Not needed processes in the task manag.?

This might sound like a stupid question, but is there such thing as processes in the task manager that don't really need to be on? Or running? (for example updaters that just take up DDR for no good reason and so on).
So my main question is, is there any way to lower the use of DDR memory at start up? Or maybe known running programs in the back ground that don't really need to be running. I have notice that there are a few hp ones, for example-hpwuSchd2.exe--HP Wireless assistant--QLBCTRL.exe ect. I am not an expert or anything on the subject, just seeing if anybody maybe has dealt with this before.
Thanks for any input.

 

There are tons of processes in the taskbar that do not need to be there.

What you should do:

start -> run -> msconfig --> startup tab (uncheck bloated apps).

Also run -> services.msc and uncheck services (google these).

your startup time will be much faster.

also when you sometimes install new software there is an option (somewhere) where you can uncheck the program from loading up when windows starts.

 

best bet is to paste the filename in google then look around the sites it returns to determine if its needed or not.

same goes for services.

programs install stuff which runs at startup but arent really needed imo, eg, my audigy zs pcmcia card installs a creative feature set tool, dont really need it to run every startup and theres a shortcut incase i ever need it = delete.

 

There is a ton of stuff you can turn off or shut down to speed your computer and get to 10-second boottimes (with the right PC of course).

Go into msconfig > startup, and you probably can kill 95% of the junk that loads up. Quicktime, Realsched, Abobe, Office Toolbar, most of the Intel/Nvidia graphics junk, Soundblaster -- it's all a huge waste, killing your performance. (The drivers run your cards, not those bloatware startup programs.)

Then go into Services, and you can shut down more junk, like UPS supply, indexing service, auto-update of time and date, etc. Just google XP and speed tweaks for good information.

Another hint -- disable stuff you don't use in Device Manager. For example, you probably can shut off unused Primary Channel or Secondary channel in the IDE/ATAPI controller (just look for the ones labelled "autodetect," change it to "none"). Your computer spends a ton of time auto-detecting every time you boot. I've killed the floppy drive, infrared, ports I don't use, 56-K modem, etc. Also, if you're running a Raptor hard drive, turn off NCQ, it's a boothog.

I've done this for both laptop and desktop. I have a decent desktop, but it's no exaggeration when I tell you XP loads in around 10 seconds. For example, when the black XP boot screen is up, I'll see one of those horizontal-scroll things whiz by, and when the second one starts crawling horizontally, Windows XP loads. Same with laptop -- even with a puny 1.8 harddrive, I'm loading XP and connecting to a wireless network in under 30 seconds, which is pretty good for an ultraportable.

 

Thanks everybody for the info, now i just hope that i turn the right ones off! There is especially a lot of them with my user name on there, that is what made me wonder in the first place. At idle it has about 55 processes running and between 250 and 270ram.
Thanks again.