I don’t know how, but my boot target drive recently changed which I fixed under system preferences. However, everytime I boot my machine now Safari opens. How do I stop this?
It’s strange that your boot drive randomly changed, without question, but I’m suspecting that you started up at one point and the standard hard disk was unable to spin up before the system bailed and switched to your secondary drive. Fortunately, you figured out that you can go to Apple –> System Preferences –> Startup Disk.
To change what programs automatically start up when your computer boots up (actually, the programs automatically start when you actually log in to your account, but most likely your system is set up to automatically log you in when you start up your computer) you need to go to a different area in System Preferences.
This time, go to System Preferences –> Accounts, click on your own account, then click on the “Login Items”. Here’s what you’ll see:
You can add specific applications you want to run by clicking on the small “+” icon, and, of course, you can stop having a specific application, like Safari, startup by simply clicking on the application name, then clicking on the “-” icon.
That’s all there is to it!
I spent at least an hour tonight reading through my copy of “The Mac OXX Leopard Book” trying to resolve my problem re: Safari automatically launching but there was nothing that addressed this issue. Because my Mac warranty has expired, I can’t get tech support from them via the phone anymore. I was amazed when all I had to do was type the problem into my search bar and your site came up with easy to follow instructions and visuals. This is the first time I’ve used online tech support and I have to say, I found it a lot more helpful than any of the over-the-phone tech support I’ve received in the past. You’re providing a wonderful service. Your next cup of coffee is on me.
P.S. Given your excellent computer skills and your interest in film, would you ever consider building a site for film lovers that is similar to what librarything.com provides for book lovers? Think about it…
Stewart, did you check the “login items” to see if Safari is there? Then, in Safari, go to Safari -> Preferences -> General and see what URL it lists for Home page…
Hello. I have an unusual problem in that when I start my computer, Safari automatically launches (though it is NOT set to do so in start-up items) and displays a page from this location : file:///Previous%20Systems.localized/2007-12-18_1727/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app/Contents/Resources/Dutch.lproj/TerminalHelp/sty/genlist.html
I cannot get it to stop doing this. Thanks for any help in advance.
WOw that really helped thanks alot man.
Hi Dave! I have an unusual problem… when I start my computer, Safari starts (unbidden, NOT set to do so in start-up items) and displays a page from this location : file:///Applications/Utilities/AirPort%20Utility.app/Contents/Resources/sv.lproj/AirPortUtilityHelp/pgs/ap2103.html
and I can’t get it to stop doing this… I have Safari set to display a blank page on start-up so it’s not coming from that, and I have thrown out my LastSession.plist from my library/safari/preferences… I am pretty lost on this… Thanks for your help in advance, and I really enjoy your column/help!
To get to system preferences, click on the apple in the upper left corner of your screen and it should be in that popup menu.
OK…I’ve searched every way I can think of…and I don’t have a “system preferences” option…how else might I find a way to stop all these seldom used programs from opening up and running in the background every time I turn on the computer?
The items in my “login items” were driving me crazy, I had searched and searched for the answer, now I found it thanks to you. 🙂
A quicker way would be anytime you have a program open, it appears in the dock. Simply hold the control key down and click on the dock icon and from the pop up menu, select or de-select “Open at Login”