# What are all these processes running for programs I don't have loaded? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 24, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-all-these-processes-running-for-programs-i-dont-have-loaded/144740 "2002-12-24T17:36:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-all-these-processes-running-for-programs-i-dont-have-loaded/144740/1 "2002-12-24T17:36:21Z")
I just got a new comp with windows xp from dell and comes with all the crap installed. Even though there is nothing in the sys tray indicating that anything from Realplayer or Microsoft Works is running, it shows when I ctrl-alt-delete. Why does realplayer need a process running if Im not using it or have it loaded in systray? I like to keep things minimal, can I just disable this in msconfig? Also anyone have any idea what digital line detector is? That’s a startup program. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-all-these-processes-running-for-programs-i-dont-have-loaded/144740/2 "2002-12-24T17:56:18Z")
Most programs and devices install unneeded crap. I keep close tabs on what’s running and this for several reasons. One is that it will help you detect a possible virus infection. Another is that the more crap you have runnning, the more conflicts and problems you are bound to have. I start things as needed. I do not know in XP but in WIN9X, besides the ctrl-altdel thing you can get a much better picture of what’s running if you run MSINFO32.EXE - software evironment - running tasks. I know _everything_ I see there. If I don’t know what a module does, then I do a net search and find out. A lot of the time you can get rid of half of the stuff. and BTW, RealPlayer is known for the spyware so I’d get rid of it ASAP. Not to mention using a firewall. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-all-these-processes-running-for-programs-i-dont-have-loaded/144740/3 "2002-12-24T18:19:21Z")
I’ve posted this link before, so here it is again: [startups - full list](http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm) (warning: very large page). It lists various processes and programs and what they actually do. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-all-these-processes-running-for-programs-i-dont-have-loaded/144740/4 "2002-12-24T20:30:50Z")
That is a _great_ site, **Crusoe**. Thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![trader\_of\_shots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trader\_of\_shots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trader_of_shots)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-all-these-processes-running-for-programs-i-dont-have-loaded/144740/5 "2002-12-25T08:25:18Z")
Clears throat … XP services… read it …understand it. [http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp\_services/index.shtml](http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/winxp_services/index.shtml) Spy ware … remove it …kill it [http://www.lavasoftusa.com](http://www.lavasoftusa.com)