lot of processes in the background

[Guest]

i have windows xp with sp2 in my system.when i bring up task manager i can
see a hell lot of processes running in the background.how can i know which
are the processes to keep and what these processes are doing to my system?

 

[R. McCarty]

If you use TaskMgr after an XP install (w/ Show processes from
all users) it will usually be around 35+. As you add programs the
number increases. If you use the Services.Msc you can see what
is running and how it starts ( Auto, Manual, Disabled). To view
the ownership, double-click an entry in the services listing. When
the details box opens, check the Path to executable: box. Most
3rd-Party services will be from a non-Windows path, such as
Program Files\....

To view services:
Click Start, Run (Type) Services.Msc -[Press Enter]

 

[lvee]

here is a good article that may shed some light. I found it interesting and
it has a few very useful tips.
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20030915/techspace01.shtml

If you use TaskMgr after an XP install (w/ Show processes from
all users) it will usually be around 35+. As you add programs the
number increases. If you use the Services.Msc you can see what
is running and how it starts ( Auto, Manual, Disabled). To view
the ownership, double-click an entry in the services listing. When
the details box opens, check the Path to executable: box. Most
3rd-Party services will be from a non-Windows path, such as
Program Files\....

To view services:
Click Start, Run (Type) Services.Msc -[Press Enter]

i have windows xp with sp2 in my system.when i bring up task manager i can
see a hell lot of processes running in the background.how can i know
which
are the processes to keep and what these processes are doing to my
system?