Removing services, streamlining

I've spent the past few hours playing with the startup configuration and services on my R60. Basically I'm trying to get rid of some un-necessary processes from the list, *without* having to do a full clean install of WinXP.

The ThinkVantage software is a bit stubborn. I want to keep some of it, like rescue and recovery, but Access Connections and the wireless and location profiler is digging its heels in...

Everytime I get rid of it, the start-up and shutdown takes a lot longer than usual; there's obviously some service or driver or dll or whatever that it's trying to load but can't.... so it sits there for a minute or two just to teach me a lesson.

Has anyone had any luck in streamlining a default ThinkPad + bloat installation. Or is the general advice a clean WinXP re-install?

 

The general advice is a clean WinXP re-install, but if you cannot, go to Ctrl + Alt + Dlt > Processes > end several which you do not need.

I personally would leave the ThinkVantage material as is. There is an image on the HD which keeps the factory defaults on the computer.

 

Yea, I was thinking about it again today - and you're right. The ThinkVantage stuff is actually useful. So I think I'll leave it.

The software I really had to get rid of was the anti-virus and firewall software that came bundled with it.

There are a few Windows services which I don't need, I can get rid of these as well.

 

Good to hear. Be sure not to delete any needed drivers/software required of Windows.

 

To get rid of the few things you want to get rid of, do start, run, type msconfig, press enter. The last 2 tabs are the ones you want to deal with.

 

That's what I've been using - It's a great little utility.

But I can't figure out how to make the changes stick. As far as I can tell, msconfig lets you test out the changes, but to make them permanent you've got to go into the registry or the start menu or the services and get rid of the entries manually.

In other words, I can't find anything like a 'save changes' option in msconfig.

 

Hmmm, in my experience the changes stick until the next time you run that program.

 

Search for a FREE program called EasyCleaner ... It has many features, one of which is similiar to MSCONFIG. Except, it's changes are permanent. I've used it with great success on several machines over the last year.