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New Laptop: Cleaning

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by lpdrummer, 2007/07/01.

  1. 2007/07/01
    lpdrummer

    lpdrummer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Today I got a new laptop:

    Acer Aspire 5920
    Intel Core 2 Duo
    Windows Vista Premium
    15.4" CrystalBrite LCD Screen
    160 GB Hard Drive
    2GB DDR2 RAM
    nVidia GeForce 8600


    So, now that I have it, what are some things I can do to clean it up? I already uninstalled the trial software, updated the windows software, and have cleaned up the desktop.
     
    Last edited: 2007/07/01
    lpdrummer,
    #1
  2. 2007/07/02
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Without knowing what else is on the pc, we can tell ya too much...
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #2


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  4. 2007/07/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I use List Installed Programs to maintain an up to date list of what I have installed as an aide memoire for when I make a clean install.

    Run it and post the .txt file it produces here if you like, but remember only you can be the judge of whether or not you want/need a piece of software.
     
    PeteC,
    #3
  5. 2007/07/02
    lpdrummer

    lpdrummer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Alrighty, here it is! Mainly, my goal is to get it to start up faster, I don't want to have unneeded junk in the startup.
    -------------------------------------


    INSTALLED SOFTWARE (54) - ALEXNOTEBOOK - 7/2/2007 2:12:53 PM

    Acer Arcade Deluxe Ver: 1.1.4107
    Acer Assist
    Acer Crystal Eye webcam Ver: 1.0.7 Installed: 5/29/2007
    Acer Crystal Eye webcam Ver: 5.7.26.500-1.0 Installed: 5/29/2007
    Acer eAudio Management Ver: 2.5.4008
    Acer eDataSecurity Management Ver: 2.5.4040 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer eLock Management Ver: 2.5.4005 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer Empowering Technology Ver: 2.5.4006 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer eNet Management Ver: 2.6.4004 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer ePower Management Ver: 2.5.4012 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer ePresentation Management Ver: 2.5.4002 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer eSettings Management Ver: 2.5.4007 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer GridVista Ver: 2.65.402
    Acer Mobility Center Plug-In Ver: 1.0.3003 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer Registration
    Acer ScreenSaver Ver: 1.11.20070427 Installed: 5/29/2007
    Acer Tour Ver: 2.0.1001 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Acer VCM Ver: 2.05.3001.7175 Installed: 5/29/2007
    Activation Assistant for the 2007 Microsoft Office suites
    Activation Assistant for the 2007 Microsoft Office suites Ver: 1.0 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Adobe Flash Player 9 ActiveX Ver: 9
    Adobe Flash Player Plugin Ver: 9.0.45.0
    Adobe Reader 7.0 Ver: 7.0.0 Installed: 5/9/2007
    HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
    Intel Matrix Storage Manager
    Launch Manager
    LightScribe 1.4.142.1 Ver: 1.4.142.1 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Excel MUI (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014
    Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office OneNote MUI (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office PowerPoint MUI (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Proof (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Proof (French) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Proof (Spanish) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Proofing (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Shared MUI (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Shared Setup Metadata MUI (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Office Word MUI (English) 2007 Ver: 12.0.4518.1014 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Ver: 8.0.56336 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Microsoft Works Ver: 08.05.0818 Installed: 5/9/2007
    Mozilla Firefox (2.0.0.4) Ver: 2.0.0.4 (en-US)
    MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB927978) Ver: 4.20.9841.0 Installed: 7/1/2007
    NTI Backup NOW! 4.7 Ver: 4 Installed: 5/9/2007
    NTI CD & DVD-Maker Ver: 7 Installed: 5/9/2007
    NTI CD & DVD-Maker Ver: 7 Installed: 5/9/2007
    NVIDIA Drivers
    PowerProducer
    Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Ver: 6.0.1.5400 Installed: 5/9/2007
    RICOH R5C83x/84x Flash Media Controller Driver Ver.3.51.01 Ver: 3.51.01
    Synaptics Pointing Device Driver Ver: 9.1.19.4
    Update for Office 2007 (KB934528)
    Update for Office System 2007 Setup (KB929722)
    Winbond CIR Drivers Ver: 7.60.1002 Installed: 5/9/2007
     
    lpdrummer,
    #4
  6. 2007/07/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Well that's a bit different :)

    Download Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel and see what is starting on boot and disable those items you do not need. Vista is not mentioned so if it does not run try the unrestricted 30 day trial of jv16PowerTools supposedly Winall.

