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[SOLVED] How to stop unwanted processes & services from loading in Vista?

H

Humble

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Jul 15, 2016
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233
Checking in taskmanager, some processes and services in the background are not wanted or needed but still start automatically and use CPU and RAM... for example ctfmon, unsec.app etc etc.

I realize I can stop unwanted processes in task manager manually but would prefer to find a way to prevent them from starting in the first place.

About disabling services, I am not sure which ones are safe to disable for the purpose of boosting performance, i.e. conserving CPU and RAM resources.

Advice appreciated.
 
ctfmon is used by Microsoft Office. unsecapp is a Vista service.

How much CPU and RAM resources are being used? What other programs do you have starting with Windows?

You might want to check out WinPatrol. This is a great little program allows you to easily control what programs and services start with Windows. This is one of the very few programs I don't hesitate recommending upgrading from the free to PLUS version.
 
thank you very much. I used ctfmon merely as an example. I am looking in general for a way to stop unwanted processes and services from starting automatically.
 
thank you very much, bill. ctfmon and unsecapp are merely examples. I am really looking for a way to stop unwanted processes and services from starting automatically. and it seems winpatrol might just be the tool to help me do that.
 
You first need to determine what are unwanted and what are needed. If you don't know if something is needed, best to just leave it.

But again, just because something is running, that does not mean it is sapping performance. So I ask again, "How much CPU and RAM resources are being used? What other programs do you have starting with Windows?"
 
it varies.

processes where I am not sure if they are needed include:

svchost several instances... total about 100 MB,
SearchIndexer 10MB
lsm, winlogon, ctfmon, unsecapp, conime, csrss, audiodg, WUDFhost, igfxsrvc

CPU usage is minimal. I like to reduce RAM usage where I can.
 
The problem is that.
There isn't a general way, there's instead a specific way for each person:
- do you need "program-name" starts with windows? If no, untick the option in the program that let it starts with windows.
- are you using steam/xbox/origin/etc? If yes, but you don't care about them, you can disable their services.
- do you want windows updates service checks for updates? If no, stop and disable the WinUpdate service.
- do you want ssdp/upnp set up ports in your router (for emule, torrent, other programs)? If no, stop and disable those two services.
- do you want superantispyware starts with windows and it's always enabled in system tray? If no, stop and disable sas core service.
- Are you using smart cards and fax? If no, disable their services.
- do you care about windows time/date synchronization? If no, disable windows time service.
- are you using scanners or cameras? If no, disable windows image acquisition.
- are you using windows themes or do you care about them? If no, disable the themes service.
- do you want to update chrome and firefox when needed? If no, disable their services.
- are you using a printer (or do you print on pdf files)? If no, disable the print spooler.
- do you care about windows search? If no, disable the windows search service.
- and so forth...

You can also create batch files to disable the services you prefer and to enable them when you (think you) need them.

There are programs that can help you to choose what services you can disable, but that's their opinions...
Or they can give you an easy way to check and disable the services you want.

Examples: wise care 365, kerish doctor, regseeker, ccleaner, glary utilities, autoruns, and so forth.
 
Last edited:
You are fussing over a couple 100 "mega" bytes. That is totally unnecessary.

Understand, it is okay to use RAM. It is only when you run out of RAM that performance suffers.
 
excuse me, sir, comments like that are not helpful.
what did you think prompted me to ask for help with this?
running out of RAM !
 
:(

Please understand we are only here to help you help yourself. What is NOT helpful is you refusing to answer our questions so we can understand your situation, then offer applicable advice.

I have asked you twice now for you to tell us how much CPU and RAM resources are being used, and what programs do you have starting with Windows but you have not answered. That sir, is not helpful.

So I ask once more, "How much CPU and RAM resources are being used? What other programs do you have starting with Windows?" Also, please tell us more about your computer. At this point, all we know is it is running Vista. We don't even know if it is a notebook or a PC. How much RAM is installed? Are you using integrated graphics, or a card?

Note a couple 100MB of RAM shown in Task Manager is nothing to fuss about. I am currently using 2.6GB with almost nothing but my security apps and this browser window running, and Windows 10 itself. That includes 16 instances of svchost.exe running consuming over 98MB of RAM, almost the same as yours.
 
the topic question was:

How to stop unwanted processes & services from loading in Vista?

advice from xilolee about services and your suggestion to try WinPatrol helps me to do that now.

thank you.
 
the topic question was:

How to stop unwanted processes & services from loading in Vista?
Click to expand...
Humble, I understand what the question was. But note you also said you were not sure which were safe to disable. How can we help you if you don't tell us what they are?

Note too we have no clue what your level of expertise is, what areas of expertise you are proficient in, or your understanding of how Windows manages memory. It would be irresponsible, as helpers, for us to assume any poster on these forums has the necessary skills and knowledge. People come here seeking help because they don't have those skills or knowledge.

The problem specifically here is we have seen too many times where users, in an attempt to free up memory, disabled or deleted something Windows needs. Then they come here because their computers would not boot or they lost their data, etc. WinPatrol is a great program, but you still have to know what is safe to disable/delete to use it safely.

I am sorry if you took offense to me saying you were "fussing" over nothing. I meant no disrespect or offense. But a few 100MB is nothing to fuss about. And until you answer the questions I posed in post #14, we can't help you cull out the non-essential items, IF there are any.
 

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