How to forum: how to stop programs running in background windows 7

"The only way to stop them is using Task Manager. That's rather easy."

The way to stop programs running or starting that you do not want to start or run in background is to use MSCONFIG.

Click on start or windows orb and type in MSCONFIG then enter. In box that opens click on Startup (one of the top five boxes) then untick any of the programs listed that you do not want to run at startup. Click apply and reboot.

The question was how to stop a running program. The question was not how to not start it.

Kees

Read the question again. It was asking how to stop, not much else.

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OK. I started task manager immediately after the computer booted up. Which of the 30+ items can I shut down safely and how do I prevent them from starting up next time it boots-up?

HP TouchSmart300 PC w/ 4 GIG RAM and 64 bit WIN7sp1 Home Premium.

Also, which task manager window area you looking at?

Applications: (I have zero items that start automatically). As soon as I fire them up, Outlook and iTunes will stay there for the duration of my log-on session. The "End task" button (as mentioned above) will stop an application but will nt prevent it from starting up next time. Probably the best way to manage these is to either uninstall the software package or change the application settings so that it does not automatically start when you boot up.

Processes: (I have over 100 of these at the outset). Even though my Virus scanner says I am clean, I review these periodically to see if anything has crept in that I do not want. I rarely find anything. In this case, the "End Process" button will usually stop them but may also make your computer not work as well. Software installations will often add to this list. HP puts stuff in here to "help" you. In addition, your virus package put stuff inhere -- so does Internet Explorer, various communications facilities, even part of your windows logon process is there.

Services: (I have about 200 or so of these running at all times.) These can actually be managed somewhat effectively by clicking the "Services" button. It will open up a sindow for managing services. Here you can stop a service (temporary) and then disable it (so it won't restart again). You really should know what you are doing here -- you can easily cripple or disable your computer by stopping the wrong services. Some of these are there because of the software yo have installed -- notable examples are your virus protection and stuff like SQL servers.

In short, there is no simple answer. It depends on what you are trying to do on your machine. You need to check out each and every item you wish to remove and determine how it got there and remove it from the source. Often this is by uninstalling software or at least changing its setting so it does not run at boot up time or login time.

. . . . Terry.

You lead off with how to stop programs. We've covered that.

Now you want to figure out what they are. The fastest way is to use Google. And then you may have not asked the question you really wanted to ask which is how to not launch the one you want to stop from starting. It varies a little but some uninstall that app and some will look in some options of the app.

It really depends on the app in question.
Bob