This is something I only found out recently, and have greatly enjoyed.
Go to Start->Run and type “msconfig”. This will bring up a new window with several tabs along the top. Choose “startup”, and then go through the programs you don’t want to start up. That should deal with most of the programs. Just be careful not to turn off something that you don’t want to turn off.
Here’s one of the threads in which sailor posted a plethora of interesting and ignorance-fighting information, including a thorough debunking of the systray.exe myth:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=79591
Thank you SPOOFE and MsWhatsit. Believe it or not sailor I have searched the archives and found much useful information about my computer. Especially those damn Scandisk and Disk Defrag programs.
Sometimes its really hard to scan through the tech threads to find the info I need. Thats why I really appreciate it when people are kind enough to point us in the right direction… thanks to all 3 of you for the links and the advice.
Nobody ever listens to what I say. :::sniff::: 
That’s probably a good thing, though. 
There seems to be a conflict in authority. The Enditall utility protects Systray from being removed. And MSQ222/4/69 http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q222/4/69.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=scanDisk&rnk=15&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WINME
states: “Explorer and Systray are Windows components that Windows requires to function properly.”
People apparently don’t require it, but MS in this cite say they do. Can you explain that, Sailor, or is that just one of those inexplicable things?
FWIW, I don’t have systray running. I believe I disabled it in Control Panel somewhere.
sdimbert
Why not just get your good ol’ buddy Mark to perform the surgery for you?
Or, instead of reading responses of unknown and varying quality, try to figure out as much as you can on your own. (Don’t you just love a snot?) Amazingly enough, all of those open programs you listed are actually files on your computer. For example, when I first ran across Rxmon9x on a computer, I had no idea what it was. I ran a search for the file, checked its properties and found it to be Dell diagnostic software. I thought about it for all of 5 seconds and then dumped it. However, you might be one of those people who call tech support 5 times a week, so you should keep it.
Now some are going to be a little harder to figure out. For example, Mapisp32. If you do a little digging, you’ll find this has to do with e-mail. But do you need it? It depends on which e-mail program you use. From some of the programs you listed, it looks like you have the standard (and not very good [Fastfind being an example]) installation of Office. Which means Outlook, which means Mapisp32 gets installed. But just because it’s installed doesn’t mean you ever use it.
Direct CD is another example. Some versions of this are know to cause problems. But do you use it? If you do, it’s worth it. Most people never use this function.
And what’s with this Novell stuff? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Those Unix types are always making fun of Windows users, so its rare for a Windows user to be able to look down upon someone lower on the computer totem pole of geeky popularity.) And why Win98? Try Win2K for a smoother, more relaxed fit for the bloated applications of the 21st century.
So, get your buddy in the next cube to clean things up for you, or become master of your domain. There are actually places on the web that list applications that run all the time on computers, what they do, and how to turn them off. Then you can decide if you want/need them running. Once you’re finished with all that, then you can start tweaking some registry settings to really get that hunk of metal moving like a Model T…
Mdm - If I’m not mistaken, you’re probably running Office 2000 and can safely disable it. Heck, it should even improve your computer stability if you do so. Not a well-written program at all. If you do disable, remember to x it out of your startup queue in msconfig, find mdm.exe on your hard drive and rename it to something else–it’s that sneaky.
Back before I realized what a heap of junk office 2000 was and downgraded to office 97, I’d have random lockups–turned out it was mdm freezing my system up.
Hey - OP’er here.
WOW! Lots of good information in this thread. I have a pad full of notes and I was planning on posting specific thank-yous to the folks who helped me out. But, there are too many of you… so, THANK YOU, EVERYONE! (You know whom you are.)
Getting to specifics:
My System Tray:
[list=a]
[li]Task Scheduler (Disabled)[/li][li]Netware Services (Must leave on)[/li][li]Volume (Disabled)[/li][li]Norton Anti-Virus Auto-Protect Enabled (Decided to leave on)[/li][li]Adaptec Direct CD Wizard (Will probably disable)[/li][li]HotSync (Decided to leave on)[/li][/list=a]
That wraps things up down there, though I plan on doing some reading regarding Sailor’s advice on the whole SysTray thing.
CTRL + ALT + DELETE:
[list=1]
[li]Explorer (Must leave on)[/li][li]Mapisp32 (You’re all right - I use Outlook 97. I will leave this alone)[/li][li]Rsvp (Still Unidentified)[/li][li]Directcd (Will leave on)[/li][li]Dpmw32 (Needed for Novell)[/li][li]Mad (Still Unidentified)[/li][li]Findfast (Will Disable, I think)[/li][li]Navapw32 (Needed for Norton)[/li][li]Em_Exec (I’m confused about this one. I have the Logitech Mouse that came with my PC. It is a standard two-button mouse with a scroll wheel. Do I need this thing running?)[/li][li]Motmon (Not really settled yet. Need more info)[/li][li]Promon (Still Unidentified)[/li][li]Systray (Undecided)[/li][li]Mdm (Still Unidentified)[/li][li]Nwpopup (Unsettled - does NetWare need this? If I turn it off, what do I lose?)[/li][li]Rxmon9x (If Dell wants it there, I’ll leave it there, just in case.)[/li][/list=1]
Please visit this excellent site, it should answer most of your remaining questions.
sailor, there seems to be sound logic in your arguement. so i shall retract until i find further arguements supporting or debunking your statement.
observation: when i end-task’ed systray with just explorer and systray running, the yellow sound icon from the system tray disappears along with the area marked out as system tray.
interestingly, when i end-task’ed systray with the icq icon and the yellow sound icon in the system tray area, the sound icon disappeared while the icq icon remained intact and fully working in the system tray area. Thus the latter part supports sailor’s arguement, while the former part, where systray takes the sound icon with it, still leaves me a bit unsure.
sailor ( and yabob ) thanks for pointing out the deal with systray. would really like to hear more about it.
