How can I identify and remove unwanted exe. programes? 1

[Kiasu]

After startup I have over 20 exe. programes running (according to my task manager)

Many of these have 'invaded' my system and I do not require them.
What is the easiest way to identify the unwanted ones and remove them. Some like winampa.exe are self explanatory although I see know reason why Winamp needs to start up in the background before I need to use it. However, what about others like OSD.exe, LVComS.exe, dslagent.exe, gsicon.exe, IAMAPP.exe, DellMMKb.exe, NISUM.exe, SAgent2.exe, nhksrv.exe, ctfmon.exe, Isass.exe, CSRSS.exe, smss.exe, and the host of others. (Some of them I realise are required but it would be nice to know which are the essential ones and which are the 'junk')

All of these are slowing up my system and I would like to resolve this.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Kiasu

 

[linney]

Spybot

http://security.kolla.de/

Ad-aware

http://www.lavasoft.nu

Will check your computer for spyware and adware.



To checkout unnecessary services you are running.

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

To check out unknown programs.

http://www.greatis.com/regrun3appdatabase.htm

Type MSCONFIG in the Run Box to see what is loading at start up.

 

[Mulga]

All excellent advice and links...
Never just delete an EXE file unless you are absolutely sure what it is and what it is doing. Many are program files that will have associated registry entries, if you just delete the file without doing a proper uninstall you may get all sorts of errors. Use the programs own uninstall routine if possible, otherwise Windows Add/Remove programs or a third party uninstaller. All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.