task manager, name of processes running in background

hello, can someone please tell me how do I determine what the processes are running in the background? on task manager, the list is under the processes tab, and then under "image names" some of them I recognize, others I have no idea what they are? is there anyway to find out, or maybe a web site that can help me? my operating system is windows xp any help would be appreciated.

 

I like the process tab on Codestuff Starter
It is easy to use and user friendly.
It lets you find more about a given process by double clicking the entry, as well as showing what dlls it uses and much more.
As the name implies codes stuff starter can also be used as a startup manager and handles dependencies entry poinds and memory reservation much better than any method other than disabling things the way the softwares author intended.

To find out what a particular process or entry is if starters process tab does not give you enough information I like the Startup Applications List Which has an easy to use search box as well as letting you check out entries under a specific letter.


Remember ; in XP it is quite normal to have five instances of svchost.exe running to host the services which load at different times as each of the different hive (.hiv) files load to build the registry . It is also quite normal for forty or more process to be running. It is just that XP is being more informative about things than older DOS based versions of windows.


Normally, it is best to control the running processes by controlling the programs you launch at startup by using each programs own options (tools/ options or similar) . It is best to control services through either the program which entered them or through the windows services control panel (go to start/ run and type services.msc and hit enter )
Windows XP service configurations by Black Viper
contains a good description of what each service does and recommended settings.

 

thank you for your help!


thanks so much for the help, I am not that computer Savoy, but the info you have gave me will come in handy I am sure. ( now if I can just figure out ow to use it! lol )
If I run into any more "computing problems ", now I have somewhere I can come for help without expensive phone calls to tech support!
thanks everyone! this site is great!

 

Remember it is always okay and best to ask if you have any questions.
The only stupid question is the one you fail to ask when you do not understand the answer.

Often we learn as much by explaining things we thought we understood as you do by reading our explanations. And only by being reviewed by our peers do we find out our own misconceptions.