You missed my little note that rsvp.exe is for Resource Reservation Protocol (unless some third party vendor is using the same name for another program). This is some communications / networking stuff (quality of service) you probably don’t want to know much more about:
http://209.75.5.137/win98/commnetwork.html
mdm.exe is the “Machine Debug Manager”. As the name suggests, it’s a debugging service that you don’t need and can get rid of. As somebody already mentioned, it probably got installed with Office. It apparently creates garbage files named fff*, and is started through the “RunServices” key in the registry (see recent thread on the registry):
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q221/4/38.asp
A google search suggests that the name “promon.exe” is used for a status utility that can manifest an icon in the system tray and comes with an Intel Pro100 network card. If you have that card, that may be what that is.
First off, Sailor(along with others) is right, systray is not necessary for you computer to function. I’d like to point out that neither is Explorer, this is only the shell that microsoft decided to include with Windows, it can be replaced with a couple of alternatives. you could disable Explorer and run Litestep as a replacement for instance. Other than that I am in the camp that recommends having as few apps running in the background as possible.
The MS site said that Explorer and Systray are necessary for Windows to function properly. It did not say they are necessary for Windows to function. I don’t know what “properly” means, and how it could function “improperly,” but this is the only way I see to resolve the conflicts between those who say it’s not necessary and the MS support site.
MsWhatsit, thanks for doing the search and posting the link. I would have done it but I am very busy these days.
I have also posted in some other threads a list of places from where programs can start at startup.
Boscibo, msconfig was included with W98 but not with W95. It does what you can still do by hand if you prefer.
Lockfist, yes, we have gone over those issues several times. Sometimes searches do not seem to find the information though.
barbitu8, I have checked the page you mentioned and all I can say is:
(1) As pointed in the other thread, the error that systray.exe is the system tray is very widespread, including tech support everywhere, magazines etc., so it would not surprise me that someone at MS made a mistake (or does someone believe that is not possible?) The name systray refers to the fact that it provides some icons in the system tray, not that it is the system tray.
(2)That page says it is needed for Windows to function “properly” which could just mean for the sound control icon to be available. Also, I have another sound control driver so I do not need systray for Windows to fucntion “properly”
(3)As pointed in the other thread, Microsoft Q128129 got it right though: “The following icons provided by Systray.exe may appear on the taskbar: Battery Meter, PC Card Status, Volume Control, Quickres, Task Scheduler” (Sometimes MS gets it right)
(4) Evidence shows systray is not needed as I and thousands of other computers are not running it. You only need it if you need one of the above mentioned icons.
I am not going to insist further as I believe this thread provides links which are overwhelming.
I will repeat that all I see at ctrl-alt-del at startup is Windows Explorer (in its desktop incarnation), the sound control (which is not systray but a proprietary driver) and the mouse driver (just because it is not the standard mouse. I do not even run an antivirus program. I never have and I have never caught a virus. I just practice safe computing.
Also that to see what is running ctrl-alt-del really gives very little information and MSINFO gives a ton more info, as does Sisoft Sandra.
LifeWillFall is correct in that you do not need to run Windows Explorer as the shell and you can run something else like File Manager, but this is of academic interest for most people. They are not going to get that deep into this.
A program can be loaded at startup from:
WIN.INI
on the load= and run= lines.
STARTUP folder.
REGISTRY
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce etc
Drivers (VXDs) can also be loaded at startup time from:
If you do not find your “offender”, be aware that entries may not use the name you expect. Also examine the entire \windows\startmenu\programs tree for additional Startup folders.
You can edit those lines by hand or use msconfig to do it but the result is the same.
Hi, Windows folks! Your system looks quite a bit more complicated than ours (but of course I’m used to ours).
The MacOS (classic version) loads code during startup from files in folders called “Extensions” and “Control Panels” if those files contain “INIT” code. It also opens programs and other processes located in a folder called “Startup Items”. The list of these items can be brought up during startup and modified on-the-fly by holding down the spacebar. Or you can go the folders and inspect them manually.
You have a convenient and powerful process manager built in with this Ctrl-Alt-Delete window, which we don’t have; once the MacOS is booted, you can’t definitively discern which processes are running except via 3rd-party software (e.g., the Memory Mapper utility in OtherMenu). But managing what starts up when the computer starts up is easy!
This site seems to have been tailor made for you sdimbert, however since it is a Dell site, they will of course have a bias to the Dell-installed programs currently running on your comp.
Mad, Motmon and Rxmon9x are part of your Dell Resolution Assistant which I assume is Dell’s way of keeping track of most everything you do on your computer in order to make their job easier if you ever call with a troubleshooting request.
To reiterate the wisdom of your fellow Dopers:
1. Explorer - The windows shell program
2. Mapisp32 - An email client component of Outlook or Outlook express
3. Rsvp - Resource Reservation Protocol
4. Directcd - Allows use of CDRW as a hard drive
5. Dpmw32 - a windows message component
6. Mad - Part of your Dell Resolution Assistant.
7. Findfast - A file-indexing program. Part of MS Office that is almost universally agreed to be a waste of resources.
8. Navapw32 - Norton Anti Virus Application for Windows.
9. Em_Exec - Logitech Mouse driver
10. Motmon - Motive Monitor. Part of your Dell Resolution Assistant.
11. Promon = Intel Pro Network card driver
12. Systray - The windows system tray program
13. Mdm - Machine Debug Manager. Part of MS Office(?)
14. Nwpopup - The Novell popup message/dialog
15. Rxmon9x - Part of your Dell Resolution Assistant.
Ooops . . #8 should reference Norton Anti Virus Auto Protect for Windows
