Delay Run

Whenever your computer starts, it boots Windows, after which the operating system loads its core components and any other program that’s needed or manually configured to run on startup. However, a great startup list can hog resources and considerably increase boot time, but there are applications like Delay Run you can use to make them launch later on.

A neat advantage is that the application doesn’t even need to be installed in order to function. This enables you to carry it around on a USB flash drive, but you still need to leave it on the target computer for it to do the job it was meant for. A consequence of portability is that system registries are not affected, thus keeping the target PC clean.

There’s a high chance you end up scratching your head at first launch, because the main window isn’t much to look at, with little aid and no descriptions. A countdown timer lets you know something is about to happen, with a button to abort, and another to launch the task right away.

Truth be told, you don’t even get to see a different type of interface other than the compact one described above. This is because all configurations need to be done inside an INI file. In case it seems too difficult, there’s a preset example which you can use for your programs.

Delay Run wants, as the name suggests, to make applications launch a bit later than Windows does, just so they don’t eat up all resources. However, this can take some time, as each executable path must be written down in the INI file, as well as time, and parameters. In order for this to work, the application itself or a shortcut needs to be placed inside the startup folder.

To sum it up, Delay Run might seem a little difficult at first, but it manages to get the job properly done, even in its outdated style. A bit of time needs to be spent configuring all parameters, and adding applications on the list, but it helps decrease boot time, as well as save some resources at startup.