How to Disable Chromium AutoStart in Windows 7 SOLUTION

kb04090 · 22 Jan 2016

Not sure where it came from but Google Chromium appeared on my laptop with a pinned icon on the taskbar and apparently set to autostart at Windows startup.

Getting rid of the pinned icon was easy (right click icon and select "unpin this program from taskbar"). Getting Chromium to stop starting itself ... no so much.

Firstly, I will say that the easiest way to achieve this is to merely go to Control Panel, Programs and Features and uninstall the program. I felt that I might want the browser at some point, but on my own timing. I chose not to do a full uninstall.

Next I opened Chromium and went to settings ... even advanced settings. There were none to disable autostart. I have had a Windows based computer since Windows 3.1 :) and some of the old tools still work wonders.

Took out the Big Guns ... System Configuration, formerly known as "configsys".

Go to the Windows Search box (click the windows start button and there is a blank field at the bottom of the program list). Type "System Configuration". Once that opens, it includes a tab called "Startup" which lists the programs that are to start with Windows.

Find "Chromium" in the list and unchecked it. System message that restart is needed to complete the task. Ensure all windows are closed and hit RESTART.

All done.

Back in the driver's seat with my/Your computer!

ThrashZone · 22 Jan 2016

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
I'd be more worried about how it got installed and why you're okay with keeping it if you didn't install it on purpose :)

Bundled software comes from many different sites when downloading something unrelated to what you intended on downloading
These are mostly considered pup's Potentially Unwanted Programs
Some even consider them malware.

kb04090 · 22 Jan 2016

Good feedback, Thrash!

ThrashZone · 22 Jan 2016

Hi,
Thanks there are some very good free scanner you can use to see what they find,
Review Jacee’s instructions to run Adwcleaner here post #7,
Ignore the title of the thread,
Instant Savings App
On the BleepingComputer site use the button that looks like this,

Manually Update them before running full scans,
Try not to use your computer while the scans are running, (one at a time of course).

See this tutorial on how to download and run Malwarebytes,
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Also use the Custom scan option not the Threat scan,
Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware Detection & Removal Software
SAS is safe to remove anything it finds

SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!

Post any scan results you wish as a tet attachment or copy and paste in your reply.

kb04090 · 22 Jan 2016

Took a closer look at Chromium and it's made by "The Authors of Chromium". Wow. It's uninstalled, Malbytes and Kaspersky programs have been run. Thanks again!

Lesson, "Beware of Programs Bearing Close Names to Those that Have Earned Your Trust" safe surfing everyone ... kb04090

ThrashZone · 22 Jan 2016

Hi
Yea I've heard of it mostly for linux but I have not used it or had it offered on anything I've downloaded
Always look for a custom install

I would try AdWcleaner it often finds stuff other utilities won't

kb04090 · 22 Jan 2016

Humn? The plot thickens RE AdwCleaner.

Interesting search for this program, Thrash. I see no site offering it that looks like they are the source of the program. Saw a post on MAJOR GEEKS saying that two systems were ruined by an older version of the program. Not giving me the warm and fuzzzies.

If you know the author's site and feel it is reputable, please post here. So I can look at it. Thanks ... kb

ThrashZone · 22 Jan 2016

Hi,
It's a french site not sure what good it would do unless you have translator :)
Bleeping computer is a reputable site and the utility is clean
I use it periodically about every few months I download a new copy and run it.
It only takes seconds to run.