Registry Cleaning

[TallTravel]

I have been using this XP laptop for a few months now, after having purchased it new. I feel I need to educate myself about registry cleaning. I am Windows " comfortable ", and can use REGEDIT in a limited fashion, but I truly do not understand most everything I see when I am pulling things out of the registry, and as a result I only pull out or delete obvious entries.

That being said, I feel like my registry is likely cluttered, big time, and I am cautious about using an automated registry cleaner because I don't want to do damage to the registry.

Any free registry cleaners out there where they won't be asking for a purchase after a 15 item cleaning? Most of those type programs have " found 851 items " which need to be removed, or some incredible number, and they only take care of 15 per trial package.

Suggestions? I have downloaded a range of cleaners from download.com and similar sites, but none of the ones I have found are truly " free ", all of them claiming such until the deletions are supposed to happen.

EDITED TO ADD:

The PcMech hot link took me to a Freeregistryfix.com, and typical of all the others I have downloaded, their software just completed a scan, found 650 " problems ", and deleted only 50.

I don't know if this is important enough I ought to spend money on some software or not. Do most people on this board clean their own registries, purchase automated cleaners, or use free cleaners I don't know about?

[glc]

The only registry cleaner I use these days is Crap Cleaner. It's totally free. The only thing to watch for is it will install the Yahoo toolbar if you blindly click through the installation screens.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc The only registry cleaner I use these days is Crap Cleaner. It's totally free. The only thing to watch for is it will install the Yahoo toolbar if you blindly click through the installation screens.

OK, but you are far more comfortable with the insides of a registrisy file than I will ever be. Do you simply let Crap Cleaner make its own choices, or do you review its choices before allowing it to do the actual registry adjustment?

I will look for Crap Cleaner using google, but if you have a link please let me know.

[faulkner132]

Personally, I've never used a registry cleaner. If my PC is 1, 2, or 5 seconds slower, so be it. Also, I've never seen a case where a system became unstable due to registry entries (again, in my experience). Most of the "errors" are typically just references to unused DLL from uninstalls or the like, nothing which will really effect you.
It's not worth the trouble of a program deleting an entry you actually need and corrupting an install.

I know most of the Anti-Spyware programs delete obvious registry entries, but outside of these I don't touch it.

Again, just my 2 cents...

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by faulkner132 Personally, I've never used a registry cleaner. If my PC is 1, 2, or 5 seconds slower, so be it. Also, I've never seen a case where a system became unstable due to registry entries (again, in my experience). Most of the "errors" are typically just references to unused DLL from uninstalls or the like, nothing which will really effect you. It's not worth the trouble of a program deleting an entry you actually need and corrupting an install. I know most of the Anti-Spyware programs delete obvious registry entries, but outside of these I don't touch it. Again, just my 2 cents...

I understand what you are saying. It bothers me, though, when my PC is running slower than it could, just because many times there is no need to put up with it, given the right inforamtion and actions. For me, 2-5 seconds each time use a certain function is very frustrating. So I tend to want to keep things cleaner than dirties. I ran the program above, Crap Cleaner, and it found a hell of a lot of " problems ", which I allowed it to delete. However, I have not noticed much difference in performance sinse then.

I also want to educate myself about registrr entries, and this is helping me in that regard.

[faulkner132]

All in all, I don't think the registry is going to effect your speed much at all. I'm glad you cleared some junk off safely, but checking your running processes and removing stuff you don't use will improve your speed moreso than registry entries.

To see and configure your startup processes do Start > Run > msconfig

Good luck.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by faulkner132 All in all, I don't think the registry is going to effect your speed much at all. I'm glad you cleared some junk off safely, but checking your running processes and removing stuff you don't use will improve your speed moreso than registry entries. To see and configure your startup processes do Start > Run > msconfig Good luck.

Interesting, because an hour ago I spent some time removing programs from the my system using PROGRAM ADD/REMOVE. That did more to speed the system up than cleaning the registry, the two actions taken separately and measured separately.

However, for a system which has printer attached (HP dumps lots of processes I don't know about), and mainly is used for Word Processing and Surfing, I am showing no less than 66 processes. Any way of posting some of those to see if they are " necessary "??

I use an HP printer, but rarely. HP has a lot of processes running which start with HP. However, the computer is also made by HP, and some of the processes might be the HP Wireless assistant, as an example, so I dont' know if those Hp*.* processes are best removed or not.

Similar thing with Kodak. I installed a digital camera software package on this laptop, then removed it, and cannot get the Kodak application to go away. It is still showing up in Processes....can't get it gone.

