Optimizing your Start-up
As you continue to download, purchase, and install software,
an increasing number of programs will be automatically loaded with Windows when
you first boot up. A majority of these
so-called startup programs are designed to expedite the function of their associated
programs by pre-loading a set of tools or programs before you even decide to
run it. While this may be beneficial in
the short-run, in the long-run these programs will bog down your system by
using unnecessary resources.
Let’s say you have a program that installs a real-time
program that actively searches for updates to its core software. What are the chances that every day it will
find a new update? Next to none. So why bother having it run every day? You should instead run an update check from
the program itself every once in a while rather than be lazy and allow a
background program to search for you every minute your computer is on. Other examples of unnecessary programs are background
processes that monitor your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM for new discs and launch the
appropriate program. You just don’t
need that sort of thing if you know what you’re doing.
If you want to know just how many of these unnecessary
programs are running at once, a quick way to check is to look at the start bar
near the clock. If you’ve got more than
just the clock, an instant messaging program, and your sound options, you’re
running something that is taking up resources.
You can even look into more detail by hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL
and accessing the task manager. From
there, go to processes, and sort by owner.
If you see a lot of programs running under your login that don’t look
familiar, chances are you have something like spyware or an unnecessary program
running in the background. You can end
these processes, and then continue using your computer to see if it is affected. If all seems smooth, you didn’t need that
program.
If you are unsure what a particular program does, lets say ’ctfmon.exe’
for instance, just search for that in google and you’ll likely be directed to a
site that describes what the program does.
If the site says it unnecessary and can be removed, you should do it.
In order to get rid of programs starting up with windows, go
to the ’RUN’ command under the start menu and type in ’msconfig’. From there, go to the startup section. Uncheck any programs you feel you may not
need, and apply your changes. The next
time you start windows, those programs won’t load. If you find that your operating system is no longer stable, then
you can always go back to msconfig and undo any changes you’ve made. It’s that easy!
hide
Home
