Close ALL Programs?

This post could apply to both Win98 and WinXP, so I thought I'd drop it here and see what pops up. We all know that manufacturers say we should close "all programs" before installing their product. Historically, in Win95 and Win98 I would do the Ctrl-Alt-Del routine and end all tasks EXCEPT Explorer and Systray (and Necutray if I was dealing with my extenal hard drive). I've upgraded from 98SE to XP (awaiting SP2 with bated breath). One of the suggested actions to take before installing SP2 is to close "all programs." In XP the C-A-D routine is a bit different than 95 and 98. You have some extra tabs to deal with and 'tasks' are called 'processes.' I have many more processes in XP than I had tasks in 98SE. Can anyone tell me which of the processes I absolutely MUST leave running when installing under the XP operating system? I see an EXPLORER.EXE but I don't see anything that might resemble the old systray.

 

Steve....my HD is in pretty good "shape ", and ordinarily would not need a defrag. Why would/should I defrag before installing SP2? Thnx

 

Hi Tony,

For some reason, one or maybe 2 of them will refuse to kill
You answered your own question in a way - and then kill the nAV services via windows Services applet. you can try killing a Service via TM and can't kill a service thru the try icon unless the process allows it. Its the NAV system process that can't be killed other than thru the Services applet.

Regards - Charles

 

One thing that has bothered me MANY ( too many ) times is the ScreenSaver.

A couple of times I was installing something and left for a bit only to come back to find the SS running and shut it down too find AN ERROR message windows under it.

Also ( depending on the setting of it ) the Firewall may need to be shut down also.

I myself use ( and have since the days of 95 ) a program called StartupCop which can be used to stop various things ( like AV & a 3rd party Firewall ) from loading at startup.

I have found that shutting things down via Services MAY NOT stop them from reloading when Windows needs to be restarted to complete and install.

BillyBob

 

Hi BB,
First things first, Startupcop for instance, will not detect all startups from Services. A good example is Johanna's wuaulct.exe thread. Startupcop won't detect it. EDIT: Forgot to add that I use Startupcop and is not what detected wuauclt. What did detect wauuclt.exe is Autoruns http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml Shows more startup locations than any other program that I've tried so far. It can also stop startups as well, including Services by disabling them.

I have found that shutting things down via Services MAY NOT stop them from reloading when Windows needs to be restarted to complete and install.

Depends on how the Service is stopped: disabled - won't start. Stopped but w/ the startup type set manual, will start up if needed.

Regards - Charles

 

charlesvar

You are quite correct. StartupCop does may/does not detect all running processes. It may well require using Services to disable some things.

ie:- It does not detect XPs' builitin Firewall. I just turned same on and it does not show in the StartupCop list. Gotta go to the Control Panel for that

But when I was using Norton NIS or it did show. And my Avg AV does show.

However it does show MOST 3rd party programs. And they are the ones that may cause more problems than the Windows Programs.

Agree.

But in StartupCop there are no choices other than enable/disable and Pack for Removal. ( I see I have/had two things marked that way )

BillyBob

 

There is a program called EndItAll2 which claims to close all but Explorer and Systray (though I am not sure about screensavers). It used to be free (and still may be from here http://www.docsdownloads.com/enditall.htm ), but PCMag now charges
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,697,00.asp
Many people say they prefer the original EndItAll.
http://www.the-old-sea-dog.net/enditall.html
I am not sure it runs on WinXP, even in compatibility mode.

 

In Windows XP it is not necessary to end all running programs, including Norton, if you have it configured correctly. Close your extra Windows so that your Task Bar is clear. Anything in the Notification Area can generally be left alone (though some people do prefer to temporarily disable their AV when downloading, I don't) If you are a Win 9X diehard that MUST close things down, make sure the "Applications" tab in the Task Manager is clear, leave the "Processes" alone.

Johanna

 

Hi Jim,

Yes it does run on XP, don't have to run in compatibilty mode. All I use for is to check what's running and occasionally to block the screen saver slide show. I do useit to shut some things down because its at hand. With TaskManager in XP, you don't really need EndItAll for the original purpose.

And Johanna is right about not needing to shut things down in XP aside from the apps - this is not 98.

Regards - Charles

 

I have a program called ScreenSaver Switch loading at startup with which I can change screensavers, Start and stop them.

I have it showing in the lower right corner of may screen and all I have to do is click on the little monitor icon it and the screensavers will not run. IF I DO NOT FORGET that is Click on it again and it will run.

It is also another item that has been around on my machines since the days of Win95.

BillyBob

 

Charles, please call collect and inform my kids that I said SOMETHING right today, and be prepared to argue with them.

I (GASP!) shut the tv off early this morning and declared today (it's raining) "reading day ", where I would read until my voice gave out. You would have thought I suggested they go to church in their underwear! Secretly, I think they enjoyed this afternoon, although they will never admit it.

Johanna

 

Johanna, rough day hey

How many days and hours to school ?

Thank God my time for that is past. Waiting with anticipation for Granddadhood.

Regards - Charles

 

Charles, at 8:10 am Wednesday, I will be the mom dancing down Main Street in my little village, with no one trailing me but one cooperative little boy... The other three will be in class, and I hope they all get really mean teachers.

Johanna

 

Steve (#2 in the thread). Defrag sounds like a great idea, but I believe that would best be done BEFORE SP2 is downloaded (to make room for a contiguous download file). And since MicroSoft can't tell me ahead of time just when the download might start I could defrag now even though I just did 2 days ago. I was on the phone with MicroSoft support for 40 minutes Thursday morning (free phone call) and the tech there told me they are most likely to START the download in my area within the next 3 or 4 days, and it could take as much as 3 days to complete it depending on how many hours a day I have the computer on (usually about 6 hours a day on cable modem with 800mhz computer).

Johanna (#11 in the thread). Sounds like a plan. I wouldn't call myself a 98 DIEHARD, but I've become comfortable with it over the past 4 years. So here's my plan: Defrag before the download starts (I hope); after the download and before the install - disconnect from the internet; close programs in the systray (that would be mostly Norton stuff); make sure Task Manager shows no Applications running; ignore Processes; and then go for it. Oh, right! A recent business news article in my local paper said it couldn't hurt to back up all my personal files before the install so I guess I'll do that too.

Thanks for all the input folks.

 

You may not know ahead of time, but you should be able to know when it's ready to start so you can do a defrag before you allow it:

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=34191
Originally Posted by Abraxas
Quote:
I have my autoupdate set to notify before downloading and again before installing. I then copy the updates from that folder before installing them so that I can collect the updates on a CD.

The file probably has "835935" in the name, just as the full version.

I only turned AU on the day before yesterday, and have had v5 only since yesterday, can't say from personal experience, judging from Abraxas' post, you do have control.

Regards - Charles

 

From 71sigma.
Not sure what happened here. The thread was moved from General Discussions to Windows XP, and when I posted a too lengthy to charles comments I was informed that the link was not the correct one. So I'm posting this short reply to see if I get the same invalid link message.

 

Now that it appears I'm linked properly I'll give it another shot and try to keep it a bit shorter.
In my lengthy discussion with MicroSoft support they sincerely recommended that Automatic Updates be set for for Automatic downloading and installing because of the size of the SP2 download. I was assured that when the download is finally complete (in 2 or 3 days?) I would receive notification of the completion so that I would have adequate time to prepare for the actual installation at my leisure. My preparation would include the defrag mentioned earlier so that the most-likely fragmented file could be defragged into a contiguous file. Because of the recommendations and the assurances received directly from the horses mouth I'm pretty sure that's the way I'll go.
71sigma