task manager clean up

[Sylvain]

I'm running Win2000 on IBM A21M. I have a lots of Image
name (Process) running like:
System Idle Process, System, SMSS.EXE, WINLOGON.EXE,
CSRSS.EXE, SERVICES.EXE, LSASS.EXE, ibmpmsvc.exe,
svchost.exe, wisptis.exe, svchost.exe, TASKMGR.EXE,
AMTAutoRun.exe, cisvc.exe, INV32CLI.exe, JSDEAMON.EXE,
lucentikesvc.ex, lucentike.exe, FrameworkServic,
tp4mon.exe, Mcshield.exe, VsTskMgr.exe, naPrdMgr.exe,
cidaemon.exe, regsvc.exe, mstask.exe, SMSAGENT.EXE,
WinMgmt.exe, svchost.exe, WUSER32.EXE, MDM.EXE,
realsched.exe, spoolsv.exe, ibmpmsvc.exe, rundll32.exe,
shstat.exe, UddaterUI.exe, Network Adapter, OUTLOOK.EXE,
NCLAUNCH.EXe, trayicon.exe, DLLCMD32.EXE, MAPISP32.EXE,
msmsgs.exe.
I think it's a little too much and I'd like to get rid of
some but which one and how...
Yes I have a Viruscan and I'm using VPN and a few
application usually but still, now the only thing running
is Viruscan, Outlook and Messenger.
Please advise if you can help....

Thanks

 

[Bob I]

This guy outlined much of what you are asking about

http://www.blackviper.com/WIN2K/servicecfg.htm

 

[Dan Seur]

Why do I think this is kind of like buying a 747 and then
telling Boeing you've decided it has too many moving parts
so you'd like their help in removing a bunch?

 

[Sylvain]

I got your point, but no I'm not complaining, it's just
to know if all these are slowing down my PC and/or using
a lot of memory (RAM) for nothing. or a spyware / worm
that may use one.

Thanks

 

[Dan Seur]

Sylvain - Fair enough!

It's arduous (and potentially dangerous) to identify/remove processes
and services that, on a given system, are really unnecessary. I believe
processes not in active use will neither occupy RAM nor use CPU cycles
that might appreciably slow performance. That's assuming you have taken
appropriate steps to ensure there's no malware infection on your system.
In addition to the blackviper site mentioned in this thread, plain old
Google can be a help in identifying component/service names that malware
may introduce or corrupt.

Spyware tool: "Spybot Search & Destroy" (free download/updates)
Adware tool: "Ad-Aware" (hyphen is important; free dnld/updates)
AV tools: Several good ones, none free.
Firewalls: Many. Some good ones free dnld/update.
Port tester: free online analysis/fix "ShieldsUP!" at www.grc.com.

With an initially clean system, the above will pretty well protect your
system against known threats. For what it's worth, I have installed:
Spybot (which I update/run daily)
Ad-Aware (ditto)
F-secure AV (annl modest subscription; updates itself constantly in
"polite-protocol" online background, new DB updates approx 6x/week)
Zone Alarm Firewall (free personal use, also constant online background
updating)
Tiny Personal Firewall (free personal use from www.tinysoftware.com)
ShieldsUP! port checker (I run this every once in a while.)

Firewalls and AV filters by their nature (scanning traffic through
modems and across storage device buses and NICs) will slow things down a
bit, but it's a small price to pay for protection, and is noticeable (on
my machines) only on traffic across an antique dialup modem like mine...