[unclew]

My laptop takes forever to boot up. I ran PC-Decrapifier and removed a bunch of trialware. I've done spyware scans. I ran msconfig and unchecked some startup items. I do have some questions about the remaining startup entries.

NVIDIA Driver Helper Service
NVIDIA Compatible Windows 2000 Display Driver
Synaptics Pointing Device Driver
Windows Defender
Microsoft Windows Operating System (which for some reason is listed three times)

Other than (one) Microsoft Windows Operating System, do I really need all that other stuff running at startup?

Thanks.

[alchav21]

What do you consider a long time? If your computer runs fine after Boot-up then you should be okay. Do you have at least 1Gb of Ram? Many people like Windows Defender, but I think this may be a reason your computer is Booting up slower it does a lot of tests and scans. What Anti-Virus do you have? I see you also have PC-Decrapitier, I don't believe in all these useless Utility Programs, they also do program scans that take up System Resources.

[piyushsingh]

Hi Unlce Wayne
Can you details a bit about the PC specs , the anti-virus and anti-spyware applications running in realtime other than defender . I would also recommend disabling all defender services.

Also, again check msconfig and then post the full command name in front of all 3 entries of Microsoft Windows Operating System . I m not at my vista system at this time otherwise i would have figured what these are for. But i am sure these are necessary services.

[unclew]

I haven't timed it yet but I can go into the kitchen, rinse a glass, fill it with ice, pour some lemonade, grab an oatmeal cookie and stroll back into the diningroom, all before the computer is fully booted.

I have 3GB of RAM. I use Spywareblaster and AdAware Free 2008. Windows Defender is useless, I need to dump it.

[Flashorn]

Hey Wayne!!


OK, those entries in the msconfig: Mine says:
NVidia Helper Service,Version 167.43 .
Yours may have a different number, but, basically this controls your Refresh rate,
Which in North America should be 60 Hrz. You can, if you have that option in your video card, UP or lower that refresh rate.
in any case don't touch it.
NVidia Compatible Windows Vista Display Driver. Version 167.43
Again this is your main Driver . Do not touch it.

I have a third NVidia entry :
NVidia Media Center Library. No version but, this is because I have Windows Media Center on my notebook
which is also a HP Pavilion.



As for Windows entry , do they say :
C:WindowsehomeehTray.exe
C:Program FilesMedia PlayerWMPNSCFG.exe


First one Part of Windows Operation. Second one is probably Windows Media Player that
starts with the system boot. I leave it on. If you want to know more about this service click
on this link WMPNSCFG.exe
I only have two MS entries, could you tell us what the third one says. The complete Path.


Windows Defender you can un-check.



Edit: Synaptics is your Mouse Pad. So, if you want your mouse pad to work, don't un-check that one either.



FLASHORN. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

[alchav21]

3Gb of RAM is plenty, so that's not the problem. You still haven't said what Anti-Virus you use, but I would dump SpywareBlaster, AdAware, and Windows Defender. Get yourself a good Anti-Virus like AVG or Avast, the paid Professional Versions have Spyware and Adware protection. Other than that, I don't see anything else that would slow Boot-up.

[techie4fun]

You also may want to defrag your hard drive.

[Flashorn]

Hey Wayne!!



For your security , It would be better to start another thread in the " Privacy and Security" section.

That said, I would certainly KEEP SpywareBlaster, Would NOT consider AVG but, Yes to Avast

and for AntiSpyware I would choose SUPERAntiSpyware or MalwareBytes Antimalware.



FLASHORN. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

[AuroraDizon]

AVG is a very good anti-virus software.

[unclew]

Flashorn, good catch- I forgot to expand the Command column in System Config. The OS entries are for Windows Sidebar, Media Player & ehTray.exe. Thank you.

I'm uninstalling the Norton trial and installing Avast, which I use on my desktop.

I haven't defragged yet because I've had the laptop less than a month and I've read defragging should be a monthly task.

I thank you all for your quick responses and great advice ;)

[techie4fun]

unclew said:

I haven't defragged yet because I've had the laptop less than a month and I've read defragging should be a monthly task.

Gotcha

[Flashorn]

Hey Wayne!!



Your Welcomed!

Sorry I was so long in responding but after answering your post ,I lost my internet connection.

I don't know If it was a drop by my ISP as this has never happened before. So, I screwed around

in the router's config and Really screwed it up. It's now 1:22 am and I just got up to speed. So,

again sorry for the delay.

Now like techie, so eloquently put it "Gotha" I too agree that a defrag would be in order. Especially

on a new notebook or PC. All of the new programs that are being added plus the ones that are being

removed, it would be a necessity. In my opinion , a defrag should be done more than once a month.

It would take less time and would be beneficial to the good working of Vista. Mine is done every

10 days with all of the install and uninstall of trying out new programs all the time. So, on average

every 10 to 14 days would be a good schedule. you could also do some cleaning at the same time.



FLASHORN. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

[unclew]

Thanks Flashorn (and Tech4fun).