Acer Laptop

system · 2007-05-17T03:51:36.000Z

In regards to the ATI card Catalyst program, I guess you’re referring to the icon in the task bar? You can get rid of the icon by opening up the Catalyst Control Center and going to the Preferences tab at the top of it. You just uncheck the Enable System Tray Menu. After that, when the icon’s gone, if you need to use the Control Center, you will have to access it by going into “programs” off the START button.

I hope this helps!

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T21:10:10.000Z

Thanks everyone for all the info, just fired laptop up and went to ‘msconfig’ seems I have 27 items in startup…

Don’t even know where to start with them all lol

DavidR · 2007-05-17T21:19:40.000Z

Google is a start point on the startup item name or the file name at the end of the location.

However 27 is extra ordinary, there are only 6 in mine.

There are many applications that on installation want to run on startup, unless it is a security or absolutely essential you should be able to uncheck some after investigation.

You could post a screen shot of some that you are unsure of, expand the columns to see the file name in the Command column, see image.

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T21:20:33.000Z

Have looked in Franks link at pcdecrapifier, nothing there that I have…

I have things like:-

RTHDCPL
ALCMTR
AzMixerSel
ntiMUi etc etc

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T21:26:49.000Z

have screenshots but don’t know how to get them in here??

Snagglegrain · 2007-05-17T21:29:02.000Z

Spybot has a nice tool that some may not even realize is there.

System Startup allows users to see what is starting, and offers pretty good detail on each by highlighting, then clicking on the vertical button between panels.

It also gives you the ability to disable unwanted items.

DavidR · 2007-05-17T21:29:30.000Z

You could also do a HiJackThis log and copy the contents into one of the on-line analysis sites, these usually also report a legit application but is not essential to run at start-up.

On-line analysis - HiJackThis Log file - On-line Analysis OR HiJackThis Log file - On-line Analysis 2

One of the most common applications for this are sodding media players, etc. and you don’t need them until you click on a media file and then they will open automatically.

RealTech/RealAudio is one of the worst in wanting to take over the world and your computer.

It is probably better to google the file name that I previously rather than the startup item name.

DavidR · 2007-05-17T21:36:16.000Z

SUSZANNAH post:13:

have screenshots but don’t know how to get them in here??

Click on the Additional Options that allows you to browse (on your HDD) for where you saved the screen shot. You then select the file and click Open, this copies the path into the Attach box, click Post and the job is done.

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T21:41:30.000Z

Hope this works ???

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T21:42:32.000Z

pade 2

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T21:43:20.000Z

page 3

system · 2007-05-17T21:59:03.000Z

RTHDCPL = Realtek audio control panel ( http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000958.htm )
ALCMTR = Realtek Event Monitor ( http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup/ALCMTR.EXE.php )
AzMixerSel = Realtek Azalia Mixer ( http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/azmixersel )
ntiMUi = NewTech CD/DVD Burner ??

You might want to consider removing alcmtr from the startups. Here’s a link to CastleCops too

http://www.castlecops.com/s5306-alcmtr.html

Personally I would just use the startup controls in Spybot or WinPatrol.

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-17T22:03:45.000Z

Thanks both, no problem using winpatrol, just not sure what I can stop from startup without messing my system up… I am very good at mesing things up ;D

Especially the ones put on by acer ???

DavidR · 2007-05-17T23:03:52.000Z

When you open the startup tab, hover the mouse button between the column headings. You will see the cursor change to a double arrow, left click and hold down and drag to the right. You should now be able to expand (any windows column) the column wifth so you can see the full text of the Command.

As mauserme mentions the win patrol or S&D start-up sections may be a little more user friendly though. I also like CodeStuff Starter (http://www.snapfiles.com/get/starter.html) and there is also AutoRuns, which is very powerful but probably overkill and confusing if you aren’t familiar with what information it displays…

system · 2007-05-18T00:37:48.000Z

SUSZANNAH post:21:

… not sure what I can stop from startup without messing my system up…

Some of it is just personal preference.

I always remove any traces of AOL from computers unless somebody uses it.

qttask (Quick Time) can be disabled as it can be run manually.

msnmsgr is MSN Messanger. I normally disable this.

I don’t like realsched but it won’t always stay disabled. Here are insructions if you decide against letting it run (some people consider it spyware)

http://www.help2go.com/Tutorials/MP3Audio/Disable_RealPlayer_realsched.exe.html

CastleCops says edSoader is not necessary but I’m not familiar with it

http://www.castlecops.com/s13151-eDSloader_exe.html

imjpmig and imscinst are part of Microsoft’s Input Editor to simplify the use of Asian characters. So if you don’t use Asian characters …

Its important to define those things that cannot be disabled before you start, then disable only a few of the things in the “possible to disable” list at a time and observe the effects. If nothing goes wrong disable a couple more. This way if you need to reverse something its easy to figure out.

DavidR · 2007-05-18T01:16:15.000Z

Good advice from mauserme, take small steps, don’t try everything at once, if you do have an issue, it can be harder to say which caused the problem. Even doing it one at a time every few days (or longer if you wish), slow as it may be will eventually optimise your startup. You may also find your system is more responsive.

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-18T16:45:41.000Z

Well been ages at this have identified 9 items i can stop at startup (getting a headache now)

still confused on RTHDCPL.exe
ntiMUI
rundll32.exe

been on google and get conflicting advice if I can suss these 3 out that will do for now lol

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-18T16:46:42.000Z

ohh forgot this one jusched I know its java but does it need to run at startup?

DavidR · 2007-05-18T18:08:56.000Z

Google really is your friend in this:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/RTHDCPL.EXE-13554.html
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/rthdcpl/

I did a quick google for ntiMUI and found lots of hits but little information and that makes me nervous ;D

rundll32.exe is a strange one as it can be a legit system file, but for the life of me I can’t see why it would need to be run on boot startup entry, this has in the past been a tactic of malware. I can’t say because you didn’t give the full path and information relating to this. This is one of the reasons I mentioned HJT because that provides more information rather than just a file name in isolation. I have a few entries for rundll32.exe in my startup tab (two disabled), but its use is legitimate for another dll for my video card controller.

Jusched is the Java update scheduler, some say it doesn’t work, personally I have disabled auto update checks in the JAVA Console, so no startup entry for me, your choice, but you need to periodically check, or monitor the << Updates >> topic as this is often notified there. I prefer control what connects to the internet and when, essential on dial-up.
http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/jusched

SUSZANNAH · 2007-05-18T18:20:53.000Z

thanks David think I am getting there at last 13 less on start so far…

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