Performance Increase

[HumanMage]

I run Windows XP Home edition, and whenever I restart or something to that effect I notice alot of background programs that are running under the processes tab in the Windows Task Manager. I was wondering what programs could I shut down to increase performance, I know there are certain programs that are vital to the running of windows, but thats a small number of them am I right? Is there a .XXX that I should know that are for windows programs? If I could narrow down the essential windows processes I could start to close down unneeded applications that hog recourses. Thanks for your help

 

[ETSA]

List or create a snapshot of everything that is running and we will let you know.

Here is a good website that will walk you through many performance enhancing tweaks, be careful though.

www.tweakxp.com

http://www.tweakxp.com/performance_tweaks.aspx

 

[HumanMage]

Here is the screen of my desktop, with the Task Manager open.

http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w67/oilers2011/?action=view&current=untitled.jpg

 

[chupacabra]

The only program that you won't/ don't is itunes helper, btw get firefox since IE sucks

 

[ADE]

Run->msconfig->start up tab-> uncheck programs you don't want.

 

[HumanMage]

I tried firefox for awhile, but didn't like it. That was back when firefox was just becoming popular, has it changed at all since..I'd say 2005? I would imagine it has, but I have just not checked it out.

 

[fastforward]

you could always google your exe processes to figure any that are slowing your computer down or associated with malware.