How to clean up task manager?

You should run some spyware and virus scanners to clean up any malware, and then download StartUp CPL 2.8 and use that to disable certain apps from running at boot that aren't needed. Also, if you have any IM programs, those don't need to run at boot either.
 
djnes said:
You should run some spyware and virus scanners to clean up any malware, and then download StartUp CPL 2.8 and use that to disable certain apps from running at boot that aren't needed. Also, if you have any IM programs, those don't need to run at boot either.
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Thanks for the info! I'll check out that startup program
 
I've found that some of the programs you know are safe to stop from running, and others are not. To be sure, google the application name, and you'll find a few sites that say what it is, and if it can be shut off or not.
 
Start >> Run >> msconfig

Go to the Startup tab and it'll give you a list of all the programs which start when Windows boots. Includes the paths to the files which might give you a better idea of what each item is.
 
msconfig works for quick and dirty edits, but I like the feature set of StartUp CPL. It does more, and it's still free.
 
I definately wouldnt download any new programs, especially one to control startup programs. Just use MSCONFIG. Incase your not sure...click start, run, then type Msconfig, go to the startup tab. Uncheck the ones you know you do not need. Like Dj said, google the entries your not sure of.

Just a quick look id say its safe to uncheck iTuneshelper.exe,eraser.exe,ati2evxx.exe at the very least. Again, dont download/use another startup manager, the built in MSCONFIG does just fine. Good luck.
 
I'm not sure what's wrong with downloading a new utility.

I use Process Explorer from sysinternals. It lists the current processes like TaskMgr does, but it also shows the command line used to start the app. It displays the process hierarchy, so you know what started the process. It shows the command line, so you can figure out what RunDLL is doing, and you know where the process came from.

Often, the command line is enough to remind you what a program is doing. If not, you also get the description and company name. It usually saves you from going back and forth to searching for the file on the web. You can also dump strings from the image, or launch Depends to see what DLLs a given EXE is using. You can get the TCP/IP state of the process, too, to see what ports it has opened and what it is listening to. (And even given all that you must search, there's a context menu that goes straight to Google with the file's name.)

If I really don't need something, I'd rather uninstall it correctly than knock it out of the sky with any of the utilities or configuration editors.

It's a great tool for exploring the processes and services on your machine, but if you don't want to download anything else, I guess you're going to miss out.
 
mikeblas said:
I'm not sure what's wrong with downloading a new utility.
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Nothing wrong with that utility, or any other startup manager. But when he states " how to keep them from coming on upon startup." , why introduce a new startup utility when he hasnt gotten familiar with one of the most basic controls already included in his OS? Im a firm believer in understanding the basic controls before you try to better them.
 
PaHick said:
Nothing wrong with that utility, or any other startup manager. But when he states " how to keep them from coming on upon startup." , why introduce a new startup utility when he hasnt gotten familiar with one of the most basic controls already included in his OS? Im a firm believer in understanding the basic controls before you try to better them.
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I'm confused also, why you wouldn't want him downloading the StartUp CPL. I'm going to assume you aren't familiar with it. It's not another application to install and have load. It's, as the name suggests, a control panel applet. It doesn't add to the number of applications already running.
 
PaHick said:
Nothing wrong with that utility, or any other startup manager.
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Process Explorer isn't a startup manager.

PaHick said:
But when he states " how to keep them from coming on upon startup." , why introduce a new startup utility when he hasnt gotten familiar with one of the most basic controls already included in his OS? Im a firm believer in understanding the basic controls before you try to better them.
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Thanks for the clarification. When you said "I definately wouldnt download any new programs", I thought you didn't want him to download anything. I guess it's good ot understand the system, but it turns out that some third party tools are better at that than the things baked into Windows.
 
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