Solved Dumb questions about CPU and Taskbar?

[flycaster]

I like to keep my Vista running efficiently. Right now I have 60 processes running on opening and was wondering if I really need them all. So, and here's the dumb part, I thought that if I moved about twenty icon from V's taskbar and put them on the Desktop, that I would reduce the number of processes running. Didn't seem to make any difference. So I guess this is a three part question:
1. Does it make any difference where I have the program icons positioned - Taskbar or Desktop?
2. Are 60 processes running at opening too much. Or to put it another way, does this effect performance?
3. And if it does, how does one determine which processes aren't needed on start up? BTW, going to msconfig and startup, I only have 4 items checked.

 

[Brink]

Hello Flycaster,

Q1) It doesn't matter where the icons are since they are only shortcuts.

Q2) 60 processes is not bad. It really depends on what you are using and running on your computer for what you may and may not have to have running. If you post a screenshot of Task Manager with all of your processes displayed in it, we might be able to point out some that may not be needed to help you determine what you may not need.

Q3) Startup programs are different since some processes may just be background services of Vista that have nothing to do with startup programs. If you do not know what a specific startup program is for, you can Google it to see or temporarily disable it to see what no longer is running at startup anymore. This way you can just enable it again if you determine you need it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[flycaster]

Would like to show shots of my processes, but I'm not too good at this. I have copied and saved two snippets showing the processes, but I don't know how to insert them into this thread. A little direction, please.

 

[Brink]

No problem. It's the same proceedure used as below to upload and attach a screenshot to a post.

How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

 

[flycaster]

No problem. It's the same proceedure used as below to upload and attach a screenshot to a post.

How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

Brink, are you telling me that I have to first upload the snippets to something like Photobucket and then give the link in my post?

 

[Brink]

Nope, see link for more on how. You click on the paperclip icon while editing a post here to upload the image, then click on it again to attach the image.

 

[flycaster]

Hope this works. Here are two pics of my processes. There is some overlap of processes bewtween the two pics.

 

[flycaster]

Tried to edit my post above, but when doing so, the thread got "lost." Anyway, I know that the process pics are small. However, when I left clicked>open, they opened in a new window and could be made larger for easier reading. If that doesn't work for you, perhaps you can tell me how to insert larger pics.

 

[Brink]

That's ok. If you click on the images you attached, they get larger.

I do not see anything that just jumps out at me that is not needed. It seems fine to me, and would recommend leaving it as is unless something is running that should not be. Ex: malware or some background program.

To help your narrow down your search, look under the User Name column for items with your actual user name to see if it is something that is ok to run or not. Google the listed Image Name if you are not sure of what it is.

 

[flycaster]

Thanks for your help, Brink.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.