Author Topic: Win Patrol Plus (Bits Du Jour- Fri) Chameleon Startup Manager, Startup Organizer (Read 45493 times)

TucknDar · « **Reply #25 on:** March 30, 2009, 08:40 AM »

Excellent, evgeni! As you may suspect from my lack of emails, I didn't really find more problems to report after the initial correspondence

evgeni · « **Reply #26 on:** March 30, 2009, 09:03 AM »

Excellent, evgeni! As you may suspect from my lack of emails, I didn't really find more problems to report after the initial correspondence
-TucknDar (March 30, 2009, 08:40 AM)

I am glad!

In last version I have corrected some small errors and have added "Check for updates" in menu, as asked J-Mac.

Trilinea · « **Reply #27 on:** April 01, 2009, 01:08 PM »

I have spent a lot of time researching and trying most of the programs in this category. Although it isn't necessarily marketed as a startup manager it is just that and much more, I HIGHLY recommend a DL and install of Anvir Task Manager Pro. http://www.anvir.com/ I think that you will be pleasantly impressed by it's performance and features. I keep trying diffirent ones intermittently but I end up reinstalling Anvir Task Manager becuase of how well it does it's job

Steven Avery · « **Reply #28 on:** April 07, 2009, 06:55 AM »

Hi Folks,

  Excellent point, Trilinea. Anvir has a free product with a nice-looking startup manager in their very competent free task manager, mentioned upthread, with a Startup Guard and Manager (they way they do their pages they can almost look like separate products, but they are in the free Task Manager). So the Startup stuff is also in their more comprehensive products with additional features (the Pro used by Trilinea is $60, where DonationCoder discounts I think applies, very helpful). In the higher products the biggest emphasis is on additional security and HIPS aspects as well as more process management and a database of 70K items for the startup manager, a significant aspect. So like with a lot of these products, the free is good, a paid is better. So whether to go to the free or the paid will depend a lot on whether they fit your security mix and the database aspect and if you like the integration of their process management.

On the security items, it would be interesting to see how they fare at Wilders.
Their four products comparison are at:

Anvir
http://www.anvir.com...-windows-startup.htm
Compare Editions >> Task Manager Programs, Windows Startup Manager

Worthwhile, good company, product under development, some support, forum, freeware version that is very usable, start manager an integral part of the software.

  For now I am going to consider them as one addition that goes right with the three mentioned in the thread header. Here are what I see as the most important active startup softwares.

WinPatrol (free or Pro)
Chameleon Startup Manager (Free Standard-$25 Pro-$30) Trialpay ** UPDATED
Avira Task Manager (free or paid, 3 versions,)
Startup Manager - Metaproducts (paid)
StartEd - (free-Lite or Pro)
WhatInStartup (free) - below, known tech-savvy
Startup Optimizer - in RegRun security suite from Greatis - starts at Std. $20 ** ADDED

   It would be a good project to first take these programs and see any differences in their analysis of a diverse system. As to exactly what is starting up and where (including specialties like the Windows Scheduler and windows.ini). Also describe how each one deals with the prompt-security situation, which most have as a feature in a variety of ways. (Add a few programs in various areas and see how the program works in realtime. And similarly if the program is startuped up after being off awhile.) And then move on a bit from those two features -- finding and displaying everything sensibly and warning and optional rollback of changes. (A program can still be excellent without a warning feature, but there should be at least one security program on your system that does that).

  The new Nirsoft, added to the list.

WhatInStartup
http://www.nirsoft.n..._run_in_startup.html

  This retires the 5-year old StartupRun, with similar or the same basic interface.

http://www.nirsoft.net/blog/
NirBlog
This utility replaces the old StartupRun utility, which haven't been updated for more than 4 years. .. 2 new important features ... work with external instance of Windows ... Permanent Disabling

The permanent disabling is a monitoring re-boot-out routine, which would have to be tested against programs that have their own re-startup timer or try to immediately reboot -- if it is relied on as primary protection. However it is a very nice feature.

