Q: Is there a utility that shows all programs that are configured to run automatically when I log on or boot up my Windows system?

A: A very nice utility for showing the programs that automatically run on a Windows system is the Sysinternals Autoruns program. It shows all programs that are configured to run during Windows boot up or log on in the order that the Windows OS processes them. Autoruns shows the programs that are included in a user’s startup folder and in the Run and RunOnce registry keys.

An interesting Autoruns option is Hide Signed Microsoft Entries. It allows you to focus on third-party programs that have been added to your system. Autoruns also comes with a command-line version called Autorunsc. You can download Autoruns from TechNet.