Slower computer

[BarbaraMN]

Using Win XP, IE 6.0

In a Microsoft Help page, one of the solutions to a slower computer was to
disable all the running programs by using the msconfig utility Startup
folder. In looking at that, I am hesitant to delete all as some appear to
be for McAfee (although the abbreviations are not really clear what exactly
they are representing). I tried double left clicking and right clicking to
try to get more information about the abbreviations but nothing happens with
that.
When someone says "you probably have too many programs running in the
background", I look at my launch tray in the lower right hand corner by the
clock. Are these a direct correlation to what's "running in the
background"? If I delete all those, will they come back as I require them
(such as when I get an update notice).

I hesitate deleting anything in haste as I am pretty much a computer novice
and may not know how to get something back. I'd rather have a slower
computer than screw something up, you know? Any help would be appreciated.
By the way, if that tray in the lower right isn't what I thought it was, how
can I get rid of things on there (assuming deleting them wouldn't make
something stop working).

 

[Guest]

Many authorities recommend *not* using MSConfig to stop programs from running
at startup. I'm not sure why, but it is true that it's not always easy to
distinguish between those you need to run and those you don't need to run.

Let me work with your questions in reverse order. Regarding the correlation
between icons appearing in the system tray and programs running in the
background: yes and no. Not all programs running in the background will
display an icon in the system tray. Some of the things that run in the
background are services rather than programs.

This site has a list of services that run in both Home and Pro versions of
XP as well as explanations. http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
You can change the configuration of XP services. With Microsoft products,
there are always several ways to do a task, so I'll just tell you how I get
there. Right click on the desktop My Computer icon and select "manage".
Click the plus next to the Services and Applications menu item. Highlight
"Services" in the left pane. The services are listed in the right pane. If
you highlight a service, you will see a brief explanation of what the service
does.

Programs that run at startup may be in the "startup" folder on your program
menu, but many are not. I generally assume that anything appearing in my
startup folder can safely be moved/deleted. However, to be safe, I move them
out of the startup folder for awhile before I delete them entirely.

Background programs that are not in the startup folder (and are not running
as a service) are usually listed in the run key of the registry. I find
removing them from the registry rather than using MSConfig less of a pain in
the long run, but editing the registry is not something for the novice to
try. Many programs that run at startup can be configured not to do so.
For example, to stop WinZip from running at startup, go to the configuration
menu item in WinZip (tools, I think) and uncheck the "include Quick Pick..."
on the system tab.

To find out what a program appearing in the run key of the registry or the
startup tab of MSConfig does, use XP Search to find out what folder the
cryptic file name is in. That will usually tell you what program it is and
may help you keep from disabling a part of your McAffee.