Shalom,
Steven

superboyac · « **Reply #29 on:** April 07, 2009, 11:39 AM »

Steven, your posts deserve their own blog...I'm tempted to make a special section for them on my website!

J-Mac · « **Reply #30 on:** April 07, 2009, 04:47 PM »

I do use Anvir Task Manager Pro but I still prefer Chameleon Startup Manager for controlling startup items. Anvir allows you to add a delay but only a very short one. Or you can add custom delays but I think that it affects all startup programs rather than individual ones. I asked how I could assign different delays to separate programs at the Anvir forum but the replies from the developer weren't exactly enlightening. Might be a language thing, I believe.

Plus Anvir does not have the ability to create profiles where I can assign different startup programs to different profiles depending on what workflow I have planned. E.g., If I wish to work on video editing for a few hours I generally do not want my usual startup/background stuff running because video editing is CPU intensive and needs all the free resources I can spare. So rather than do what I used to do - let them all startup and then exit the extraneous stuff - I just select the profile I created in Chameleon which has only the programs I need in startup and reboot. Stuff like Screenshot Captor or Snagit, Ultra Recall, Surfulater - I usually have all or some of those start with Windows but not when I am editing video.

I know I sometimes complain about annoyances in Chameleon's somewhat arcane UI, but the profiles and the ability to assign different delays to programs - and delays as long as desired rather than one minute - are what makes it invaluable IMO.

Jim

rjbull · « **Reply #31 on:** April 09, 2009, 09:09 AM »

New release by Nir Sofer - WhatInStartup
Announced on DC here

[Edit]
Oops

didn't notice it was mentioned above.
[/Edit]

Trilinea · « **Reply #32 on:** April 10, 2009, 04:07 AM »

Thank you for an excellent thread Steven!

Trilinea · « **Reply #33 on:** April 10, 2009, 04:43 AM »

Anvir allows you to add a delay but only a very short one. Or you can add custom delays but I think that it affects all startup programs rather than individual ones.
-J-Mac (April 07, 2009, 04:47 PM)

@ J-Mac: Did you try?

Create Delayed Startup items you want to customize...

On Startup Tab Highlight Delayed Startup Items >> Right Click Item you want to customize >> Click Edit Delayed Startup Item >> Select custom Delay Time.

Not sure why or how the individual settings would affect the delay time of all of the startup programs. Hopefully I've helped you.

J-Mac · « **Reply #34 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:38 AM »

Anvir allows you to add a delay but only a very short one. Or you can add custom delays but I think that it affects all startup programs rather than individual ones.
-J-Mac (April 07, 2009, 04:47 PM)
@ J-Mac: Did you try?

Create Delayed Startup items you want to customize...

On Startup Tab Highlight Delayed Startup Items >> Right Click Item you want to customize >> Click Edit Delayed Startup Item >> Select custom Delay Time.

Not sure why or how the individual settings would affect the delay time of all of the startup programs. Hopefully I've helped you.
-Trilinea (April 10, 2009, 04:43 AM)

I guess my first hint was trying to see how I could delay startup items in Anvir and only finding this dialog:

[attachthumb=#1][/attachthumb]

Notice in here that setting a delay will affect all startup items - or so it seems to indicate so.

Besides, it definitely does not have the ability to create profiles so that necessitates another program for me anyway. I still use Anvir Task Manager Pro and love the program; I just prefer Chameleon's startup delay more.

Thank you.

Jim

Trilinea · « **Reply #35 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:35 PM »

I'm not sure how to say's this without coming on like a smarty but how about actually trying the instructions I gave you.

I see that you have the Pro version and the setting you are looking at is a completely different setting that does provide for delaying the execution of all items BEFORE it executes them INDIVIDUALLY.

I am not insisting you use the program only trying to help because you stated this was your issue and that you couldn't get support.