    If that fails Start > Run > msconfig > OK > Startup tab -is that in Vista?
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2007/07/02
    lpdrummer

    lpdrummer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Wel, the thing is, I don't know what needs to run in order for the system to work. The obvious programs (Trials, quick starts, etc.) I can get, but I don't know what is necessary, what isn't, and what some of these do.
     
    lpdrummer,
    #6
  8. 2007/07/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Basically anything in the Startup tab in msconfig is not necessary for the system to simply run. However the simplest way of giving you an opinion on what is/is not needed in Startup is for you to download CodeStuff Starter, install and run. On the opening Window a list of everything that runs at startup is shown. Click on File > Save as Plain Text and post the contents here.

    FYI the text file looks like this from my desktop...
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2007/07/02
    lpdrummer

    lpdrummer Inactive Thread Starter

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    OK, Here it is

     
    lpdrummer,
    #8
  10. 2007/07/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    My recommendations ...

    Those in green are required
    Those in red are not
    Those in orange maybe - without knowing the notebook I cannot be sure so read up on some of these. You can always disable them and see if you lose a facility you require - re-enable as required. Do checkout eData Security and eRecovery to determine exactly what they do - you may well need them.

     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2007/07/03
    lpdrummer

    lpdrummer Inactive Thread Starter

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    When using the Starter program, I try to uncheck those items, but an error message comes up saying:

    Cannot enable "(Program Name) "
    Failed to set data for "(Program Name) "

    It is very likely that you do not have enough access permissions.


    I am the computer admin though, so I'm not sure why this is happening...
     
    lpdrummer,
    #10
  12. 2007/07/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Remembered you are on Vista - I am on XP Pro, also with administrative rights - there must be a difference in permissions on which I cannot advise as I do not run Vista.

    Can you disable through msconfig - if it exists in Vista?
     
    PeteC,
    #11
  13. 2007/07/03
    lpdrummer

    lpdrummer Inactive Thread Starter

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    Alright, going through MSConfig, this is what I found:

    Windows Defender
    ALaunch
    HD Audio Control Panel
    NVIDIA Driver Service Helper
    NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display Driver
    NVIDIA Media Center Library
    eData Security
    Acer eAudio
    InstallUtili
    Launch Manager
    Power Reg
    Acer Assist Launcher
    RAID Event monitor
    SET Panel
    Microsoft Windows Operating System
    Adobe Acrobat
    Acer eAP Launch tool


    All the 'e' things are something that is run on the Acer desktop, so I am fine with playing around with those, however some of the others I am not sure what will happen (if anything) if I disable them.

    Also, there are buttons (hotkeys) on the sides of my laptop. One of them when pressed, opens up a new window in IE. Where can I change this so that it opens FireFox instead?
     
    Last edited: 2007/07/03
    lpdrummer,
    #12
  14. 2007/07/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    This is my best guess, but remember disabling these startup items will not prevent the computer from starting, etc. If you find a facility you require is no longer there re-enable it. I suggest you alter one setting at a time and reboot and assess the effect.

    There is no control through msconfig for some of the items on the CodeStuff list - assume those are needed.

    As before Green - required
    Orange - probably optional
    Red - not required

    Windows Defender
    ALaunch
    HD Audio Control Panel
    NVIDIA Driver Service Helper
    NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display Driver
    NVIDIA Media Center Library
    eData Security
    Acer eAudio
    InstallUtili
    Launch Manager
    Power Reg
    Acer Assist Launcher
    RAID Event monitor
    SET Panel
    Microsoft Windows Operating System
    Adobe Acrobat
    Acer eAP Launch tool
    Should be a section in the manual on this - maybe an entry in Control Panel. I obviously can't be specific as I do not own an Acer.
     
    PeteC,
    #13

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