How do I know which processes to close to speed up my system?

[Jimmy]

When I click Alt-Ctrl-Delete it shows 26 processes in the box. I don't
beleive I need them all open slowing down my speed. How can I determine
which ones are required so that I can stop them from automaticly starting?
How do I stop them from starting?

 

[Augie Doggie]

This site may be helpful.

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

 

[Mike Hall]

Wrong newsgroup.. this one is for MS Office products.. look to
spyware/adware/scumware as the reason for your computer slowing.. we all
have many items appear in startup and services, but they are often NOT the
reason for slow performance.. here are some links for you..

SPYBOT 1.3 download.. http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

AdawareSE.. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Spyware Blaster.. http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

Omega Killer.. http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=252

You may also have a virus lurking someplace..

REMOVING a VIRUS.. http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Have you installed SP2 yet?.. if you haven't, look at this page..

SP2 installation.. http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

Ordering SP2 cd..
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

You might also want to clean up your system.. remove Temp internet files..
defrag the system..

Memory is important too.. do you have enough?.. 512mb does XP proud.. look
also to pagefile management

Page File.. http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php

There are other programs out there that will help you but this is a start..

Good luck

 

[Crouchie1998]

Although you are in the wrong newsgroup. Here is my suggestion:

Press ALT CTRL DEL & get the name of a running process. Close TASK MANAGER

Goto http://www.google.com & type the process name in "" (double quotes &
press ENTER. The results will tell you if the process is needed.

There is a website, but I don't remember the name, which is something like
'startup.com' that will tell you about your running processes.

Do that with your process names & you'll be able to go into SERVICES
(ADMINISTARTIVE TOOLS in CONTROL PANEL) & disable some of them. Others, could
be Spyware/Adware/Mailware or viruses. For those type, I suggest you go to:
http://www.sarc.com (Symantec Antivirus Research Center), click search on the
left & type that particulare process in the top searchbox & click SEARCH. If
a virus/adware/spyware/mailware process is found then it will tell you how to
remove it

With only 26 processes running it seems unlikely that you have too many
unneeded processes running.

I hope this helps