Date: Sat, 08 May 2004 15:07:52 -0500
From: brian99 <brian99@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Start Menu CleanUp
Thanks to all of the members of the group who have so graciously helped
me progress in understanding my computer. The proof of the helpfulness
is evidenced by my ability to operate my computer for weeks at a time
without any major problems! and ever more importantly, if I have do a
problem, many times I am able to resolve it with additional help!
However, somehow there is a very fundamental understanding about the
Start Menu that I have failed to learn about. So I am looking for some
advise to clear up my lack of understanding.
I know it pays to keep your Start Menu from getting overloaded. So I was
cleaning out anything I did not need to open at start up.
I have noticed that all of the programs I have downloaded and kept are
placed in the start up menu. ( Just to be sure I am talking about the
right thing, this is where I am looking: Right click on
Start>Explorer>and Under Start Menu I click on the + next to Programs to
see all of the programs that are loading up when I start my computer.
The only other item listed with Programs is desktop.ini.)
Some of the listed programs have the short cut arrow next to them and
others don't.
My questions are:
1. Why do just some of the programs have shortcuts?
2. Can I remove some or all of programs from Start Menu without causing
problems?
3. Assuming I can remove them, where and how should I "move" them to
keep them available?
4. Is there anything else about this subject it would be helpful to know
or understand before I continue the clean up?
So once again thanks in advance for any help.
BRIAN
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Date: Sat, 8 May 2004 20:14:03 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Armando Barreiro <avbsantos@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Re: Start Menu CleanUp
Start menu should not be confused with Startup.
You may have as many listings in the Start menu ( Programs ) as your heart desires. Every time you install a program it gets added to the start menu.
The StartUp menu is what may slow down your machine due to memory limitations and usage.
Now, which are you talking about, Brian? Start menu or the StartUp folder, the folder which you would right click on the taskbar>properties>Start menu Programs> Advanced ?--in Explorer's right hand side are all shortcuts, but for certain folders.
You can click on any folder or shortcut on your desktop while simultaneously
holding the Ctrl key down,
and you can drag & drop it into the Start button on your taskbar, thus placing
it in the Start menu.
You can also place a shortcut to any program in your StartUp folder.
This results in an icon appearing in your Systray(clock). These take up Windows
resources and
are the ones you should try to keep to a minimum. They would start upon
initializing Windows
I've never had an issue with these except in
cases where the PC's installed RAM was constrained. Even then, a memory
optimizer has helped in
overcoming this. I install AnalogX's "MaxMem" in *all* the Windows OS's.
Adding RAM is better -
keep MaxMem, though.
P.S.: Remember what Chuck in OK pointed out, "If it ain't broke don't fix it."
You might find this link useful in your quest:
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/courses/windows-98-tutorial-start-menu.htm
And here are a kit'n'kaboodle more:
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22Windows+98+start+menu22&btnG=Search>
shortened: http://tinyurl.com/3hatz
HTH,
A.
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From: ChasM49@xxxxxxx
Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 12:37:15 EDT
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Re: Brians slowdown of PC
In a message dated 5/9/2004 11:13:48 AM Central Standard Time,
brian99@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
there is Spyware Guard (Thanks for recommending it), AVG (Another forum
recommended program), and ZoneAlarm.
one thing I have found in pc slowdown comes about with some "cookies:".....
and as with registry cleaners....... spy ware cleaners all have their little
idiosyncrosies(sp)?? I use 3 of them... SpyBotS&D ver1.3(beta) Webroot
Spysweeper and Adaware pro 6...... and... as with all the regcleaner
programs they alll find entries that the other missed..... and after running all 3
my slow down problem disapears. one thing about Spybot I have also
noted..... it seems there are a couple "cookies" that get entered that messes over
Spybot..... it runs the scan and tells me no problems found.... but when I run
one of the others many entries are noted....so doing some testing I didnt
remove them but instead un installed Spybot s&d and after rebooting reinstalled
it and lo and behold... it now showed those nasty cookies... and deleted them
using it..... and then run the other 2 spyware cleaners and again will find
a couple more cruddy cookies...... so to have a dependency one one single
cleaner doesn seem to be the safest way anymore...... to me.. it looks as if
those spam/spy clowns are getting smarter every day and its an ongoing war to
stay one byte ahead of them....look at the latest worm to hit... it wasnt even
an attached file that did the damge......btw.... I also use 2 AV
programs..... Trend micro and Panda on same machine... was bit trickyto get themsetup so
as not to interfere with each other and is time consuming to run AV checks...
but for me I feel is better to be safe than sorry chuck.. in ok
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Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 13:56:17 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Armando Barreiro <avbsantos@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Re: triadtechtalk Digest V5 #91(was re Start StartUp)
If as you say Spybot found 29 entries, therein lies your slow down!
Version1.2 gives you the ability of restituting changes that you
make(spywarethat you kill) should you find that some application has been
rendered inoperable after doing so. About the only ones that I can think of
as an example of this would be "Download Accelerator" and the Gator
cookie/log in handler proggie designed to look as an invaluable tool, to
themit's a precious one allowing them to track you. They are both
replaceable with better and unobtrusive free applications. I have Spybot
1.3, and though it's a 'beta" it worked well in my Win98/2K installations.
http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/9996.html[1] Have you
obtained your free copy of Microsoft's Windows Security Updates CD? A time
limited anti-virus software and a firewall is included. I gave that away.
Thefirst CDs they mailed me were in French and though I can figure out a
little parlez vous, the software would not install in my English OS box.
Sacre bleu! After my nagging a second good ole american version was sent
me: http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp[2] There is
also an Office 2000 sp3 CD available from them - free, of course. I trust
Spybot implicitly - if it shows up in their list of crap and it's in my PC,
Ican it without a second thought. As to what Chuck states re Spybot and some
cookies, i.e., "...one thing about Spybot I have also noted..... it seems
there are a couple "cookies" that get entered that messes over Spybot.....",
Spybot has a warning explaining this and even gives you the choice of "do
notshow this again" when you first start it. You should also backup the
registry prior to making any changes. With Spybot I never bother. But that's
me! TMO. Have you defragged your PC's HDD? Is your swap file managed by
Windows? Setting it at an equal minimum/maximum of 2.5 times the amt. of RAM
your box has is recommended, but I've set mine to 312MB only. A. HAPPY
MOTHER'S DAY to all you wonderful ladies! God bless you! "There is no more
creative force in the world than a menopausal woman
with zest".~Margaret Mead~ (Soc201...those were the days!) -----Original
Message-----
From: brian99
Sent: May 9, 2004 12:09 PM
To: triadtechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [triadtechtalk] Re: triadtechtalk Digest V5 #91
SNIP >>... I ran AnalogX to see if I could remove some drivers. It found
29.But having not used it before I decided to leave them especially since I
didn'tthink they could be causing much delay, if any. <<Snip PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet http://www.peoplepc.com
--- Links ---
1 http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/9996.html
2 http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp
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