View Startup Programs Using Software Explorer

Windows Defender allows you to quickly view and edit startup and running process on your computer through the Software Explorer. The Software Explorer allows you to examine startup programs, Network-connected programs and programs that are currently running on your PC. In the past, you would need to use the msconfig command or the task manager to view these details. Windows Defender equipped machines can now get this information in one convenient location.

Open the Windows Defender section by navigating from Start>All Programs>then Windows Defender. To launch Software Explorer, click the Tools link, then Software Explorer. You will see a Category button that allows you to switch between Startup, Current Processes and Network-Connected Programs. Below that, you will find a list on the left and a more detailed explanation of that process in the right pane.

The Software Explorer can be a powerful tool, but making changes to the running processes there can cause your computer to stop responding or prevent you from accessing programs or the Internet. So be certain you know what you are disabling if you decide to end a particular program.

While Windows Defender is available for download in previous versions of Windows, it is on by default in Windows Vista. If you do not have defender, you can use the msconfig command from the Run dialog box to open a similar configuration utility. By using msconfig, you can view and edit startup programs. By hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL, you can also access the task manager, which allows you to view and terminate processes that are currently running on the computer. You can also go to the command line and use the netstat -a command. This will almost be the same information listed at the Network-Connected-Programs section of the Software Explorer.

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