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Nov 6, 2023 · So, I recently got a new laptop from work and the app has a random program in my startup apps list. The location of the app is in "C:\windows\Installer and the program is called.
- So. Much. Stuff.
- The Taskbar Notification Area
- Task Manager
- Additional Tools
- So What Are They?
- Do I Need Them All?
Yes, there’s stuff running that you can’t see. In recent versions of Windows, a downright amazingamount of stuff. The good news is that there are ways to find out what’s running. The bad news is that it’s not always clear what to do about it.
I’ll start with a list of running apps you can see pretty easily, although we don’t always pay attention to it: the notification area. First, make sure you’re seeing all the notification icons. If you see an upward pointing caret, you’re not. Click the Start button and search for “Select which icons appear on the taskbar”. In the resulting settings...
Right-click on the clock and click Task Manager. The basic view displays programs that are open, and since we haven’t run anything, the list is pretty small. Click More details. This is a great place to start, since it tends to show programs by the name(s) you might recognize. Scroll through and you’ll see many familiar names — software you’ve inst...
There are two additional tools you can use to display the same information we’ve shown above in slightly different ways. I find myself gravitating towards these tools because they’re more complete and more comfortable — for me at least. Process Exploreris essentially a replacement for Task Manager. While it may look more intimidating, it exposes mo...
Programs, processes, services, executables … but what arethey all? Some will be obvious from their name. Others, not so much. The only real advice I can offer here is to search for the names you find listed in Task Manager, Process Explorer, or the Services console. Important: many sites in the search results will imply that what you’ve searched fo...
Much like the information we got from the notifications area, I can’t tell you what should and should not be running on your machine. It depends on what software you’ve chosen to install and run, the options you’ve specified, your machine’s configuration, and even its hardware. The goal here is to help you identify what’s running so you can researc...
Dec 10, 2023 · As shown in the image below, in Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11, the Windows Task Manager opens with the Processes tab selected. In Windows 7 and earlier, the Task Manager opens with the Applications tab selected. In both cases, the programs that are currently open and running are displayed.
Jan 29, 2020 · In this article, we'll learn how to open the startup apps control panel, how to enable and disable startup apps, and finally how to add our desired startup programs in Windows 7, 8 and 10. In each of these Windows versions, there is a Control Panel for Startup Apps which shows a list of applications that can be run automatically on startup.
Jan 15, 2024 · Is your computer taking longer than usual to boot up, or do programs load slowly? This could be caused by hidden applications that launch automatically on system boot and use up significant CPU resources—many are legitimate, but sometimes unnecessary. Here's how to find these applications and speed up your computer.
Aug 11, 2014 · In the Windows 7 version, the Applications tab displays currently-running applications. But what’s the difference between an application and a program? In this context, an application is a...
Sep 1, 2023 · How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows 7, Vista, or XP. Key Takeaways. To disable startup applications on Windows 11, open the Settings app and navigate to Apps > Startup, and click the toggle next to the app you want to disable.
