
• too little RAM — 4 GB is no longer enough for modern Windows;
• overheating and the processor slowing itself down;
• damaged system files or unfinished updates;
• malware hiding from ordinary tools.

Replacing a hard drive with an SSD usually cuts start-up time from several minutes to 15–30 seconds — it's the most effective way to speed up an older computer.

Startup also tends to fill up again over time, simply because new programs keep adding themselves. A quick review once or twice a year — or whenever the computer starts to feel sluggish — keeps things under control without much effort, and our technicians can do it as part of any visit.

What our technician does

1. Analyses startup items, services and scheduled tasks and assesses their effect on start-up.
2. Disables what's unnecessary, keeping everything you need for work and security.
3. Completely removes unwanted programs and adware.
4. Checks the drive, memory and temperatures to rule out hardware causes.
5. If needed, recommends fitting an SSD or adding memory.

A real example

A manager at a logistics company in Navtlughi complained that his work laptop took almost seven minutes to "come to life" after switching on. Startup held 34 items, including three game launchers, two cloud clients, a "speed-up" tool with adverts and an outdated utility for a printer the office had got rid of long ago. Our technician removed the unwanted programs, disabled the unnecessary items, checked the system for viruses and replaced the hard drive with an SSD, moving all the data across. Now the laptop is ready to work in under 30 seconds after pressing the power button.

There's also a privacy angle. Every program that starts with Windows and connects to the internet is one more thing sending data about your computer somewhere, and one more component that needs to be kept up to date. A shorter startup list isn't only faster — it's also a smaller surface for problems.

Call a technician

If your computer takes a long time to start and runs slowly after switching on, we'll come to any district of Tbilisi around the clock. Learn more on our computer setup, virus removal and component upgrades pages.