BleepingComputer.com: What needs to be running in the background?

LindaIHN, on Mar 23 2009, 07:48 PM, said:

You didn't answer my question about how I stop things from running in the background. lol

In Windows Defender/Software Explorer, click on "Show for all users", a window will pop up, "Windows needs your permission to continue", click "Continue", and you should be able to Disable unwanted start up programs.

Sorry! Yes, just highlight and select Disable. After a while of leaving it disabled, then you can go back and delete it once you're sure you won't need it.

usasma, on Mar 24 2009, 11:06 AM, said:

Okay, so I do disable but I don't understand what you mean by going back to delete it once I'm sure I won't need it, John. I need all of the things on my computer, but I don't want them slowing my computer down by having them running in the background. Does that make sense?

Thank you, GolfDude.

Linda

If you find out over time you don't need or use the program- delete it through your "Add and Remove Programs". Or, maybe you purchase a new camera and no longer use the Kadak software and start using better software (sorry for the dig, but I agree with John on this one), you can delete the program. The last computer I purchased (HP) came bundled with so much crap it was amazing. I think I had 73 processes running at start-up. I used some of the software and thought it was okay. It wasn't until after I had a hard drive failure (junk Hitachi) and installed Vista (clean) that I realized how much garbage was running on my computer. It sure made me pay attention when installing new hardware and software. For example, the first time I installed my printer (HP) software I went with the default "Express" setting. Everytime one of the ink cartridges got to a 1/3 full, the software would pop up and try to take me to the HP store to buy new ones. Got real tired of that, so when I installed it the second time I went custom and only installed the necessary drivers. However, it still loaded in a start up process to quick start the software- which I quickly disabled.

The bottom line is my computer runs really sweet without all of the garbage. It runs great and I do not have any problems with it locking up or moving slowly. I try to minimize the garbage programs. The programs that think they need to be running at start up "just in case" their is an update to be had. If I need an update I can check periodecally.

Just my thoughts,
Tom

Thank you for your input, Tom. I try not to do the "recommended" install, too, on some of my programs but it's hard for me because I usally don't know what I don't need. lol For instance, I have PSP (Paint Shop Pro) and I really only use it for my photos -- for cropping and editing. I used to make tags but no longer do that. I know I don't need all the garbage that comes with the "typical" install, but I don't know what I need to only perform the cropping, etc. I've learned so much over the years but I still don't know so, so, so, so much. lol

Linda

Linda,

Just continue to read a little on this website everyday and you will learn a lot. I am a Newbie and don't know that much either. However, I stumbled upon BP a while back when I was trying to determine what processes I needed to have running on my computer. I would enter the name of the process in my search engine to determine what it was. I would get a bunch of results and most of the websites would want you to do a free computer scan. Obviously I would leave that website immediately. However, in my results were links to BP for answers to my search that always helped me- and never was I prompted to scan my computer.

I few weeks after first discovering BP a friend asked me to see if I could help fix his computer. The first thing I did was post BP with what was going on. John had me install Malwarebytes which showed that his computer had 83 infections. Unbelievable since McAfee and Spyhunter (which my friend had purchased and installed) found nothing. Anyway, John walked me through the steps to clean the computer of the infections as well as clean up the registry. My friends computer works better than it ever has.

I have promoted this website to all of my friends and use it daily. Mostly I just read the threads to gain some knowledge. Sometimes I respond to post such as yours where at least I know the answers (not many I can answer to be quite honest). It just amazes me how much knowledge some of these people have. And the more I read, the more I learn.

Take care and say connected to BP for all of your computer questions,

Tom

Thank you, Tom. I joined BP just the other day and joined another computer help group at the same time and I can tell you that this is the one where I will stay. lol I'm very happy with the responses and the knowledge and friendliness. I have MalwareBytes on my computer but I've only had it for about six months. I've had SuperAntiSpyware for years and was having some problems and MalwareBytes picked up infections that SAS didn't.

Linda

You're not deleting the program when you select "Delete" - rather you're deleting the entry that causes it to start automatically. The program should still be there and be accessible - you'll just have to click on it's entry in the Programs menu to start it.

Thank you for explaining that, John.

Linda