I was in task manager before and I've got so many processes running that I didn't know I had, but I haven't touched them because I got told there are a number of processes that Windows can't run without them, the basic processes. I was actually looking for viruses that had snuck their way into my processes but I don't know which one is which, except for the common processes that I've got, like MSN, my Optus net connection program, iTunes, and AbiWord. Does anyone know the basic processes to keep Windows alive so I know not to shut them down?
Err, no one here can help you unless you posted a list, and even then, it varies. Just type the processes you're unsure about in Google and it'll tell you.
if your in windows most of the ones run by the system are needed, dont remover iexplorer cause thats the windows shell, you remove that you have no desktop
The majority of the critical system process can't be terminated in Task Manager, it won't let you. The only ones you should really avoid terminating are any form of svchost.exe and (as mentioned) explorer.exe. But even if you terminate that, you can just click over to the Applications tab, hit new task, type explorer.exe, and start it back up. There might be a couple other important ones that it'll let you terminate that you shouldn't, but I don't remember what they are. And even if by some chance you terminate a critical process and screw something up, just make a note not to do it again and restart your computer, no big deal.
Start --> Run --> Msconfig in the new window, click the "process" tab and uncheck the stuff you don't need