Abylon APP-BLOCKER was on GOTD today. Didn't see anything wrong with the software really, if you're looking to try another app to prevent stuff from auto-starting with Windows. Reason I'm cross posting here & the download page is hopes that maybe some of the associated comments may be useful to someone.
"Installed and registered without problems on a WIn 8.1.3 Pro 64 bit system. Many registry changes...
Even if I run this software as Admin, it does not recognize a single task, or a single startup..."
In XP Mode VM:
The installation performed the following activity:
130 files added
1 file deleted
7 files updated
628 registry entries added
0 registry entries deleted
61 registry entries updated
Installed 4/24/2015 7:59:22 AM
The 1st category shown in Karl's posted image was also empty, but the other categories or lists were populated. All items could be clicked & the checkbox for those items turned gray. 2 categories could be clicked a 2nd time to clear the check boxes. Clicking a 3rd time got the original [non-grayed] checked box back.
Abylon APP-BLOCKER adds an autostart program + a service also set to start with Windows -- no changes were recorded in the VM when graying, clearing, or restoring items, suggesting maybe the running app blocks stuff itself, as its name says. Using the popular Autoruns by comparison moves the specified registry entries to a new key, e.g. HKLM\ SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node\ Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Run\ AutorunsDisabled
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"If you unknowingly permanently stop a service which is critical to your PC running, then maybe on your next computer boot up, you may see a permanent hour glass and the computer cannot do anything beyond that. It hangs forever."
The services listed in the Control Panel -> Admin Tools -> Services app can normally be set to manual from Autostart, so if Windows or something else needs them they will be started. Services that don't show up there are often listed multiple times in the registry -- moving/deleting just one may cause problems. Apps can be listed in 2 or 3 [32 bit vs. 64 bit Windows] "Run" registry keys -- these entries can usually be deleted. Where it can get extra tricky is if/when one part depends on another, e.g. sometimes when drivers are involved, & you only stop one part, so something else tries to start but cannot.
One of the reasons I have multiple copies or versions of Windows installed is so I don't need to use bootable discs or USB sticks to fix something. It's old but I still use ERUNT to back up a copy of the registry -- that backup can be restored after booting to another OS, whether it's another installed copy of Windows as on this rig, or an OS on bootable media. Because it is old, I've sometimes had problems with something updating between the time I do the backup & when I restore it with ERUNT, e.g. security software, but it's never been anything insurmountable, & always less work than restoring a partition backup.
Often if you can't get into Windows proper Safe Mode will work, & in those cases you can try restoring a Restore Point you created just before you made whatever changes. I usually do both, set a Restore Point & create a ERUNT backup.
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"I have been a loyal user for over a decade of SysInternals’ AutoRuns... I was curious to see if this program offered anything new or interesting."
Autoruns is not always accurate when it comes to allegedly missing files, does not limit the user in any way from doing something [very] bad, & disabling [unchecking] a service may only remove one registry entry when in fact 2 or more must be removed, which can break stuff like Windows. This isn't new by any means, though the April version is worse about listing files missing that are not.
If Abylon APP-BLOCKER blocks apps/processes itself, without changing the registry, I would guess that APP-BLOCKER settings could be changed, or it could be disabled in Safe Mode, & everything would be normal re-booting into Windows. Or you might rename the program's folder, which can be done after booting to a lot of bootable media, which should keep it from starting.
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"I prefer to avoid any third-party software that “gets its hooks” into the very foundation of my operating system and manipulates it’s critical core functions."
That's understandable, but I didn't see APP-BLOCKER doing anything so severe -- it adds the Exelock service, with a registry key under ...ControlSet\ Enum\ Root\ & another under ...ControlSet\ Services [Note you may have more than one ControlSet section in the registry].
Yes, I think it's nicer when software doesn't add to the ControlSet sections of the registry, but that's simply because when I get into editing those parts of the registry, it's somewhat common to have to set permissions for a key, but that's more annoying than difficult.
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"What does this app more than good ol’ “msconfig” ?"
I think of Msconfig as more of a diagnostic tool [& a way to get into Safe Mode with a VBox VM] -- if you don't want the easier GUI of an app like APP-BLOCKER, many [myself included] prefer to just make many changes directly.
There are 2 or 3 "Run" keys in the registry -- add them to the Favorites in Regedit. Right click a registry key, & it can be exported to a .reg file -- double click a .reg file & everything in that file gets added to the registry. So you can easily export/save a copy of a run key, delete an entry, & if it doesn't work for you, put it back by double clicking that .reg file, in Safe Mode or regular Windows. For services set to Autostart I normally just set them to manual in the Services app window.
Note: just because it might seem easy to put back, don't forget to back up at least the registry & know how to put things back if you have to, Before fooling with the registry or services.
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"While programs of this kind are risky, I have found them very helpful where systems are clogged by browser helper objects, unnecessary programs starting with Windows and even malware. I have a rollback program ... I would recommend keeping to hand a suitable Microsoft Emergency Repair Disk or a system disk which gives external access to System Restore. If you have set a restore point before tweaking the system, you will then be able to restore it even if it does not boot."
Often it might be simpler/safer to disable browser add-ons using the controls built into the browser. When it comes to mal-ware, you might have success but don't count on it -- if you suspect or know your system has been compromised at least try a thorough scan & cleaning with good security software, or preferably restore a known good backup, or better yet wipe the disk & reinstall.
Rollback apps can be OK, but unless you're talking about one of the virtualization apps like Karl regularly uses, I don't like giving up that much control or disk space -- for me doing a partition image backup to another internal hard drive is more flexible, & gives you everything you get with the typical rollback app & more.
A Restore Point is great because it doesn't take the same amount of time & disk space as a disk/partition image backup. BUT, because it's not a real backup, it does not always work. It might work 1000 times, but if it's the 1001st time that it fails, you're still up the creek -- all it takes is one failure when you really need it, & if that's all you've got, you're in trouble. I'm NOT saying don't use them -- I AM saying it's not wise to only depend on Restore Points.