how to speed up start up in mac os x

[bvijayrao]

Can anyone tell me whether the startup process can be increased as in windows where MSCONFIG helps in speeding up the process of reaching desktop?

[barhar]

The Mac is not a PC, and the PC is not a Mac. Where PC is defined as an Intel / Intel clone based Windoze booted computer. Although now with Intel Macs, Boot Camp and / or Parallel ...

The 'MSCONFIG' is un-called for.

Anyway, with exception to some user installed software, the only additional items that are executed at launch time are those added to one's 'System Preferences' Account's 'Startup Items' (MacOS X 10.3.x - 'Panther') or 'Login Items' (MacOS X 10.4.x - 'Tiger') lists.

There is the '/System/Library/Startup Items/' folder. Leave it alone.
There is the'/Library/Startup Items/' folder. If 'OpenBase' exists in it - leave it alone. All other entries were the result of you permitting such during an installation process.
And, there is the '~/Library/Startup Items/' folder. Chances are its entries were the result of you permitting such during an installation process, via a right button ('<control>) click on a 'Dock' based application icon and selected 'Open at Login' ('Tiger'), you simply dragged an application's icon onto the 'Startup Items' or 'Login Items' list (of the 'System Preferences' 'Accounts' panel), or - you placed an 'alias' of an application into either the '/Library/Startup Items/' or '~/Library/Startup Items/' folder.

It is ironic - that in Windoze, one must use 'MSCONFIG' to remove unwanted processes (from being executed at boot up); whereas, with MacOS X - one adds wanted processes (to execute at boot up).