Need help cleaning up my computer

[Dominion]

The computer I'm using tends to have a lot of processes running at once and has a tough time loading the most menial (spelling?) of tasks. In the task manager there are usually about 47 processes running, most of which I am sure don't need to be and I'm tired of having to go through and guess which ones I should close down every time I start my computer. I've gone into msconfig and made sure unnecessary programs don't start at startup. So does anyone know how to identify which processes I can close in the task manager? Also, if there are any other suggestions to keep the computer clean of unwanted crap that would be good to.

[SegNin]

Download HijackThis from here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Use it to scan your comp and save a log file.

Then upload the log file as an attachment, or copy and paste what it says.

Someone here will be able to tell you which processes are legit, and which ones are spyware, trojans, etc.

[Ktiger41]

Someone here will be able to tell you which processes are legit, and which ones are spyware, trojans, etc.

If he has tons of spyware, trojans etc... then he should download Ad-Aware Personal SE and AVG anti virus. Both of which are free and very effective. They saved me twice already.

AVG Anti-Virus:
AVG Anti-Virus (Free)

Ad-Aware Personal SE:
Ad-Aware Personal SE (Free)

[SegNin]

He should also get Spybot S&
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

[b1gwi11]

process explorer is also a good utility to use....

its like an improved task manager

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sExplorer.mspx

[polobunny]

Hai guise... first he should post his HJT log, no?

[Banned]

Hai guise... first he should post his HJT log, no?

mmhmm,

should see a list of the running processes so that we can tell what can be closed out.

[SegNin]

He hasn't been here since the day he asked for our help.

Maybe his comp crashed and he had to reformat... (saying that half-jokingly)

[potato]

I use Winpatrol to maintain my processes, IE helpers, scheduled tasks, services, active tasks, cookies, hidden files, etc. It's very useful

http://winpatrol.com/

[b1gwi11]

I use Winpatrol to maintain my processes, IE helpers, scheduled tasks, services, active tasks, cookies, hidden files, etc. It's very useful

http://winpatrol.com/

process explorer is still free..... and so is autoruns for the other stuff....

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys.../autoruns.mspx

[Dominion]

Thanks for the help guys. Adaware and Spybot didn't work for me. I can't update them because they crash when I try. I'll try process explorer and see if that works.

I bring up a new set of questions now. My other laptop has been in the shop many times the past month or so and they can't seem to fix it so I'll ask here. The problem is when I turn it on, the screen doesn't come on (I think because it's disconnected somehow). But when it does turn on, everything is pixelated and there are lines that run across the screen. I just replaced the RAM so that shouldn't be the problem. I was thinking video card but the people working on it don't seem to know how to figure out what the problem is. Anyone have any ideas on what might be causing that?

[Banned]

Thanks for the help guys. Adaware and Spybot didn't work for me. I can't update them because they crash when I try. I'll try process explorer and see if that works.

I bring up a new set of questions now. My other laptop has been in the shop many times the past month or so and they can't seem to fix it so I'll ask here. The problem is when I turn it on, the screen doesn't come on (I think because it's disconnected somehow). But when it does turn on, everything is pixelated and there are lines that run across the screen. I just replaced the RAM so that shouldn't be the problem. I was thinking video card but the people working on it don't seem to know how to figure out what the problem is. Anyone have any ideas on what might be causing that?

Did you exceed your laptop's maximum capacity for RAM?

[Rage]

Kill off your startup list in your msconfig, thats always a first for me. Mostly also the services with the microsoft services hidden