"Processes" running

Windows MSConfig doesn't show all the startup processes and services that are configured to run on your system. It may surprise you just how many there are?

Try using the Free MS Autoruns for Windows. It doesn't need to be installed. You can also set it to filter out signed Windows system processes, most all required, so can just focus on applications. Right-clicking any process or service will allow you to search the net for more info. If it's unnecessary, then un-checking will disable the process or service on startup when you re-boot.

The Black Viper site covers all Windows operating systems. It has very good coverage of running/necessary processes.

60 processes is quite a few for XP. When I was running XP I usually had between 35-40 processes running.

FWIW don't arbitrarily shut down processes, it may not cause an immediate problem, but can result in instability that may not show up until later. This may create a situation in which you may blame the problem on something else.

You "can" kill processes in Task Manager but you're better off going to "Administrative Tools", "Component Services", "Local Services" to shut down or explore what services/processes are safe to shut down.

you can 'kill'/stop processes in task mgr
NORTON and WinXP required processes will restart

the computer will be fine Unless you stop 'EXPLORER', which is basically your windows GUI ( desktop/command-interface )
stopping that will shut down the PC

any thing else will stop the program that needs them,
OR
they will restart

look at the 'path' where they come from
things located in programs are safe to stop

things in windows system, will restart IF needed

Not really. Every PC is different in that we all use our machines for different things and have different software installed. A service and/or process I might not need, you might need. If you are not sure, your best bet is to make a good friend out the neighborhood geek or if you work for a company big enough to have an IT dept, see if someone is willing to help you on his/her own time.

tkcas01 wrote:
If you are brave, click Start > Run and enter msconfig.exe. Look on the tab called startup and you can see if there is some junk starting that you don't want. You might have to search online to learn what some of the stuff is, but I do this from time to time to keep things clean. Often when you install software, it will set some agent to run at startup to check for updates, etc. Some printers also install agents that will monitor ink levels and such. Personally I can check that on the panel of the printer.

Is there any particular website you suggest to check which ones are needed?

Kennedycamper wrote:
Well you can try shutting some down & see if the computer still operates without them.

And if it doesn't, then what is one supposed to do???

Well you can try shutting some down & see if the computer still operates without them.

If you are brave, click Start > Run and enter msconfig.exe. Look on the tab called startup and you can see if there is some junk starting that you don't want. You might have to search online to learn what some of the stuff is, but I do this from time to time to keep things clean. Often when you install software, it will set some agent to run at startup to check for updates, etc. Some printers also install agents that will monitor ink levels and such. Personally I can check that on the panel of the printer.

fj12ryder wrote:
Windows 7? If so, that's probably pretty close to normal. It depends on what programs you're running. Black Viper has some good write-ups for various Windows OS's.

No, I'm still using XP.

Windows 7? If so, that's probably pretty close to normal. It depends on what programs you're running. Black Viper has some good write-ups for various Windows OS's.