what programs DO I NEED enabled in msconfig WinXP...

[h2sammo]

when i boot up, in order for the OS to work properly?

thx

 

[bacillus]

perhaps you can tell us what you've you got listed in msconfig in the first instance!

 

[AKA]

Nothing. Your important stuff is on the services tab.

You DONT have to have any of them enabled.

 

[Creedyou]

So you need the services (processes) but not the applications?

 

[crisp82]

If you haven't really done this before then just disable the start-up's. You can disable some of the services, but it is best not to touch this.
The only ones that you shouldn't delete from te start up tab re the ones that you want to start with Windows

 

[KouklatheCat]

I have RUNDLL32, nwiz, type 32 and ctfmon listed in mine. I can dump all those and XP will run ok without them?

 

[capybara]

rundll32 im not sure, but u can dumpt the rest.

 

[KouklatheCat]

Any idea what the others are (nwiz, type32 and ctfmon)?

 

[c0rv1d43]

Originally posted by: h2sammo
when i boot up, in order for the OS to work properly?

Virtually anything you find in the startup tab of MSCONFIG in WinXP has been placed there due to a) choices you made during the installation of the OS, b) choices you have made subsequently while configuring the OS, c) software and / or device drivers that you have added to the system yourself. Now it is certainly true that some software you may add to the system will also add some piggybacked ad-ware crapola and other startup processes you truly don't need. But most of the stuff you see there is stuff you have decided at one time or another that you wanted -- even if you weren't aware that making your choices meant installing these processes in startup locations. Everything from third party firewalls and anti-virus software to cd burning software to type managers may need to add some non-service processes to your startup locations in just about any version of Windows in order to achieve the full functionality of whatever-the-heck-it-was that you just installed or configured. Do some research to find out what each process is. You can tell a lot by using Windows' find feature to locate the files so that you can examine their properties. The properties and the locations of the files can tell you a lot. The point is, if you just go in and uncheck a bunch of stuff you'll likely break software / devices / configuration settings that you yourself set up.

BTW, for those who were wondering:

- CTFMON.EXE would seem to be the CTF loader. See Q282599 at the MSKB for an explanation.
- RUNDLL32.EXE is the Run DLL as an Application loader. See Q164787 at the MSKB for a little info on some of the uses.

And -- I don't have a clue what "nwiz" would be. Probably some Norton thing. I don't have any Norton things on any of my systems, but I've seen a lot of "n" things that turned out to be partos of Norton apps. I usually see them when I'm examining a system that isn't working properly.

- Collin

 

[KouklatheCat]

Cool thanks.

 

[hudster]

linkified for the lazy:

Q282599 (about ctfmon.exe)
Q164787 (about rundll32.exe)

-hudster

 

[Dreadogg]

ALL OF THEM!

 

[Dreadogg]

NWIZ= Associated with the newer versions of nVidia graphics cards drivers. Allows you to immensely improve desktop layouts by setting preferences and optimizations. However, this isn't necessary for the operation of your system

 

[KouklatheCat]

Dreadogg,

Thanks, I just figured that one out last night.

 

[Dreadogg]

your very welcome, that site is really cool also make sure you bookmark it the guy seems to update it often!

 

[Utterman]

Originally posted by: Dreadogg
ALL OF THEM!

Thanks for that link!!

It allowed me to clear a new programs that I had in the startup.