IT professionals, CPU gurus, internet addicts....a question

[LincolnMcGrath]

When I run Ad-aware scans, it says I have 26 running processes. That seems like alot. Are they all necessary?
I run windows XP pro.


Help

[demnan]

1. You can click control alt delete then Task Manager

you will see processes that you are running. I'm currently running 54 and I don't have anything open except Cold Fusion (5 processes), Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook (plus SQL server).

So I'd say that was normal.

[LincolnMcGrath]

4. Whoa, it is 34 runing now!

exe, EXE,?? "@#$%&*()@#$%^&" :dunce: WTF are all those!



BTW, thank you demman

[LTR]

8. Write down the name of the '.exe' programs

Then try and uninstall them.

Stuff like GAIN (Gator), Ezula (TopText) and others have programs that load on startup, and get annoying to remove. You may even be able to go into the "Program Files" folder and delete after trying to uninstall.

[LincolnMcGrath]

10. Please see post 5 and 7

:shrug:

[trotsky]

2. Not an unusually high number at all.

I've got 52, with 7 programs open.

Most of them are system processes, then you've got applications that put an icon down by the clock, plus what you're running, plus some apps that close down but leave a little piece of themselves in memory so they'll launch faster next time you open them.

26 is actually pretty good, come to think of it!

[LincolnMcGrath]

6. Thank you

:yourock:

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Don't sweat it

Most of those processes are known as "services", and they do helpful things, depending on what you've chosen to run.

I'm a programmer, and it's not unusual for me to have as many as 100 processes running, especially if I'm building or debugging ActiveX components.

Ad-Aware, Norton, and other protective software have extensive databases to determine which processes are OK and which are parasitic or malicious. If you're diligent in using them, you'll have a minimum of problems.

Good luck!

--bkl

[LincolnMcGrath]

9. What is debugging?

I use norton and run adaware quite frequently.

[Dogmudgeon]

12. Debugging

When you're programming (not just running programs, but actually designing and writing them), if the program doesn't work the way you intend it to, you have to find out where the problem is coming from. This often involves running other programs to help you trace the source of the problem. That whole process is called debugging.

Unless you have a piece of bad software, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

And if you do have a piece of bad software, just delete it. Let the idiots who marketed it debug it.

--bkl

[LTR]

5. AdAware

The 'running processes' are instances of spyware running in your computer. This sounds pretty average. Many of these are actually cookies and data miners. These, like most spyware, can be deleted.

Just make sure a recently installed program is not built around spyware (Imesh, a file sharing prog, is notorious for this). Some require spyware and third party software to run. Myself? I just uninstall the whole damn program. I don't like garbage ware.

Running processes = crapware detected on computer.

[LincolnMcGrath]

7. now you are confusing me

[LTR]

11. Simple

Just delete all the 'running processes' that AdAware detects (the screen after thescan completes). CLick all the boxes. Then see what happens.

Chances are, you really don't need the spyware. It's safe to delete.

[Dogmudgeon]

13. A single caveat

Make sure you're deleting spyware or scumware, not the normally invisible "services" that the computer uses to keep house.

Ad-Aware, Norton, and the other major protective suites have huge databases of what piece of scumware does what, so you don't really have to sweat it.

--bkl

[LincolnMcGrath]

15. Thanks BKL

All ad-aware has ever found is objects and one registry key, and a few attempted browser hijacks. <<<Scary>>>

It has never shown a running process to be infected. I run the update to ad-aware everytime I use it. (Same w/Norton)
Thanks for all your help. When are you available to take me cpu shopping? lol Going to build/buy a new one soon. Giving this one to the boys.

[LincolnMcGrath]

14. yes, I always get rid of the

Objects. I just wasn`t sure what the running background programs were and if they are needed.

Thanks Rat T