J-Mac · « **Reply #36 on:** April 10, 2009, 11:15 PM »

I'm not sure how to say's this without coming on like a smarty but how about actually trying the instructions I gave you.
-Trilinea (April 10, 2009, 06:35 PM)

No problem. And as I said before I prefer Chameleon so I have no incentive to try your instructions. Also, what I posted is all that I could find when I WAS trying to get ATM Pro to do custom delays. The help pages on their site did NOT mention that option at that time, about two - three years ago. Correspondence with the developer were not very clear or revealing, either. Possibly a language issue, but when originally asked about this he did not offer what you show and he outright admitted that this feature was not yet well developed.

I am not insisting you use the program only trying to help because you stated this was your issue and that you couldn't get support.
-Trilinea (April 10, 2009, 06:35 PM)

And that is the truth! If he has developed the feature further, great! But it hasn't been heavily advertised to users. Heck, it's difficult to find out if there is a later version available! (Updates use Version + Build numbers yet download files just use Version numbers).

Jim

Trilinea · « **Reply #37 on:** April 11, 2009, 12:07 AM »

Steven mentions Niva Regrun in one of the previous posts. RegRun allows you to have "startup profiles" and it even allows you to invoke / chose which profile including "clean boot" during startup. It also has a whole slew of other security tools and it comes in a multitude of versions. It's extremely competent software but I would venture a guess that platinum could be almost overwhelming to some home users because of the extensive features and along with that I think that if it is misconfigured there is potential for it slowing the computer down.
-------------------------
I own Chameleon but the thing I did not like about and it has hopefully changed is that it didn't realize a new program has been added until restart of the OS. If this has changed please let me know because I wouldn't want to misinform anyone.

Partial quote:

Hi, Trilinea
In the new version monitoring is carried out in real time
...
Best regards,
Evgeni
-evgeni (April 11, 2009, 01:36 AM)

See complete response by author Evgeni further down in this thread.
-------------------------

A program that is actually very good and it focuses on just startup functionality and I think it lets you have profiles but I can't say for sure is absolute startup. It hasn't been updated for a while l but I think it probably still one of the best in this category.

Steven I am sorry if I have strayed off your original topic, I would say that Niva Regrun probably fits into your original description of a paid product that does what you talk about. I am not sure if you've tested it but I saw that you listed it.

Kind Regards,

Trilinea.

J-Mac · « **Reply #38 on:** April 11, 2009, 12:20 AM »

Trillinea,

Chameleon has a "monitoring" setting that is for exactly what you mentioned - the tray icon changes color and pops up a balloon saying a program has tried to add itself to the startup group. You can configure it to remove it or allow it to be added automatically if you don't respond to the alert.

My biggest frustration is that occasionally a program which has a delay assigned will suddenly begin ignoring the delay. Only way to get it back is to remove it and then add it back to startup and reset the delay. However I think this has been established as an XP issue - or maybe a Windows issue. This doesn't happen depending on how the program is added to startup: through the registry or otherwise - I'm not certain what all the details are but it has happened to me on a few occasions. Used to happen with PC Mag's Startup Cop Pro also back when I used that.

Jim

evgeni · « **Reply #39 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:36 AM »

I own Chameleon but the thing I did not like about and it has hopefully changed is that it didn't realize a new program has been added until restart of the OS. If this has changed please let me know because I wouldn't want to misinform anyone.
-Trilinea (April 11, 2009, 12:07 AM)

Hi, Trilinea
In the new version monitoring is carried out in real time
It is possible to set up on automatic disable of new programs.
Or automatically to disable programs which constantly add itself in startup.
Also it is possible to forbid changes of options, i.e. the program will return parametres at any changes
At addition detection (or removals) the program will blink in system tray.

Trilinea, J-Mac:
You most of all use what functions in Anvir Task Manager?

Best regards,
Evgeni

J-Mac · « **Reply #40 on:** April 11, 2009, 02:06 AM »

Trilinea, J-Mac:
You most of all use what functions in Anvir Task Manager?

