windows Task Manager - Processes

[Thundercats]

Need help. Is there a good website or program that can help me clean up my processes in task manager, It shows that i have 125 processes running and I don't know what to close or not close. 

[Xernicus]

I'd do a few things,
 

• First uninstall any programs you don't use. A lot of applications from iTunes to PDF readers are running in the background all the time to allow for updates and autostart upon device detection.
• It might not be a bad idea to run ADWCleaner, CCleaner, and an AV scan.
• Finally, after all this is cleaned up, use the MSCONFIG utility to prevent programs that you don't need from starting up when you first turn on your computer. This won't nip the problem in the bud though, that's why I recommend doing it last.

[Vanaraud]

Hm on Win8 the Start-Up is moved to Task Manager, theres a button called "Start up". Disable there programs you don´t need to start at windows boot up.

[Thundercats]

Right. But how do I know what programs I need and don't need. So if i shut something down like csrss.exe i don't screw up my computer. 

[Ann!b@l]

Need help. Is there a good website or program that can help me clean up my processes in task manager, It shows that i have 125 processes running and I don't know what to close or not close. 

-This website is not bad and I already used it myself: http://www.blackviper.com/sitemap/

They provide you many ways to stop some services with many degrees of tweaking and infos about those services.

tuto explaining 1 way to turn them off: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-Startup-Programs-on-Your-Computer

 

 

-I already used a good software for this purpose, who, through a redirecting on their website after a scan of all processes\progs running, is able in most cases to provide infos detailled about the services\progs you're about to turn off, and if you should disable it or not, before even any actions. Unfortunately, I don't remember his name and even after some search, still can't find it again.. If this comes back, I will tell you his name.

 

 

Anyway, at the end, the decision is still yours and the same thing than to "google" these processes. But in case, there's also GameBooster.

[Thundercats]

okay let me see what I can do

[RedBaird]

When I see an unfamiliar Service or Process, I often Google it.  Win7/vista/XP won't allow me to copy & paste the names, so I have to be careful with the spelling.
 
For example, Googling "crss.exe" first shows a link to Uniblue, who provides information in a way that makes you want to immediately download and run their scanner software.  It is only the third section that tells you that it is a critical Windows module and that removing it will cause a Blue Screen of Death!  The second section says that it is registered as a Trojan and that you should (??!!??) immediately remove it (??!!??) and that you should run their scanner.  The first section says that it is registered as a Trojan and that you should run their scanner.

 

The next two Google links provide more useful information, such as that if you see two crss.exe's, then you probably have an infection.

 

It is a very critical Windows function.

 

Some programs' self-uninstallers seem to leave things behind and you might find Windows unwilling to uninstall the left-behinds because it cannot find the original "that-program's".MSI files.  Then it is definitely time to used the Big-Guns mentioned above!  

 

 

 

 

[Ann!b@l]

When I see an unfamiliar Service or Process, I often Google it.  Win7/vista/XP won't allow me to copy & paste the names, so I have to be careful with the spelling.

 

For example, Googling "crss.exe" first shows a link to Uniblue, who provides information in a way that makes you want to immediately download and run their scanner software.  It is only the third section that tells you that it is a critical Windows module and that removing it will cause a Blue Screen of Death!  The second section says that it is registered as a Trojan and that you should (??!!??) immediately remove it (??!!??) and that you should run their scanner.  The first section says that it is registered as a Trojan and that you should run their scanner.

 

The next two Google links provide more useful information, such as that if you see two crss.exe's, then you probably have an infection.

 

It is a very critical Windows function.

 

Some programs' self-uninstallers seem to leave things behind and you might find Windows unwilling to uninstall the left-behinds because it cannot find the original "that-program's".MSI files.  Then it is definitely time to used the Big-Guns mentioned above!  

And "crss.exe" could be "csrss.exe": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client/Server_Runtime_Subsystem

1 letter difference makes from this process, a virus becoming a service of your OS. So, indeed, a correct spelling and trustable infos found are essential to avoid big mistakes.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Ann!b@l

[RedBaird]

And "crss.exe" could be "csrss.exe":

And I didn't even notice that Google had corrected it to csrss!  And, I was the one talking about correct spelling...