processes-how do they work?

hi,
thanks to this comment http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3491009i just managed finishing installing XP on my new Asus W7SG. Works fine for now. its just, that i have so many processes running, and i am not quite sure which ones i can delete or disable.
i started to msconfig my pc first, but then i was not sure which ones i can disable in my stratup.
now i found a post here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=100224
and i am not sure how i shoud understand formfactors comment:

does that mean, i can just disable almost everything in my startup? i have around 10 processes running for this Bluetooth Stack for Windows from toshiba in my taskmanager. now i could disable bluetooth manager in my startup, but doesnt my bluetooth stop working then? i was a desktop user before and i hate touchpad, so i would like to use my bluetooth mouse.
i am not an expert, thats why i come here for advice and tips.
could i post my processes here for more advice?

thanks,
schneidi

 

If you need Bluetooth then don't disable it. Try setting all BT services to Manual, that way they will be loaded only if needed.

 

Can you post some screenshots of msconfig or Logs using HijackTHis

 

thanks for the answers so far. here is the hijack this log file:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 19:12:59, on 21.08.2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP3 (6.00.2900.5512)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\ATKGFNEX\GFNEXSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\sched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\ATK Hotkey\Hcontrol.exe
C:\Program Files\ATKOSD2\ATKOSD2.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Wireless Console 2\wcourier.exe
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avgnt.exe
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avguard.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtMng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ifxspmgt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ifxtcs.exe
C:\Program Files\ATK Hotkey\ATKOSD.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosA2dp.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtHid.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtBty.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtHsp.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosAVRC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\IfxPsdSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\tosOBEX.exe
C:\Program Files\ATK Hotkey\WDC.exe
C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\tosBtProc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\Infineon\Security Platform Software\PSDrt.exe
C:\Program Files\Infineon\Security Platform Software\SpTna.exe
F:\programme\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] "C:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE" /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATKHOTKEY] "C:\Program Files\ATK Hotkey\Hcontrol.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATKOSD2] "C:\Program Files\ATKOSD2\ATKOSD2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IFXSPMGT] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ifxspmgt.exe /NotifyLogon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Wireless Console 2] "C:\Program Files\Wireless Console 2\wcourier.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avgnt] "C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avgnt.exe" /min
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Bluetooth Manager.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\bonjour\mdnsnsp.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: dimsntfy - %SystemRoot%\System32\dimsntfy.dll (file missing)
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus Scheduler (AntiVirScheduler) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\sched.exe
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus Guard (AntiVirService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avguard.exe
O23 - Service: ATKGFNEX Service (ATKGFNEXSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\ATKGFNEX\GFNEXSrv.exe
O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: Security Platform Management Service (IFXSpMgtSrv) - Infineon Technologies AG - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ifxspmgt.exe
O23 - Service: Trusted Platform Core Service (IFXTCS) - Infineon Technologies AG - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ifxtcs.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Personal Secure Drive Service (PersonalSecureDriveService) - Infineon Technologies AG - C:\WINDOWS\system32\IfxPsdSv.exe
O23 - Service: TOSHIBA Bluetooth Service - TOSHIBA CORPORATION - C:\Program Files\Toshiba\Bluetooth Toshiba Stack\TosBtSrv.exe

 

my biggest problem are all the files for toshiba bluetooth and all these ATK files.
which ones are needed? which ones are not? if i want to use my bluetooth mouse, do i really need all these Tosxxx files?
and same thing for these files belonging to ATK.
help much appreciated.

schneidi

 

Disabling processes just to reduce the total number running isn't the right way to approach the subject. Based on a quick scan of your listing, it doesn't look like any of the _Toshiba bluetooth processes are duplicates of each other, so it would stand to reason that, yes, you need all of them in order to make bluetooth work. A better perspective might be to consider how much CPU time, and how many resources, each process is consuming - even if there is a plethora of processes, if they don't eat up a lot of CPU time or other resources, and generally run in the background (i.e., they don't preempt other processes too often), then the mere fact that there are a lot of them is not particularly relevant.

The ATK files are part of the ASUS drivers that come with the system, for example for running your customizable hot-keys. Again, the main point is how many resources they use and whether you need the functionality they support (either directly or indirectly because something else you use depends on them), not how many processes they use.

 

You should be able to do away with the whole Toshiba Bluetooth stack and just use Windows' built-in one. You probably still need the driver for your card, so that should be kept enabled in Device Manager. But I don't see why you should need any other stuff to run Bluetooth.

So yes, I would say go ahead and disable Bluetooth Manager in startup. You probably will have to re-set-up your bluetooth devices using Windows' Bluetooth stuff (Start > type "Bluetooth Devices"), but it should still work. You can decide which way you like better.

 

ok, thanks for all your advices. i will see how it works with the windows bluetooth stuff for me.
shyster1 thanks for calming me down. i suppose its my habbit to get freaked when i see too much running and i dont know what it is...old desktop habit

and then i have another question. i saw this wdc.exe (watchdog) running on my pc. and i read it should not be running on a pc. even though it is listed in an ATK folder, i dont think it is supposed to be there, is it? C:\Program Files\ATK Hotkey\WDC.exe
i also read an article about how to get rid of it http://www.securemost.com/articles/rm_watchdog.htm, but it is a little difficult for me to understand everything. is there maybe a simpler way to do that?
i dont really get nr. 2.
and i dont have all three processes running, only wdc.exe. but that shouldnt really mater, right?

 

thanks for the tip, swarmer. i just disabled the bluetooth stack in startup, and didnt have to do anything else! 8 processes less now. feels great
still gotta do sth about the wdc.exe then i am satisfied and happy.