| Trusted Advisor with 24,869 posts. | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cyberspace Experience: Advanced | |
You have too many Startup applications loading with Windows and too many processes running in the background. This can significantly increase your Startup time and affect overall performance. You should definitely trim down your Startup list. Other than your security software, very few applications need to load with Windows at startup. Click on Start > Run > and type msconfig. Under the Startup tab, uncheck all unnecessary applications. Use these three websites to help you decide which items to uncheck: Simply copy and paste the .exe files you see at the end of your HijackThis log's 04 (Startup) entries one by one.
1- System Lookup (my favorite - for this one, you can paste the whole 04 entry)
2- PC Review - Startup Files Database
3- Startup Applications List Remember, a lot of applications can be started manually when needed. A list of names and files will appear. At the end of each entry, you'll notice a symbol: Y = Normally leave to run at start-up N = Not required - often infrequently used tasks that can be started manually, if necessary U = User's choice - depends whether a user deems it necessary X = Malware, spyware, adware, or other potentially unwanted items ? = Currently unknown status Make sure to choose the correct information in the list, relating to the actual programs installed on your computer. Do not be alarmed by red "Xs" pointing to malware, especially if I haven't seen any in your HijackThis log. I do check before recommending this trimming. Example: Copy the following entry from your HijackThis log: O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
Paste it in this website: 1- System Lookup
Now here is what you get. On line #7, you'll see the Name (QuickTime Task), the Filename (Qttask.exe), the Description and at the end of the line, you'll see a N, meaning Not required - often infrequently used tasks that can be started manually, if necessary.So, you can without a doubt uncheck it from your Startup list.
After rebooting, when the small System Configuration Utility window appears, ignore the message. Put a check mark in that window, then click OK. You should also get rid of the Ask toolbar. If you can't find it in your Add or Remove programs, use the AskSearchUtility.
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