Background Processes

[flynfast]

Hello,

I noticed that my computer has been running slower and slower. Nothing
too serious, but I checked the processes running in the background and
there are quite a few of them including seven operations of
svchost.exe. I have already elliminated a lot of things using
msconfig, but I was just wondering which applications should be running
at any given time. Should I start unchecking things from the msconfig
tab? If so, which ones?

Thank you,
Flynfast

 

[R. McCarty]

There is no "Hard-&-Fast" list, it varies depending on what drivers
and applications are installed on your PC. You might want to get a
program from SysInternals, AutoRuns. It adds a Description column
that helps identify what each item belongs to.
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html

 

[Wesley Vogel]

there are quite a few of them including seven operations of

svchost.exe.

That means that you have a boatload of services running.

A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314056

I have two instances of svchost.exe running.
svchost.exe 700 RpcSs
svchost.exe 752 AudioSrv, CryptSvc, Dhcp, helpsvc, LanmanServer,
LanmanWorkstation,Netman, winmgmt

Service information.

http://web.archive.org/web/20041128094512/http://www.blackviper.com/

http://web.archive.org/web/20041128084144/www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

http://www.blackviper.com/

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm#Services

http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/services.html

http://www.geocities.com/ziyadhosein/xpserv1.htm

http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm

[[This guide lists the default service configurations for Windows XP Service
Pack 1 and Windows XP Service Pack 2. Services that have been added,
removed, or had the default settings changed are highlighted in bold text.]]
TweakHound - Windows XP Services Default Settings Guide
http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/defserv.htm

[[Services
Microsoft pulled their services guide that I had linked to previously
because the information was outdated due to SP2. Even the default settings
for Services listed in Help & Support are still wrong. I've gotten these
settings by doing a fresh install of both XP Home and Pro and exporting the
Services configuration as a .csv file.]]
TweakHound's Super XP Tweaking Guide - Services
http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks6.htm

-----

Startup Programs.

http://www.azpchelp.com/StartupListQ-U.htm

http://www.greatis.com/regrun3appdatabase.htm

http://www.lafn.org/webconnect/mentor/startup/PENINDEX.HTM

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.php

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

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

http://www.norris160.org/noel/win_processes.htm

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Plato]

I noticed that my computer has been running slower and slower. Nothing
at any given time. Should I start unchecking things from the msconfig
tab? If so, which ones?

The ones you dont need running 24/7. However, best to use the prog
itself to stop it from running 24/7 if you dont want it to.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The ones you dont need running 24/7. However, best to use the prog
itself to stop it from running 24/7 if you dont want it to.

It has nothing to do with running 24/7. It has to do with what programs you
want to run at *startup*.

I have several programs starting automically that I don't want running 24/7.
As a single example, Spyware Blaster starts automatically each morning. I
check to see if there are any new updates to it, then shut it down.