My stand alone Windows 95 PC is desperately slow (than it was before) and I suspect this is partly due to a mass of programs running in the background which just clutter things up. The trouble is I don’t know what they do and how to disable them if, indeed, they are not needed for the general running of the machine. I do defrag, scandisk and empty temporary Window files but that's about all. I do get a message every now and again saying I haven't enough Stack pages but I don't know what that's all about (sad, I know).
The main programs I use are Windows, Outlook Express, WordPerfect, Act and Norton. Pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL after switching on brings up the following list of programs:
1 Explorer
2 Lwb3dapp
3 Savenow
4 Msstat
5 Realplay
6 Osa
7 Reminder
8 Launcher
9 DW
10 Wkcalrem
11 Iowatch
12 Loadqm
13 Rundll32
14 Mhprmind
15 Wnad
16 Attnengn
17 Aticwd32
18 Systray
19 Navapw32
20 Zm32
21 Rnaapp
22 Nsched32
23 Imgicon
24 Actldr

I have numbered them to help in any replies. Any advice really would be appreciated. Thanks, David

 

1) Explorer - core Windows exe file, provides the desktop etc

5) Realplayer - probably a small blue icon in the System Tray (by the clock). I'd stop it autoloading (called SmartCentre)

13) RunDLL32 - another core Windows file.

18) Systray - core Windows file

21) Rings a bell as being to do with Dial up Networking.

How long have you haid Windows installed? I find that after a year or so of use, a format and re-install of Windows returns things to back to their original speed. Obviously need to be able to back things up though.

 

Thanks Chris, a great start. Had PC for about 3 years and Windows already installed as part of package. I have box of original discs but frightened of re-installing in case it takes out a lot of other stuff on my machine. I do keep some 50 mg back up discs just in case though. Cheers, David

 

Hi Dave, i havent looked at those individual files or what they do;
but i use some general rules with those sort of probs.

1. what programs are in the startup.

2. what antivirus software is used. and its settings

3. ammount of hard disk space left

4. delete all temp files.

5. delete all temp internet files & history

6. if office 97 installed, check in control panel.
look for "findfast" icon. go into it and delete all indexes.

7. do any shorcuts you have point to non-existant programs
or locations (more for networked computers)
this is not a "be all & end all", just a place to start

you can also get some registry cleaning software,
but i would back up your important docs before using any

cheers
Glenn

 

Thanks Glenn,

1. what programs are in the startup. [b]Do you mean all the icons on screen? Masses and I am sure many of these are redundant. Trouble is I am a bit nervous about deleting in case they are important[b]

2. what antivirus software is used. and its settings. [b]Norton but I am not sure what the settings are. It is enabled to check e-mails etc.[b]

3. amount of hard disk space left. [b]Quite a bit I think - about 1 gig [b]

4. delete all temp files. [b]Have done in Windows/temp [b]

5. delete all temp internet files & history. [b] Where do I find these? [b]

6. if office 97 installed, check in control panel. look for "findfast" icon. go into it and delete all indexes. [b] No Office 97 [b]

7. do any shorcuts you have point to non-existant programs
or locations (more for networked computers). [b] I think they probably do - see 1) above.


this is not a "be all & end all", just a place to start

you can also get some registry cleaning software,
but i would back up your important docs before using any


=======

Thanks again. David


Edited to apologise for messing up the bold/plain stuff (what did I do wrong!!)

[Edited by David Lock - 10/27/2002 6:45:36 PM]

 

uninstall ie4 and active desktop if you have it installed. this makes a major difference to w95. if you then need a browser, use netscape.