Best regards,
Evgeni
-evgeni (April 11, 2009, 01:36 AM)

Hi Evgeni.

I use Anvir Task Manager Pro basically as a replacement for the Windows Task Manager. I have it auto-reduce memory usage by programs, I view what handles and/or strings a program is using or waiting on, I look for invisible windows if I am having a display issue that makes me suspect an invisible window. TMP has a lot of very helpful views and tweaks that I do use. However I use Chameleon for my startup programs.

Jim

evgeni · « **Reply #41 on:** April 11, 2009, 02:17 AM »

Jim

Thanks, I now just think over what functions to add in future Chameleon Task Manager
If there are wishes I will be grateful

Trilinea · « **Reply #42 on:** April 11, 2009, 08:22 AM »

Trilinea, J-Mac:
You most of all use what functions in Anvir Task Manager?

Best regards,
Evgeni
-evgeni (April 11, 2009, 01:36 AM)

Mostly for startup management and for ending rogue tasks.

evgeni · « **Reply #43 on:** April 11, 2009, 08:33 AM »

Mostly for startup management and for ending rogue tasks.
-Trilinea (April 11, 2009, 08:22 AM)

Thank you!

Steven Avery · « **Reply #44 on:** May 21, 2009, 01:49 AM »

Hi Folks,

ADDITIONS ABOVE

A Collection of Autostart Locations - Tony Klein (section with Merijn discussion also)
- The single best security-related startup information article, explaining in layman's terms all the places malwares tries to come onboard for future startups.

Also "Silent Runners" similar help page of "Launch Points" is added.

Codestuff Starter new (05/2009) release, formerly it had been noted that there were no updates since 2006.

FreeFixer added.

Anvir Task Manager freebie special link added.

Chameleon Startup Manager having a free version added.

ProCleaner returns, as Emergency Soft has website with forum and product info.

Trilinea, your info on RegRun and its Startup Optimizer is appreciated and definitely on-thread, and I will add it to the list of special interest programs. I may try to look at it more, as it may join Anvir as the Startup Manager that is integrated into a wider tool that is worthy of special consideration even in the straight niche of startup managers. Even if it does not have a freebie version.

Personally I do not think the hope for a freebie should rule your decision too much in this niche. If the freebie fits you fine (e.g. WinPatrol Free, WhatinStartup by NirSoft, Anvir Free and others) excellent .. if you can use the features in one of the commercial programs (e.g. stronger security features in WinPatrol, strong multiple startup configuration and delay management in various programs, more support) then the $ outlay can be well worthwhile.

Shalom,
Steven

Steven Avery · « **Reply #45 on:** May 27, 2009, 03:15 AM »

Hi Folks,

Here are a few thoughts and observations.

First, Anvir Task Manager has been fairly impressive in its startup change warnings. Not that I have done any systematic checking, I simply notice quite informative pop-ups. More research needed, this issue of startup change monitoring could use its own little review discussion, since in some ways this is can be the primary security function.

So .. Who catches everything ? Who catches real-time ? Who is fast and who is slow ? Who catches what when and how ?

Startup Organizer by Metaproducts has a nice skill in that regard. Even if the program is shut off for days, when it comes back it puts all the changes in one box for review. It is the only software I have seen that makes the changes very clear even if you didn't use the product for a week.

Also there is the issue of changing how programs startup. Personally I like non-security programs in the Startup folder -- easy to see in a File Manager and easy to change user-by-user or all users at anytime in the file manager like Total Commander. Others like registry startups, others like to leave it the way the program set it up.

If I remember, Startup Organizer took your change from one mode to another quite well. It is possible Chameleon and/or StartEd does this nicely, too (similar interfaces) it is an aspect that I would like to look into more. Does the program actually delete the registry key and create the start entry smoothly ? And vica versa ? Or am I asking too much ?

Shalom,
Steven Avery