cutting down system resources

[TamiyaCowboy]

hi guys

i have notice my machine running 45 proceses and running slightly warm at 35c idle.

in my proseces task manager i have explorer.exe running but dont use explorer :o, i also have things that start up with the computer and would like too stop them (ie yahoo mesenger) how do i find out what else is starting up when i turn on my machine and using my valued memory. i am having bad crashes when running just a certain game (Cs:S) and it results in the computer having too be turned off by the psu power switch. surely me having too keeep doing this will harm my machine soon. i want too try and keep the minimum things running

my network
xfire
msn mesenger
my viral protection/firewalls

any help would be very greatful. i also need too defrag my hdd but last time it took hours could this also make my computer crash when playing a game. i dont have any other crashes only when trying too play this game

[Leeum]

Start > Run > msconfig > Startup

Untick anything you don't want to open when you boot :thumb:

[furious trout]

errr explorer.exe is windows explorer not IE. Try shutting down and see what happens...:-p

[TamiyaCowboy]

theres lots of stuff in there set too start up :o

i havent a clue what is what and does what :huh: can i mess up computer if i untick everything

i got a box saying i changed things and i sould tick in general " normal startup" but when i did this lots of other things started too load up :eek: stupid bloody microsoft should make OS idiot proof and not just nerd proof :o) an program writers should shove all this stuff into my startup thingamybob

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html

Have a read through of that link TC. There is a section that will guide you through how to identify processes and what can be shut off etc. Using the msconfig is not the best way as your just putting the PC into a diagnostic startup and are not actually removing the processes.

[TamiyaCowboy]

i will leave it guys i have no clue what too do.

thanks for the help guys but i feel if i do something i will mess up my computer and dont want too re-install xp as i will loose everything.

[Greeny]

Black Vipers service config guide is invaluable as well for trimming the cruft, it seems to be down atm so go to this guys mirror:
http://www.dead-eye.net/WinXP%20Services.htm

[lbreevesii]

you can't bone anything. just use google. also, expand the column showing the path to the file being opened, that'll give you a good indication as to what it is.