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How do I stop AIM automatically launching on Windows startup?

It drives me crazy: ever since I installed AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) it automatically starts up and logs me in every time I start up my Microsoft Windows XP computer. How do I make it behave like a regular program, where it starts when I start it, and doesn't do its own thing??

Dave's Answer:

Oh I know exactly what you're talking about. One of the most annoying things about Windows is how many applications presumptuously launch themselves after installation without asking if you want to have them start when your computer starts up. The march of tiny icons on the Windows Taskbar is a sure sign that you've lost control over your own computer!

Fortunately, AIM makes it only a bit tricky to shut off this feature, unlike many applications that make it well-neigh impossible to disable. If you already have the pesky little AIM icon on your Taskbar, right-click on it to get the menu:

Choose "Settings" (which you can also access from the AIM application itself, if that's easier) then jump to the "Sign In / Sign Out" tab:

You can see the option highlighted here: make sure you have unchecked the "Start AIM when Windows starts" option, click "Apply" or "Save" and you're done. Next time you start up your Windows machine you'll still have that parade of annoying apps along the bottom, but at least AIM won't be one of them! :-)

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Categorized: Windows Help (Article 7388)
Tagged: aim, america online, aol instant messenger
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Comments

Just in case you also want to disable other programs from starting with windows. Microsoft has a great free tool called windows defender. It can be downloaded from the microsoft site. It will show you a list of all programs that are loading when windows starts, simply check the box to allow or disallow the program to start.

Dave
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Posted by: Dave at May 29, 2007 6:23 AM

My problem is somewhat different. Aim 6.0 continues to load on startup even though I uncheck that option in preferences. When I go back into preferences, the option is checked again, so I have to uncheck it, apply>save...but when I start up again, there's the buddy list window loaded up again. How to stop this? I've tried everything.

Posted by: A. Lathrop at June 7, 2007 2:36 AM

Also, you can go to run>msconficg>Startup Tab--- and then check and uncheck what you need or dont need to start upon startup. really easy.

Posted by: Gray at July 5, 2007 3:13 PM

sorry, in my comment above....

it should be "MSCONFIG"

Posted by: Gray at July 5, 2007 3:20 PM

Thanks Dave, I just found this info while doing a Google search on how to disable AIM at startup.

Posted by: Randy at March 1, 2008 7:33 AM

Thanks had same problem , now solved.

Posted by: jack at March 26, 2008 6:13 PM

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!! ive been trying to get that damn aim to stop instant startup.. thank you soooooooo much...

Posted by: Heather at June 2, 2008 11:30 AM

Thank u soo much

Posted by: Whitney at January 16, 2009 8:49 AM

Thanks, What upset me EVEN if i disabled AOL Services thru run>msconfig it would STILL come up. It wouldn't come up unless I had to open aim. Its like a leech.

Posted by: Joseph at March 21, 2009 7:02 AM

My problem is way different. I was stupid enough to download AIM and now my laptop is all screwed up. When I first dl'd AIM, it wouldn't even open up. I would click on the icon and the icon would just flash once and that's it. Along with the download, I now have an AIM Search bar that I can't get rid of, not even through the VIEW menu up top. ALSO, the AIM/AOL page has taken control of my lptp! It has designated itself as my homepage---NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I RESET IT TO ANYTHING ELSE. Upon start up, each and every time, THERE it is, AIM/AOL as my homepage. Annoying! Wait, there's more! Before the AIM/AOL homepage appears I get prompted to choose whether or not I want YAHOO as my homepage---I don't! Even after I choose DO NOT ASK AGAIN, it does it every time I start my lptp. Note: I went back and removed EVERYTHING (or so I think everything) that has to do with AIM, AOL, Yahoo, etc... STILL that did NOTHING.
Who can help me?

Posted by: urekiddinme at May 15, 2009 10:44 AM

Thank you Dave!!

Posted by: Kelly at September 18, 2009 7:03 AM

Thank you, Dave. My daughter installed AIM without permission and it's been driving crazy and making me nuts...

Posted by: Jim P. at October 31, 2009 12:28 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!