Processes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Folks:


I am using a windows XP platform.

When my machine boots, I use Task Manager to view the various processes
that are already running.
Frequently there are processes there that I do NOT want to be active. I
then have to manually close them. This takes a lot of time.

* How can I configure my windows XP system to start only those
processes that are absolutely necessary for my computer to function & not
the unnecessary stuff ?



Thanks in advance,
Jo.
 
JoJo,

What are the names of these processes that are running on startup?

The applications are normally in the registry to run on startup

If you have things like MSN Messenger, Yahoo... then you have to use TOOLS
menu | Options | General & untick the start with Windows. For Yahoo its the
MESSENGER menu | Preferences | General & untick 'Automatically Start Yahoo
Messenger

In the startup folder (START | ALL PROGRAMS | STARTUP) is another place you
will find rubbish like Adobe Acrobat Reader Speed Launcher for example

For other's you will need to look in the RUN key & that can be done by using
the useless MSCONFIG application within XP or download this free which gives
you more information & is 1000% better than MSCONFIG. Here's the download
page:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/autoruns.mspx

You only need to concentrate on the LOGON tab & most likely you'll see the
applications under the following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Please be aware NOT to untick just any run item as you could disable
antivrus/firewall applications & MSN has to be done via the main program &
not in those keys above or it will be replaced.

If you need any additional help then please post back & we will continue to
do our best to help you.
 
Folks:


I am using a windows XP platform.

When my machine boots, I use Task Manager to view the various processes
that are already running.
Frequently there are processes there that I do NOT want to be active. I
then have to manually close them. This takes a lot of time.

* How can I configure my windows XP system to start only those
processes that are absolutely necessary for my computer to function & not
the unnecessary stuff ?
Click to expand...

Start by Googling the names of the processes that you want to get rid
of. That should help you identify exactly what they are and where
they come from.

For information on items that load via the Startup tab in MSCONFIG see
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php

For information on startup services see
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
I am using a windows XP platform.

When my machine boots, I use Task Manager to view the various processes
that are already running.
Frequently there are processes there that I do NOT want to be active. I
then have to manually close them. This takes a lot of time.

* How can I configure my windows XP system to start only those
processes that are absolutely necessary for my computer to function & not
the unnecessary stuff ?
Click to expand...

To eliminate startup programs from running first step should be to check in
the options for the program you don't want to start and see if there is a
setting to tell it not to run at startup. The next step is to remove any
entries you don't want from the two startup folders:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

For anything else uncheck their entries in the startup tab of msconfig:
Start | Run | Msconfig | Ok

Another option is to remove the reference to them from one of these keys in
the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Make sure you have a backup of the registry using a program like ERUNT
before making any changes to the registry.

ERUNT
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt

Installing and Using ERUNT
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm

Here are some research sites to check out what the processes are that are
running.
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/service411.htm
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

Don't disable services with msconfig. Services should be managed through
the services console snap in, services.msc, run from Start | Run.
 
Back
Top