Startup Maximizer Removal Guide

Startup Maximizer is a questionable application that could be present on your computer even without your knowledge. It does not mean that this software infiltrated your system by using some stealth techniques or magic. Unfortunately, a lot of users do not pay enough attention while installing bundled software and this is how they can be surprised to find potentially unwanted programs (PUP) like this on board. However, if this PUP comes as a surprise to you, there is a good chance that you will find other infections as well on your system. The free version of this optimizer program is rather useless and serves as bait for you to buy the full version, of course. We believe that you are better off doing a bit more research to find a properly functioning free tool instead. Since a number of more serious threats can enter your computer along with this PUP, we suggest that you remove Startup Maximizer and make sure that no other potential virtual security risk sources remain on board.

The official way to acquire this application is to visit its website at solidtechies.com. As you will see on this website, Solid Tech, the developer of Startup Maximizer is also responsible for creating Privacy Maximizer and Driver Maximizer, which may well also be potentially unwanted programs. The website is available in four languages (English, French, Spanish, and German). Apart from the aforementioned three applications, this company also offers toll free unlimited computer support through the 1-866-682-0647 telephone number. The creators claim to “Speed Up Your PC, Remove All Your Viruses, Backup Your Emails and Data, and lots more”; however, if you run a quick web search on this provided phone number, you will see that there are a number of complaints and some articles even call it a “scam” and a “rip-off.”

As a matter of fact, on the website you are offered this 1 year of unlimited support for $99 up to $339 per year. When you decide to download the free trial version of Startup Maximizer, which you would not do after careful research and finding out that this could be a “rip-off,” this process can be interrupted by your security software, if you have any, since the installer is found as a potential threat. This should also convince you that it is best to delete Startup Maximizer.

But it can get even worse since this PUP can be found bundled with malicious software installers as well. This means that if you install such a bundle, you may infect your computer with a bunch of adware programs, browser hijackers, and other PUPs, too. This can easily happen if you visit unreliable file-sharing websites, such as torrent and shareware sites. It is enough to click on a suspicious third-party ad on these pages, of which there are many, and you could let several threats onto your machine. If it is possible that this has happened to you, it is important that you run a malware scanner after you delete Startup Maximizer.

This questionable application claims that it “safely identifies and removes your computer's unwanted programs and optimizes your computer performance.” We have found that the free version simply lists your empty registry entries or temporary files and do not fix any errors. For it to work properly, you are supposed to by the full version that costs $29.95 with a one-year license. We are sure that for this kind of money you could have a decent anti-malware program that could protect your system from all kinds of malware infections and threats, which would really be peace of mind for you. We cannot claim that this program displays false or made-up results, or that it does not function at all. What we think of this PUP is that it is really nothing special and there is a slight chance that this is all about a technical support scam as we have seen lots of these in the past years. If you do not want to pay hundreds of dollars for alleged technical issue fixes, you should remove Startup Maximizer without a second thought.

We have found that the uninstaller of this application works just fine and does not seem to leave any leftovers. So all you need to do is uninstall this program via Control Panel. If you have never done this before, please follow our instructions below. We have also included manual instructions if you would like to “get your hand dirty” a bit. Do not forget about the possibility that there may be other infections on your system as well. If you do not want to hunt them down manually and one by one, which could take some time and expertise, we suggest that you install a decent anti-malware application that will also safeguard your PC from future malware invasions.

How to remove Startup Maximizer from Windows

Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10

1. Tap Win+Q and enter uninstall a program. Hit the Enter key.
2. Choose the uninstaller and press Uninstall.

Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. Open the Start menu and go to Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program.
3. Select the uninstaller and press Uninstall.

Windows XP

1. Click Start and choose Control Panel.
2. Select Add or Remove Programs.
3. Click on the uninstaller and press Remove.

Manual Removal

1. Press Win+E.
2. Delete the following folders:
   %ProgramFiles%\Startup Maximizer
   %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Startup Maximizer (64-bit)
   %AppData%\Startup Maximizer
   %WINDIR%\System32\Tasks > Startup Maximizer Schedule
   %WINDIR%\Tasks > Startup Maximizer Schedule.job
3. Empty your Recycle Bin.
4. Press Win+R and type in regedit. Press OK.
5. Locate and delete these registry value names:
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Startup Maximizer
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Startup Maximizer (64-bit)
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Startup Maximizer_is1 (64-bit)
6. Exit the editor.
7. Restart your computer.