How do i turn off aplications running in the backround?

Patricide

Ok, heres somthing that really really really buggs me cause it slows my computer down and its slow enough as it is.

How the hell do i close down aplications running in the backround, as in not just close them down untill i boot up again but close them down permentantly. Also how do i figure out the ones that i NEED to keep open without arguous trial and error?

Another thing that annoys me is how the hell do i stop programs from automaticly running in the sys trey. Things like anapod explorer(alternitive to itunes) are there running the whole time and its just a pain in the ass to have to close them everytime i boot up.

Might be a nooby question but its one that i could REALLY do with an answer to and where better than boards to find an answer.

Ruu_Old

For some, they are grouped under Windows services. Others can be found in the Startup tab when running msconfig.exe. Just untick the ones you don't want there at startup and they shouldn't run. The Windows ones will have to be disabled manually (make sure you know what they do first before disabling any services). Type services.msc in the box and then to disable/enable the service, right click->Properties and set the Startup type.

aidan_walsh

Patricide wrote:

How the hell do i close down aplications running in the backround

Stop them loading in the first going down by using Start > Run > msconfig and uncheck them in the Startup tab. You might also need to close services they open.

As always when dealing with these things make sure you remember what you disable, and what you close in case anything goes wrong.

Patricide wrote:

how do i figure out the ones that i NEED to keep open without arguous trial and error?

Read up on the individual applications and decide what ones you want to keep.

Capt'n Midnight

procexp is handy utility on microsofts web site

it lists all the running apps and their dependencies.
if you view command line in options you can also see the name of the folder they came from , providing more clues as to what it is and does

don't forget to scan for spyware too

Patricide

Cheers guys, this helped me out a lot. Not sure if im right here but id say a lot of people might find this handy as a sticky?

Creamy Goodness

also make sure not applications are in the start >> programs >> startup as they too will open on bootup

far2gud

I found this program a couple of weeks ago. Everything can be done from inside the app rather than multiple locations in Windows.

Great little program


http://i.domaindlx.com/bmproductions/index.htm?http://i.domaindlx.com/bmproductions/smartclose/

Capt'n Midnight

Running windows with no services
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2005/07/24/running-windows-with-no-services.aspx

of course lots of things won't work but you'll see the names of critical things that can't be stopped

kleefarr

ccleaner also has a start up menu utility which is very easy to use. It has other uses as well.