How can I completely disable CC from starting on startup?

Found your thread searching the same thing two years later!

(Do the following immediately following a fresh start up. Dont launch anything!)

1.) Firstly, launch services.msc as administrator.

To do that, go to:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

In that folder you should see an app called "Services".  Right-click that and choose "Run as Administrator"

2. The Services panel should pop up. The main column down the left lists dozens of services that Windows runs, some are automatic on startup, others are triggered when launching certain apps, some are dependent on others and might be launched without you knowing.

3. Find a service named (something like) "Adobe Genuine Software Monitor Service" and another called "AdobeUpdateService" - they be renamed in the future, they may even add more, but it'll be named something like that. Click the service name and over in the "Status" and "Startup Type" you should see they're set to "Running" and/or "Automatic" etc. This is why they launch on startup.

4. Right-click one of the Adobe services and choose "Properties" from the pop up menu.

Under "Service status" - click "Stop" to stop it running.

And in the "Startup type" popup menu, choose "Disabled"

Then click "Apply"

Then click "OK"

Repeat Step 4 for all "Adobe" sounding service names!

NOTES: You need to have run Services as Administrator for full effect.

When you launch an Adobe app, these services will still kick in, even with the above changes.

This guide is just for when you've booted, but haven't launch anything Adobe-ish.

When you update an Adobe app (Photoshop etc) or CC itself, the Services settings will likley go back to Auto, so do this each time you update any Adobe app. Turn OFF auto updates in CC.