I certainly cannot argue against incremental backups!
So many users get into difficulty, and then they wail and moan about losing their data because they hadn't done a backup for a long time. Still, unless you are constantly creating unreplaceable critical data, you may get some performance benefit from using regular but manual backups. Definitely a user-choice decision.
(but I don't know anybody other that stock-market traders who keep Ghost active in the background
)
Even if you take Windows Media Player out of the StartUp menu, it will "open" when either you "click" on it to listen or view media, or when you click on a viewable item on a web page. Definitely an easy decision to remove it from StartUp and recover some CPU cycles.
Your Outlook "is" running. And it is a big resource consumer. Did you have an Outlook window open when you ran the Pit Test?
****Or is it? Hmmmmm. Take a look at this item:
ccApp This is Norton Antivirus Email scanning tool. That "could" be signalling the Outlook as loaded.
I had thought you already uninstalled Norton.
You can disable this item, since your AVG is already monitoring Email and protecting you.
** and while you're at it… Let upload this file to the Jotti Anti-Virus scan. "ccApp" is also a registered Spyware from Ad-Click that can masquarade as the Norton file.
Go Here:
http://virusscan.jotti.org/
and upload the ccApp file. You can browse for it using Jotti's upload utility.
Jotti will examine ccApp with 14 separate anti-malware tools to determine if it is safe or malware.
If it is malware, you can probably get rid of it with a simple run of Ewido, or CounterSpy or Spybot.
About "uninstalling Norton":
Having the ccApp Norton item running, may actually cause a conflict with AVG. Disable it. Then go to Add/Remove to make sure you've removed all of Norton. Then go to Windows Explorer C:\Program files and delete any fragments/remnants of Norton Antivirus or Suite that might remain. Careful not to Uninstall Ghost!!! If necessary, go to the Symantec site to download and use the "uninstall tool" that is appropriate to your version of Norton.
Use care!
And even post back with a separate topic to gather information about how to best remove Norton.
"Juliet" is very familiar with Norton, and I would ask her about the correct steps. I have done so myself.
As to Diskeeper, if you set it up to be running in the background (not recommended by me) then you would see it in StartUp. So apparently you've got an Icon that you can click when you want to defrag. That's how I use it. Keep Diskkeeper out of StartUp.
Thanks for the heads-up about the UPS batteries. I hadn't thought of that, or I forgot if you told me about it before.
WinPatrol (a "low impact camper) is just fine running in StartUp. (Recommended) You'll see "Scotty" the terrier watchdog inserted into your TaskBar near your Clock. Scotty will alert you if any program (good or bad) tries to install itself, or change your home page. You can easily click your decision to allow or deny. Keep WinPatrol in StartUp. (or in your case, put it back)
In my opinion, neither Ewido nor Counterspy need to be run at StartUp. Both are excellent for running scans and removing items when you do get a problem, but they are each fairly resource intensive.
If you have SpywareBlaster installed and updated, and have your Windows XP regularly updated, then I don't see any reason to have any anti-spyware utility active in StartUp. (Now you can prove me wrong, by surfing to malicious websites or clicking on AIM advertisement links, or clicking on links in your Email…. But I think you already know not to do that.) You also have Ad-Aware SE Personal v1.06 and Spybot Search & Destroy installed and updated?
Here's what I do.
After an intensive session on the internet, I finish up by updating and running one of the four:
Ewido
CounterSpy
Ad-Aware
Spybot
On the second day of intensive internet activity, I update and run the second one in my list.
On the third day…. I update and run the third protective utility
and on the Fourth…. the fourth.
Then back to the first.
By rotating through this type schedule I keep all of my utilities Up to Date on a regular basis, and benefit from running the various types of scan engines and known databases that each company produces.
Once Weekly I run an AVG full scan, though you can select to have it run automatically if you prefer.
Now about the other "small" items in StartUp.
(Disclaimer: I'm a big fan of running a very skinny machine. The less running, the better.)
SisUSBrg…. is a patch that would assist your SiS video card handle any obscure USB devices you may have installed. More than likely the patch is already in place and working for you, and the StartUp item is just a left-over. Recommend: Disable SiSUSBrg. If you notice any problems with USB devices (less than rapid fire clicking in a first-person shooter game for instance) in the future you can always Enable it again with no harm done.
LTMSG is a utilit used by Lucent Technologies (dial-up modems) that allows the user to accept incoming phone calls and place the modem "on hold". You're using DSL so you can Disable this device.
DslStat - is simply a monitor that "watches" your DSL connection and may report out data speed of connection. I'd Disable it.
DslAgent is a feature of D-link to keep your DSL connection "always on". It's a harmless feature, but probably also useless if you use the PPOE connection utility to "sign in" with your username and password, or even if your modem is set to a LAN as always on. Turn it off and see if it makes any difference. You can always Enable it later if you prefer.
D-Link PPOE AU… Is a 'patch" that D-link gives to everybody in Australia. It is a "firmware" patch, so you've already installed and are already operating on it. Disabling the item in StartUp won't have any effect on the firmware you already installed. Again, you can always go back and Enable it if you prefer.
For these Four above, if you find something doesn't work the way you want it after disabling one of these optional items, just re-Enable it. No harm/No Foul.
Now for:
ctfmon.exe You will not be able to remove this item permanently from StartUp, and if you somehow went through the complicated process of actually extracting it from StartUp, you would "harm" your Windows Office utilities, which would no longer function as expected.
Big However, ctfmon.exe is the Operating Systems utility to interact with Voice Activated Typing, or other "special" data imput/output that is contained in various third-party software ("Dragon Speak" is one I think). The MicroSoft utility is called
"Alternative User Input Text Input Processor (TIP) and the Microsoft Office Language Bar" and you just don't need it unless you want to make your WinWord type for you when you speak into your microphone, or read documents back to you through your speakers.
Here's the MS Knowledge Base article about How to disable this feature (recommended)
ctfmon.exe will remain but "Alternative User Input Text Input Processor (TIP) and the Microsoft Office Language Bar" will be gone and your machine will be happier. (Recommended)
(unless you want Microsoft Office to talk to you)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=282599 (follow the instructions appropriate to your version of Windows)/
A few parting comments:
In XP you can "assign priviledges" to various user accounts.
Accounts can be either "limited user account" or "Computer Administrator Account"
If you are the only username, then you are an Administrator.
This is NOT GOOD to be casually surfing the Internet as Administrator.
Please consider running your machine from a "limited privilege user account".
Why
Well, in a "limited" account you do not have access to System Files, nor can you install most programs.
Therefore, when you are surfing while logged in as a "limited user", any malware will not have "privilege" to install or access to the System Files".
When you want to install an important update or download and install a new program, just "switch user logins" to Administrator, and do the download or install.
This is one of the single best things you can do to improve your machine's security!
About Executive Software/ Diskkeeper Defrag. I like it, I've used it. I'm now moving away from it.
Why.
Because the free O&O Defrag does a better job.
http://www.gold-software.com/download6596.html
I know you paid money for Diskkeeper, and like it. I wouldn't throw it out just yet, but please know that their is a free alternative that is better.
If you ever decide to pay money for a Defrag tool … The best is VOPT
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Vopt_XP_d671.html
OK, that's all for now.
Best Regards
Doug
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