This Readme file contains basic information about the RegStart program. RegStart 2.0 is currently in beta and is not fully function. The basic features (Add and Remove) do work and have been tested on several systems.
As with all beta version the users of this software assumes all responsibility for any problems that may occur do to the use of this software. Individuals who would like to report bugs with RegStart can summit bugs to the following Email address: clprice@oakland.edu.
What is RegStart?
RegStart is a utility that allows users to auto-start programs from the registry in Windows 95.
What is Auto-starting?
Auto-starting allows programs to load automatically when Windows boots up.
Windows 95 has several ways to auto-start a program. The most often used is the Startup directory. It is also possible to auto-start programs from the registry however editing the registry can be confusing for most users. RegStart provides a simple way to add and remove auto-starting programs from the registry.
What is the Registry?
The registry is a hierachical database that contains users, hardware, system and software information. The Windows95 registry takes the place of many of the INI files found in previous versions of Windows.
Why load programs from the registry?
Programs auto-starting from the registry are loaded during the loading of the operating system, other methods load the programs after the O.S. has finished loading. Because of this feature some programs which are auto-start from the registry may require less resources. Also RegStart makes setting auto-start programs up easier that placing them in the Startup directory.
What programs should be Auto-Started?
Generally this is up to the user. Some programs are designed to be auto-started, others can be auto-started for convienence and still others work best if they are loaded only when the users needs them. The best rule is if the program is to run continually or if the user wants the program to start everytime his/her computer boots up then auto-start it. Be carefully however loading excessive numbers of programs can tied up resources and slow your system down.
How do I use RegStart?
This beta version contains two fully functional features: Adding new programs and removing existing programs. The release version will include a feature to check the systems Startup directory and allow the users to move programs from the Startup directory to the registry.
How do I add a program?
After loading RegStart, select the tab marked Add Program. Type in a name from your program (choose carefully since this will be the name used to identify programs when removing.) Type the path what the program file is located i.e. C:\windows\notepad.exe (Note: A browse button has been added to allow users to search for the file.) Click on Add.
How do I remove a program?
After loading RegStart, select the tab mark Remove Program. Two list boxes will appear. The right list box shows names of programs currently being auto-loaded from the registry. The left box is for programs to be removed from the registry. Controls for moving program names between boxes are located in the center. When the corrected program names to be removed appear are in the left box, click on the Remove button to remove those programs from the registry.
(Note: Many commercial software packages add programs to the registry during installation to be auto-started. These programs will appear in the right list box. Removal of these programs may cause the software package to no longer function correctly.)
