how do i disable a program

[dgudgel]

Ask the question and Microsoft gives you 60 answers on everything but how to disable a program. I don't want to uninstall it just disable it. Thanks. You will have my eternal gratitude.

 

[logicearth]

Ummm...disable? A program? Just don't run it?! DOES NOT COMPUTE

 

[seavixen32]

Have a look at windows Autoruns, which has a more comprehensive list of programs that run at startup.

Autoruns for Windows

Just disable any that you don't want to run at startup.

 

[WaxyChicken]

also try running MSCONFIG (from start-> run or from CMD prompt)
there is a start-up tab and also start up processes, all of which can be selectively enabled or disabled.

 

[carwiz]

WHAT program is it that you don't want to run?

What and where makes a big difference.

That's why you will get so many answers. Give more info please.

 

[gregrocker]

Anything you turn off in msconfig>startup (and I would turn off everthing except AV to avoid freeloaders and spyware) may also need to be turned off in msconfig>Services after Hiding all MS Services.

Then in addition you'll need to check back regularly to kick out freeloaders who sneak back into both places.

Then you have turned off everything except your OS and AV at boot, known as running a Clean Boot.

 

[dgudgel]

Somewhere in control panel is a command to disable a program. Whether all of them can be I don't know. I have disabled keyboard mouse because on reboot if I uninstall it it is re-installed. I cant remember where I found the command. So for my own reasons I would like to disable internet explorer not uninstall it. I do not want to just leave it there not used. I want to disable it if possible.
I have my reasons maybe wrong but mine nonetheless. I sincerely thank anyone who took the time to try to answer my request. Have a nice day.

 

[MilesAhead]

You can forbid a program to run using Group Policy. However it's not bullet proof. I was using it to stop IE from running. But some program I installed, since it had high privilege granted by the installer during the install process, decided it wanted to use IE or some part of it, and bingo! IE was able to run again.

I find it simpler and more reliable to just use an automatic app killer. I'm still using ProcessKiller 2.0 in Vista:

http://wareseeker.com/Utilities/process-killer-2.0.zip/402349

 

[seavixen32]

You can disable IE9 in Windows Features in your Control Panel.

 

[dgudgel]

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Next time tell us what program up front and you'd have your answer in a post or two.

You can mark this thread Solved at top.

 

[seavixen32]

+1 Agreed.

 

[MilesAhead]

Thanks

My bet is the only way to absolutely guarantee IE doesn't run is to uninstall.
Any option that's reflected in a Registry setting can be set by a program with privilege(such as during installation.)

Next best thing is an auto kill utility to kill it every time it tries to pop up.

 

[theskyeye]

Hello,

Running Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit.

For what it’s worth, an observation:

I turned IE Explorer 8 “off” (start / control panel / programs and features / Turn Windows Features On or Off / Uncheck Internet Explorer 8) as I use Firefox and thought turning off IE would reduce background memory usage and close any vulnerabilities. However, even when turned “off”, it still seems run in the background. I say this because when running CCleaner, items from IE still show up as having been cleaned, such as History, index.dat and temp. files.

I tried an experiment by blocking IE with Zone Alarm firewall while IE was “off” but found some sites would not function properly. Unblocking restored full function. So it seems that some sites/software needs IE to function.

 

[gregrocker]

IE won't use any resources while left enabled but not used. It isn't an issue.

What can be an issue is using a 3rd party firewall on Win7 which works best using it's own firewall with a lightweight AV like Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast 6, not old-school bloatware AV's and firewalls.

 

[MilesAhead]

To my knowledge index.dat files are created on reboot no matter what you do. You can delete them but the zombies keep coming back.

I never run IE but I just searched with Everything Search and I have dozens of index.dat files. I have it set in CCleaner to remove them. I run CCleaner several times a day. But there are plenty of non-empty index.dat files on my system.

In fact I'm starting to wonder if CCleaner works. I just ran it and immediately checked with Everything Search after rescanning the drives. All kinds of index.dat with stuff in them. Weird!!

 

[gregrocker]

I wouldn't run CCleaner more than once monthly, followed by a defrag done in boot mode with Puran Defragger.

 

[MilesAhead]

I wouldn't run CCleaner more than once monthly, followed by a defrag done in boot mode with Puran Defragger.

Why not? What's the good of leaving all those index.dat scattered around?

Come to find out it only marks them for deletion at the next boot. That's really bogus.

I use chromium and firefox. I save those cookies and history. It doesn't hamper me since I don't use IE.

 

[gregrocker]

I set my browsers to delete temporary internet files when closed.

Nothing else bothers me there. Should it?

I've been advised for years by those I respect not to overdo it on CCleaner and have found monthly is what works best for me. Others have their own rhythms.

 

[MilesAhead]

You can't delete index.dat while Windows is running except in safe mode. All these cleaners mark for deletion on boot. Doesn't sound like privacy to me.

I just tried killing them with Privacy Mantra. Refused to delete 2 index.dat files. This crap has been going on since Win98 if not earlier. I never even open IE and I get this crap. Must be built into the networking.