...........................

The best tool to look with is Startuplist.exe
From: http://www.castlecops.com/zx/Merijn/startuplist.zip

Pay atention to where it is saved on your hard drive. Then double click on the file "startuplist.zip" to un-zip it. Then double click on startuplist.exe to run it. It will creat a text file that you can email, post here and also print it for future reference. You can Google each program name, post it here or send it to one of us to review. I'd recomend that you then notate the text file as to what each starting program is then print your copy. As far as baddies, or resource hogs we can deal with them if any show up. Speaking of which, you don't want to pass on any personal info so edit out any that might show up under your computer's name or file and directory names.

You should have the following forms of protection:
From here: http://100-downloads.com/
Anti-spyware * Spybot Search and Destroy
Anti-adware * Adaware SE
Firewall * Zone Alarm

Also from:
fromhttp://www.grisoft.com/
Anti-virus * AVG Anti-virus

And from:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
A safer browser than Internet Explorer

Thanks TC, I'll check that site. I do have Spybot and AdAware SE and NAV etc. This computer is only a couple of months old- it's the preinstalled processes. If I have any questions, I'll post them here.

hi,
are you running windows of some sort ? XP?

are you talking about the start menu/task bar section?
{the actual programs starting/loading up}

or the
ctrl/alt/del
{windows task manager /processeses}

for example-
svchost.exe
spoolsv.exe
system.exe

yikes TC-

processeses-
so much is coming up on my list - were would i start!

I did find and go thru the windows {admin tools} and clean out some of them that way {2 wks ago}
but the list from startuplist is huge compared to the windows admin tools section.
but I didn't have mcafee AV suite installed then.

monarchbutterfly-
did you try it?

TC are there any general mem hogs
that are usually safe to delete- would you name some?

I don't know of a better method than to list and identify each program, determining what it does and if it's required. Before that you had to start by right clicking every icon on the bottom right to see what it indicates is running and set it not to start with Windows if you don't need it, then checking the START list under STARTUP for others, then MSCONFIG and finally (very risky) editing the registry.

Never know what might be on a machine. Even without viruses and spyware there could be preloaded instanrt messaging or online service offers that run. Could be as simple as "printer services" where you do need one to print, but not the one that constantly estimates ink levels. If Microsoft Office is autostarting its much better to change that and just open if and when you need it. The possibilities really are endless so it comes down to make your list and check the items.

There are files called "Windows Services" that you don't want to change unless you are prepared to recover from a crash. Most are required for the machine to run and many are interdependant. These don't show up in task manager or task listing programs so while you can't accidently alter them, don't go searching for them either. If your willing to chance reloading Windows do a search for "Black Viper". But more likely, any significant problem will be easy to inentify and remedy without dismantling the operating system.

The startup list will have a lot of duplicates because programs will show in the "Running programs" section and the part showing how they start. So you can knock off two or three lines at a time. The two choices are let someone who's done it check yours, or do it yourself then use the experience to assist another.

whew - i think i won't mess with mine any more than what i did using the admin tools.
Mine is running fine for now -
I'm still trying to learn some linux stuff at this time so I can use those OS more often.