[AnotherMuggle]

When you uninstall the programs using the ADD/REMOVE they are removed from the system but they still leave like links/references in the computers registry.

When you clean the registry it removes any of these links/references that are no longer valid.

As you said removing the programs will give a more noticable performance increase, particularly if disk space is an issue. However, cleaning the registry does do the system a lot of good, even if its not immediatly apparent.

[TallTravel]

Here are a few of the processes which are running which I don't know, or cannot remove.

DRVmon.exe (user)
Aluscheduler
KodakCCSATI2evxx.ex
SVChost.ext
eabservrCCAPP.exe (Crap Cleaner?)
BTTRY

Any many others. There are some 65 processes running, and I cannot imagine those are necessary for simple functioning of my laptop.

[AnotherMuggle]

SVChost is normal...that one you don't need to worry about.

KodakCCSATI2evxx is clearly some kind of camera software!?!

eabservrCCAPP.exe is not ccleaner but I don't know what it is nor do I know what the others are.

Do you have anti-spyware etc on that computer?

[AnotherMuggle]

In answer to your question earlier about ccleaner...yes do the automated clean up, but save a copy of the registry when prompted...that way it can be restored if theres a disaster.

I personally have never had a problem caused by it.

[rspassey]

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you seem to have WAY to many processes running.

Follow these instructions - http://www.forum.pcmech.com/showpost...02&postcount=1

(Hijack This can be found here - http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php )

The post your log. Remember not to go clicking away and removing stuff with HJT (that's bad - don't remove anything with it until it has been looked over here first).

Hopefully, Ewido, AdAware SE, and Spybot Search & Destroy might help a bit.

By posting your HTJ log, we will also be able to tell you which start up entries are safe to disable in MSCONFIG. If you'd like to do this yourself, go to run and type msconfig. Then visit http://www.sysinfo.org/ and see which entries are safe to remove.

[SARGE]

I have used Easy Cleaner http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm for years, and also use Crap Cleaner. Biggest accumulation of such was after I reinstalled XP and ran it. Wiped out a good chunk and good riddance

[TallTravel]

My main problem is: slow computer. This is an HP Pavillion laptop with 1 GB RAM, using Win XP Media Center.

OK, here is the HiJack This log file. I trust it is the correct information. I run AdAware daily,

ogfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:34:23 PM, on 10/9/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\ISSVC.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\hpq\HP Wireless Assistant\HP Wireless Assistant.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\HPQ\Quick Launch Buttons\EabServr.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\KodakCCS.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\BTTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpomau08.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopIndex.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...lion&pf=laptop
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TY...lion&pf=laptop
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! IE Services Button - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: CNavExtBho Class - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: HP view - {B2847E28-5D7D-4DEB-8B67-05D28BCF79F5} - C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\HPDTLK02.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray] C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [hpWirelessAssistant] C:\Program Files\hpq\HP Wireless Assistant\HP Wireless Assistant.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LSBWatcher] c:\hp\drivers\hplsbwatcher\lsburnwatcher.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [eabconfg.cpl] C:\Program Files\HPQ\Quick Launch Buttons\EabServr.exe /Start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Cpqset] C:\Program Files\HPQ\Default Settings\cpqset.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] "C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe" -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DrvMon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\DrvMon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [License Manager] "C:\Program Files\License_Manager\license_manager.exe " /silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\1.0.720.3640\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows Registry Repair Pro] C:\Program Files\3B Software\Windows Registry Repair Pro\RegistryRepairPro.exe 4
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Bluetooth.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O4 - Global Startup: hp officejet 4100 series.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: hpoddt01.exe.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Send To &Bluetooth - C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie_ctx.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\npjpi150_05.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: @btrez.dll,-4015 - {CCA281CA-C863-46ef-9331-5C8D4460577F} - C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @btrez.dll,-4017 - {CCA281CA-C863-46ef-9331-5C8D4460577F} - C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\btsendto_ie.htm
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=EN_US&c=Q405&bd=pavilion&pf=laptop
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~2\GOEC62~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bluetooth Service (btwdins) - Broadcom Corporation. - C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Bluetooth Software\bin\btwdins.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Proxy (ccProxy) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: HP WMI Interface (hpqwmi) - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files\HPQ\SHARED\HPQWMI.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: ISSvc (ISSVC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\ISSVC.exe
O23 - Service: Kodak Camera Connection Software (KodakCCS) - Eastman Kodak Company - C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\KodakCCS.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: SAVScan - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc (SPBBCSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe

[SARGE]

Disable all Symantec items from loading for starters. They are resource hogs big-time.

