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In MSCONFIG, what is the difference between a start-up item and a service?

-Thanks

Hi Willyboo,
Welcome to The PCHF,
As a very general rule, a service is a process that programs and such rely on to run in the background for them to function. A start up program is generally a program that you have installed and is started every time you start the pc. e.g your antivirus is generally in the startup section so it comes on when you start windows but the update checking is done via a service in the backround. Clear as mud??
Let us know if you want any further explaination.

So, a service is not always running, but a process is?

There are several Windows Services that are always running, for example Network Services, when your network connection is on.
For processes, every piece of software uses processes. So some processes only run when you're running that software.

A service loads for the computer.
A startup entry loads for each user.