Startup

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How To Log Into Your Computer Automatically

11:00PM August 26, 2011 | Melanie Pinola

Setting up your computer to automatically log you in can save you the time and hassle of entering your password each time you start up. Here’s how to automatically login for Windows and Mac users. More »

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Ask LH: How Can I Start And Shut Down My Computer Automatically Every Morning?

3:00AM August 20, 2011 | Whitson Gordon

Dear Lifehacker, I like to turn my computer off at night, but I hate sitting and waiting for it to boot up in the morning. Is there any way I can make my computer start automatically in the morning so it’s ready for me when I get up? More »

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How To Start A Program Automatically When Your Computer Boots

11:00PM August 10, 2011 | Whitson Gordon

Every time you boot your computer, you probably have a few programs you always start up immediately. Here’s how to set them to start up automatically whenever you turn on your PC. More »

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Ask LH: How Can I Avoid Rebooting My Computer All The Time?

3:30AM May 14, 2011 | Whitson Gordon

Dear Lifehacker, I feel like I have to reboot my Windows PC all the time, either because I’ve installed new software or because Windows is always updating. This wouldn’t be a huge deal, but my computer takes a while to reboot. Anything I can do to avoid the hassle? Signed, Stressed by Shutdowns More »

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E4rat Cuts Down On Linux Boot Time With A Few Simple Commands

8:00AM April 9, 2011 | Whitson Gordon

Linux: Whether you’re running a fast-booting, SSD-equipped netbook or you want to quicken your old computer’s startup, free command line tool E4rat will seriously decrease your boot time. Here’s how to set it up. More »

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Make OS X Load Your Desktop Before You Log In

12:00PM March 9, 2011 | Whitson Gordon

If you want to step away from your computer while your desktop loads (without enabling the unsafe auto-login feature), this script will begin loading OS X before you log in. More »

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Know Which Apps To Remove From MSConfig With This Startup Applications List

12:30AM December 28, 2010 | Whitson Gordon

One of the biggest slowdowns on a Windows computer is the barrage of applications that start up when you boot Windows. This application list will tell you which of those are safe to remove from msconfig.exe. More »

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Choose Which Applications Launch On Startup With AutoHotkey

8:00AM September 30, 2010 | Whitson Gordon

With a simple AutoHotkey script, you can tell your computer to launch different programs on startup with different combinations of the Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock functions turned on. More »

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Start My Day Batches, Schedules Your Windows Routines

11:30PM July 26, 2010 | Jason Fitzpatrick

Windows: If you always open the same programs, websites or media files on certain days of the week, Start My Day will help you easily automate your daily routine. More »

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Shutdown Timer Triggers Windows Lockdown, Shutdown And More

10:00PM June 25, 2010 | Jason Fitzpatrick

Windows: If you’re looking for a way to shut down your Windows machine — or lock it, hibernate it and more — when certain triggers are activated such as CPU and memory usage, bandwidth saturation or at a specified time, Shutdown Timer can help. More »