[rspassey]

Click on RUN - then type MSCONGIF

Click on the start up tab, and you can uncheck the following entries

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_05\bin\jusched.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot


If you dont want MSN Messenger to start up automatically - you can either uncheck this or disable in the programs tools : O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background

Same applies for Yahoo Messenger : O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] "C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe" -quiet


This one seems like it came from a P2P program (have you used one before?) - it seems like a nasty entry to me, and should be removed (might want a second opinion on this, though) - O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [License Manager] "C:\Program Files\License_Manager\license_manager.exe " /silent


I'd uncheck this one aswell:
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows Registry Repair Pro] C:\Program Files\3B Software\Windows Registry Repair Pro\RegistryRepairPro.exe 4

O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe

Remember... don't uncheck and clean these with Hijack This... find the corresponding entries in MSCONFIG. If after unchecking something, you find that a progam isn't working properly, then return to MSCONFIG and recheck the entries you want to start up.

NORTON is a huge resource hog. If I were you, I would uninstall it and install an alternative like Avast home Free or AVG (also free).

[TallTravel]

Ryan:

I did precisely as you prescribed above, except I used the British version of MSCONFIG (just jokin', you misspelled it lol!)

Each of the items at the bottom, which were question marks for you, I checked simply because they don't matter to me. I then rebooted and looked at the same file, and they are still checked off.

That's the good news. Do you want the GREAT news????

The system is lightning quick now! It sped up so much it is scary!

Thanks!!!!!!!!

[rspassey]

I also noticed you have quite a toolbars, like Yahoo and Google. If you don't use them, I would consider uninstalling them.

How many processes are you down to now? Typically, a laptop will run a few more processes than a desktop - such as the ones for all the integrated bluetooth and wifi, as well as the touchpad and quick access buttons.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by rspassey I also noticed you have quite a toolbars, like Yahoo and Google. If you don't use them, I would consider uninstalling them. How many processes are you down to now? Typically, a laptop will run a few more processes than a desktop - such as the ones for all the integrated bluetooth and wifi, as well as the touchpad and quick access buttons.

I am down to 51 processes at this point, not much lower than the earlier 66, but much faster. Here are a few I am wondering about:

LSBrhnwatcher.exe
hpofxm08.exe
ehtray.exe
bttray.exe
hpomau08.exe
hpqwmi.exe
hpotdd01.exe

How, specifically, do I get rid of that damn Kodak process? Add/Remove Programs won't do it. It is a program associated with a digital camera I no longer use. The WinDVD program looks resource intensive. Can I choose to install it when I use the DVD function instead of having it load all the time?

Anything else I ought to take out?

[faulkner132]

Type the process executable file into Google. Typically, the first few hits you get will explain what the process is and whether or not you should remove it.

[SARGE]

Good info and good work.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by faulkner132 Type the process executable file into Google. Typically, the first few hits you get will explain what the process is and whether or not you should remove it.

OK, got it. Did this, and most of the answers came back labeling the processes as " harmless ". However, this does not answer the question about whether it takes up resources better used doing something else. It is harmless, but is it still worth taking off?

As an example, the hp items are designed to be used with an HP printer, which I own and rarely use. The docs I found don't address whether I ought to check them off, or not, and I don't have enough information to make the decision about whether to leave them or not, if my primary goal is to leave those processes which are used often by my system.

[glc]

Use msconfig and uncheck them. It's simple to put them back if you find that they are really needed.

By the way, toys like Google Desktop Search can SERIOUSLY impact on performance. If you install every toy you come across, you can turn a fast computer into a 486-like device very quickly.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc Use msconfig and uncheck them. It's simple to put them back if you find that they are really needed. By the way, toys like Google Desktop Search can SERIOUSLY impact on performance. If you install every toy you come across, you can turn a fast computer into a 486-like device very quickly.

Yeah, no kidding! i am now a believer. I have been downloading readers, applications, and toolbar assistants any time I see something I like. I do the same darn thing at Home Depot, and the only thing that gets clogged is my garage. However, I have learned a fair bit over the last 24 hours about the accumulation of junk on my computer, and now I know.

Only yesterday morning this system was running far, far slower than it is now running. Web pages load lightning fast, which is the most noticeable change for me, but everything on my system is far quicker now than before I posed this question and followed your advice.

Many thanks!