Temporarily stop programs in startup folder

Windows XP (and earlier?) prevented programs in the startup folder from running if I held down the shift key when logging in. This was very useful as I was able to put shortcuts to all of the programs I normally run into the startup folder but I could do a quick login (no startup programs) by simply holding down the shift key. Unfortunately, this trick does not seem to work in Windows 7. Is there a way to enable it, or an alternative method of temporarily preventing startup programs from running when I log in?

Many thanks,
patermann

Many thanks for the information Kari but, unfortunately, it does not solve the problem. Maybe an example will make it clearer. Imagine the scene:

I have just logged out at the end of the day and, oh dear, I forgot to back up that document that I spent all day editing. All I want to do is quickly log back in and copy it to the NAS. I do not want to have to wait while the browser, email, IM and my anti-RSI program all load up! On XP, it was simple: I entered my username and password and clicked Ok on the login screen. Immediately, I pressed the shift key and held it down until Windows had logged me in. This told Windows not to run the programs in the Startup folder, so log-in was fast. I copy the file and log out. In the morning, I log in but do not hold down the shift key so Windows runs all of the programs in the Startup folder as normal.

Unfortunately, the shift key "trick" does not seem to work on Windows 7 and the programs in the Startup folder always run when I log in whether I hold the shift key down or not.

I hope that explains the issue better.

Thanks!

patermann said:

Many thanks for the information Kari but, unfortunately, it does not solve the problem. Maybe an example will make it clearer. Imagine the scene:

I have just logged out at the end of the day and, oh dear, I forgot to back up that document that I spent all day editing. All I want to do is quickly log back in and copy it to the NAS. I do not want to have to wait while the browser, email, IM and my anti-RSI program all load up! On XP, it was simple: I entered my username and password and clicked Ok on the login screen. Immediately, I pressed the shift key and held it down until Windows had logged me in. This told Windows not to run the programs in the Startup folder, so log-in was fast. I copy the file and log out. In the morning, I log in but do not hold down the shift key so Windows runs all of the programs in the Startup folder as normal.

Unfortunately, the shift key "trick" does not seem to work on Windows 7 and the programs in the Startup folder always run when I log in whether I hold the shift key down or not.

I hope that explains the issue better.

Thanks!

From the following article, it appears that function has been removed from Windows 7;

login - How to SUPPRESS programs from startup folder (Windows 7)? - Super User

Additionally, I am unable to find workaround without using MSConfig.

HTH

Thanks, Sir George. It seems to be the norm these days that improving the software sometimes means taking features away rather than adding them! If I find a solution, I will post it here.

patermann

What I have done is to create a new Folder called StartupStuff so that it appears directly below the Startup Folder. I copy all of the Shortcuts in Startup into the StartupStuff folder.

When I want to boot without any Startup items I delete all of the Shortcuts in Startup. When I want to reinstate the them I just copy the StartupStuff Shortcuts back. Not quite as easy as holding down the shift key but a drag and drop for maybe 5 seconds work.

I have exactly the same problem as patermann. Sir George's reply and link, although useful, are not definitive. Has patermann or anyone else found a workaround? (not Kari please as she is not describing our problem).