Running Processes - Removing/Deleting?

In the following locations does anyone know what is ok to remove/delete to speed up things and make more space:
1)ctrl/alt/del:
RUNNING PROCESSES..alot listed here; does anyone know where you can find a list of titles and what they mean, so as to know if safe to TURN OFF or not? Such as:
- Sychost.ext (I have 3-4 listed with some showing USERNAME(mine); Network Services; or System
- Symproxysvc.exe
- NTSSERV.exe
- ADzklient.exe
and MANY MORE
2)RUN/msconfig/STARTUP
-apoint.exe
-TPWRTRAY.exe (sounds like typewriter, so poss keyboard won't run if uncheck this?)
-many more..is there a place that shows what titles in here mean? Some show COMMAND/location on hard drive and know they apply to certain programs, but when they fall under just WINDOWS\SYSTEM and have .exe (program) I don't know what they do and would like to know before removing.
Things seem to be slowing down lately. I have done all the deleting trash, defrag, etc...been running firewall and Norton antivirus long time w/o slowing up ..but lately it's getting worse.
3) C:\WINDOWS\ I currently have listed here x9 folders that begin with:
"$NtUninstall" and end with different numbers like:
Q307869$, Q309521$, etc ..can these be deleted? They take up alot of MB of space..but wonder if it has something to do with my settings in SYSTEM RESTORE where a few times I RESTORED to previous settings and want to keep some that I've entitled different names so as to revert to ones I like if I want to, after testing out different ones. I only reinstalled XP os ONE TIME from this TOshiba's 3 CD's it came with- fast reinstall! but wonder if these files refer to this?

 

Running Processes

Try here
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

 

thank you, and I've gone there, but you did not answer 3rd part of question; also on that blkviper site, he shows DEFAULTS(Bill G's settings); Internet Gateway config(for multiple computer hookups- I only have ONE); and GAMING config(I don't do gaming)..so which settings would you think I should use for removing unwanted items?

 

strgzr - he may have done as many of us do which is answer a part of a multi-part question and ignore the bits of it you aren't sure of.

Q307869$, Q309521$, etc. are hotfixes, service packs, and such that are installed on your PC. They normally get there becuase you answered "yes" when the hotfix asked if you wanted to be able to uninstall it later or (SP especially but we don't got any yet for XP I think )so that you can reinstall the item later without another download if you need to. Harmless to remove them if you assume they are working fine now and you want to keep them. Harmless to leave them unless you are hurting for drive space.

I am going to ignore the "configuration" part of your original question since I don't have a clue what you are on about there.

If you get an answer soon, great. If not, you might want to rephrase that piece.

 

re rephrasing this:
he shows DEFAULTS(Bill G's settings); Internet Gateway config(for multiple computer hookups- I only have ONE); and GAMING config(I don't do gaming)..so which settings would you think I should use for removing unwanted items?
-You have to see the blkviper web site(www.blkviper.com) to see what this means..(XP411 button/then Services Config)in his "Xp Services Configs" choices the tabs at top gave 3 choices which He described in a paragraph above them..one being DEFAULT which he said was what BillG's thinks should be running, then one that had title of Internet Gateway Config for networked comptuers, then Gaming config for persons who do gaming or want speed..the settings are 3 choices under each, either being MANUAL or DISABLE or AUTOMATIC
The place on XP to change settings:
Go to: Start --> Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Services
-Select, from the LONG list, which service you would like.
-Rt click/Properties/Startup-drop down menu: enable/manual/disable that function.
He gave ex's for XP PRO settings and I could not tell if I should follow Internet Gateway, Gaming, or what, since I don't game, nor have more than one computer. Hope this explains it more. Tks for letting me know I wasn't clear.

 

re $NTuninstall Hotfix/SP

As you said Xp has no Service Packs(SP)yet, so I think this is related to how Toshiba setup its reinstall system discs..they sent three with this laptop that auot reinstall FAST all things ..as I've done once since I got this. I do have space, so can leave, but just wondered. KNow I got in trouble in past deleteing things too soon-haha! Just don't like junk there that I know nothing about--ha..theres SO MUCH OF IT! TKs again, Newt!

 

Place all of your service in the MANUAL mode. Reboot, those that are normally required will be started and will state so in the SERVICES (start, run, services.msc) Be warned that not all services that you use always start. For example. I had printer in the manual mode and I had no printer. Change it to Automatic and it worked fine. You will also find that if Windows XP is looking for a service and you have it in manual or disabled, it will create an error message in your event viewer. This process is touch and go and you will eventually tune your machine. If you do not know what you are doing then as in the REGISTRY leave it alone.

Changes are by your choice . I assume no resposibility. But it worked for me.

 

Whenever you're in the process of shutting off services make sure you right click on the service in question and check Dependencies to see which services you will lose if you disable that service... whatever you do leave RPC and RPC Locater services in Automatic or XP will lock up solid.

If you accidently turn something off which freezes XP, try Ctrl-Alt-Del which opens Task Manager, select File (Run)... and type in Services-msc and hit Enter, this will let you recover from a major mistake if you can't access the Start\Run function or Control Panel.

Read the listing at www.blkviper.com carefully... there are some services which MUST be left in automatic for XP to function properly, try changing just one or two items for a day or two to see if the changes cause no problems... take your time to slowly configure these services and you should be OK.

 

GREAT SUGGESTIONS - THANKS!