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matsr's avatar
matsr
New Contributor
8 years ago
Solved

Why does startup of TestComplete cause other Windows apps to start in Windows 10?

Hi all,   I have TestComplete 11.31.2420.7 installed on Windows 10. For some reason, when I start TestComplete from the Windows taskbar, a few other Windows apps start as well. These include: Ala...
  • HKosova's avatar
    HKosova
    8 years ago

    Disabling background apps is not enough. You also need to disable the Superfetch service. Superfetch aims to increase perceived performance by preloading applications based on past usage. This means that Superfetch launches applications in the suspended mode from time to time. Even if you explicitly terminate a process, Superfetch can run it again an hour later in the suspended mode, because it expects that you'll want to use this application again. TestComplete just wakes up suspended apps, but it's Windows itself that actually starts them.

     

    To sum up the workarounds:

    • Disable the Superfetch service.
    • Disable all background apps in Start > Settings > Privacy > Background apps.
    • If you do not need to test Windows Store apps, disable TestComplete option Enable support for testing Windows Store applications in Tools > Options > Engines > General Options and restart TestComplete.
HKosova's avatar
HKosova
SmartBear Alumni (Retired)
8 years ago

Disabling background apps is not enough. You also need to disable the Superfetch service. Superfetch aims to increase perceived performance by preloading applications based on past usage. This means that Superfetch launches applications in the suspended mode from time to time. Even if you explicitly terminate a process, Superfetch can run it again an hour later in the suspended mode, because it expects that you'll want to use this application again. TestComplete just wakes up suspended apps, but it's Windows itself that actually starts them.

 

To sum up the workarounds:

  • Disable the Superfetch service.
  • Disable all background apps in Start > Settings > Privacy > Background apps.
  • If you do not need to test Windows Store apps, disable TestComplete option Enable support for testing Windows Store applications in Tools > Options > Engines > General Options and restart TestComplete.
  • matsr's avatar
    matsr
    New Contributor
    8 years ago

    Thank you very much for your reply, Helen. Seems like you posted your answer while I was writing my previous one. Yesterday I did exactly what you wrote and now the problem appears to be gone.