Remove those un-needed processes: msconfig

Speed up COD by shutting down any un-needed or unwanted processes!

If you want to speed up COD on your machine, you might want to disable un-needed programs from running in the background while you are playing.

To disable a program from running you can do so PERMANENTLY or TEMPORARILY (they will return next time you boot up your computer). For example, Apple's IPOD SERVICE runs on startup on my machine. This service is used to download mp3 files for my iPod. I want it to run, however, it does take up resources while I am on my computer.

Each background process can consume CPU cyles and memory. Other services are more necessary than others. To get every ounce of horse-power out of my machine to play COD, I might want to stop this program from running.

Some processes can be downright useless...adware or spyware for example.

BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER - MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR SYSTEM COULD BEHAVE ERRATICALLY IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BACKGROUND PROCESS THAT IS CRITICAL FOR YOUR MACHINE AND ONE THAT IS NOT.

TEMPORARILY DISABLE A PROCESS

Disabling a process temporarily should be your first step if you do not know exactly what it does (for example, if you suspect it is spyware).

On Windows XP:

Press Ctrl-Alt-Del

This will bring up Task Manager. Click on the tab that says Processes.

Select the process you want to delete.

Note that Windows Task Manager gives you the memory usage for each program running. For example, my IPOD service takes up 3.6 Mb of RAM!

During your session on the computer, this program will not run - but may come back (if it is set up to start up again on next re-boot). You can temporarily disable after each boot up to determine what loss of functionality you experience.

PERMANENTLY DISABLE A BACKGROUND PROCESS

If you feel comfortable to disable a process (or one part of a process), You can use the System Configuration Utility (MSConfig) that is given to you in Windows XP.

1. Click on Start
2. Click Run
3. In the window that just opened, type the word msconfig.
4. Click the Startup tab.
5. Uncheck any process you do not wish to have start on next start up of your computer.

If you realize that you need this program after all, re-check it and reboot.


Here's yet another way:

1. Click on Start
2. Click Run in the window that just opened, type the word services.msc
3. Click on the service you want disabled on startup (Extended tab)
4. Click on Stop the service (top left)



See also:

How to protect yourself from Malware