30 programs on startup is too much

[Guest]

I just got a brand new computer with XP Home. I was having trouble with my Norton AntiVirus and according to the online assistant, I have too many programs on my start up. I tried running msconfig and came upon two problems:

1- The configuration window stays open for about five seconds and then closes no matter if you're working in the window or not

2- I do not know which programs are essential to the start up of my computer - they use names and abbreviations that I am not familiar with.

XP is fairly new to me; I have been using it for about a year at work, but I have a CIS manager to help me there. At home, I am not so lucky. Any help that anyone could provide would be appreciated.

 

[Jeff]

Here is a nice site which lists the process names and detailed descriptions.

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

Jeff

I just got a brand new computer with XP Home. I was having trouble with

my Norton AntiVirus and according to the online assistant, I have too many
programs on my start up. I tried running msconfig and came upon two
problems:

1- The configuration window stays open for about five seconds and then

closes no matter if you're working in the window or not

2- I do not know which programs are essential to the start up of my

computer - they use names and abbreviations that I am not familiar with.

XP is fairly new to me; I have been using it for about a year at work, but

I have a CIS manager to help me there. At home, I am not so lucky. Any
help that anyone could provide would be appreciated.

 

[Phillips]

1. Just go Control Panel/ Add/Remove and remove all the crap that you don't
need. Also, you can remove some of XPH components as well in Windows
Components panel.
2. Get used to the ideas that you either become an XPHome expert or you buy
a retail version of it or, better, XPP.

Michael

I just got a brand new computer with XP Home. I was having trouble with

my Norton AntiVirus and according to the online assistant, I have too many
programs on my start up. I tried running msconfig and came upon two
problems:

1- The configuration window stays open for about five seconds and then

closes no matter if you're working in the window or not

2- I do not know which programs are essential to the start up of my

computer - they use names and abbreviations that I am not familiar with.

XP is fairly new to me; I have been using it for about a year at work, but

I have a CIS manager to help me there. At home, I am not so lucky. Any
help that anyone could provide would be appreciated.

 

[Ron Martell]

I just got a brand new computer with XP Home. I was having trouble with my Norton AntiVirus and according to the online assistant, I have too many programs on my start up. I tried running msconfig and came upon two problems:

1- The configuration window stays open for about five seconds and then closes no matter if you're working in the window or not

2- I do not know which programs are essential to the start up of my computer - they use names and abbreviations that I am not familiar with.

XP is fairly new to me; I have been using it for about a year at work, but I have a CIS manager to help me there. At home, I am not so lucky. Any help that anyone could provide would be appreciated.

There are several viruses that are known to cause MSCONFIG to close
within a few seconds of it being launched, and it may be that one of
these has snuck by your Norton. This is especially likely if your
Norton is not fully operational as it may not be getting updated
regularly or at all.

A couple of things to try.

1. Download Stinger (free) from http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger and run
it to check your computer for 40+ of the more common current viruses
and remove them.

2. Do a free online virus scan at http://housecall.trendmicro.com

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Mike]

I have 26 programs running in msconfig, and 33 services.. the computer is
not slow.. look to other problems that are slowing down your system, like
the one that closes MSCONFIG in seconds.. and remove all traces of Norton
using add/remove and a registry cleaner, and then get another AV prog.. I
understand that AVG is a good free one, although I have to admit to running
McAfee v7 with no problems at all..

I just got a brand new computer with XP Home. I was having trouble with

my Norton AntiVirus and according to the online assistant, I have too many
programs on my start up. I tried running msconfig and came upon two
problems:

1- The configuration window stays open for about five seconds and then

closes no matter if you're working in the window or not

2- I do not know which programs are essential to the start up of my

computer - they use names and abbreviations that I am not familiar with.

XP is fairly new to me; I have been using it for about a year at work, but

I have a CIS manager to help me there. At home, I am not so lucky. Any
help that anyone could provide would be appreciated.