There’s a bunch of programs running in the background completely hidden from your view. Most are normal Windows related services that make the OS function. Everything else will be software you’ve installed to start up when Windows launches, or hidden background programs used to support other installed software.  Some are essential like your antivirus software and graphic card control panel. Yet other things can be less useful like media players that install their presence on the taskbar. At the extreme end, viruses and spyware!  They all add to the overall burden on your CPU and RAM resources so keeping track and clearing out unnecessary ones is good for the general wellbeing of the operating system.  To aid you in this job, check out this web pack for the best free tools all to take back control over startup programs and background processes.

Follow these links for our other ‘issue 266 web packs:
The best free media optimisation software!
File recovery software!
Uncover hidden activity!
Issue 266 game demo roundup!

Auslogics Task Manager

Auslogics offers a more intuitive alternative to Windows Task Manager by including additional information on each process and running service. As well as the usual memory and CPU usage activity readings; network activity, security rating, and description are also on show. All this extra information helps make sense of the purpose of what each and often ambiguous named item is for. (Free)
Download from here

Autoruns

Very much a power user’s tool and one you’ll certainly use often. Autoruns provides in-depth details of  every running process and program launched during startup. What could have been an overwhelming amount of information is split between categorised tabs, and all critical operating system processes are completely hidden from view. Each entry comes with a short description, publisher details and path. Like Windows Task Manager, check boxes are featured for disabling and enabling entries. (Free)
Download from here

AVG Anti-Virus Free

One thing you don’t want hidden on your PC is a nasty virus. Our favourite free solution is from AVG. There are plenty of other highly respected free options coming from Avir, Panda, Avast and even Microsoft too. Yet, our research suggests through studying several independent reports is AVG will be more likely to intercept infections than any other. But don’t just rely on your antivirus software to protect your PC, don’t take risks with dodgy websites, downloads, and unsolicited email attachments. (Free)
Download from here

Spybot – Search & Destroy

A typical malware of this flavour may report back your surfing habits for marketing purposes, and possibly redirect your browser searches. More aggressive ones can alter firewall and other internet settings, or record keyboard activity. They range from annoying to very bad. At the very least they take up CPU cycles and waste your internet bandwidth. If your current antivirus software doesn’t include spyware protection then it’s almost certain something is lurking on your system. Like AVG, we looked at a range of different free spyware cleaning products, and Spybot ranks as the best. As long as only one is running real-time protection at a time, having multiple anti-spyware programs installed won’t conflict with each other, such as is the issue with antivirus software. To bolster up your protection you could also look at Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, SpywareBlaster, or SuperAntiSpyware. (Free)
Download from here

KillProcess

This utility resembles a light task manager application for killing frozen processes. But its main job is for marking up lists of processes for batched termination or preventing them from launching.  The software is easy to use, but relies on the user knowing what each process  is for,  showing both Windows processes and third-party processes bundled together in the same list. (Free)
Download from here

Process Lasso

Process Lasso is a very different type of task manager. Like others of its kind, running processes can be terminated or prevented them from launching. However that’s only minor part of its function. With Process Lasso the user has the power to manipulate the priority of running processes. Or in other words specifying  how much CPU resources they have available while running. Fortunately this isn’t all quite as complicated as it first sounds, as it’s already preconfigured using its own proprietary algorithm that temporarily adjusts the priority of running processes to keep your system responsive during high load activity. (Free)
Download from here

Runscanner

Runscanner scans through all running processes, programs, drivers, and services to identify errors relating to system changes from malware infections. The initial scan doesn’t reveal too much information, but submitting this report to the Online analysis returns detailed feedback highlighting any problems. (Free)
Download from here

Soluto

All those background processes hog resources, so it only makes sense to remove the ones that have no useful purpose. Making sense of what the task manager is serving up is another matter! The less technically inclined should take a look at Soluto instead. Tagging itself as ’Anti-Frustration Software’ , its goal is offering the collective experience of other Soluto users to identify software and browser plug-ins that cause performance issues. Soluto performs a low level scan and reports back the findings, including the help on how to disable and remove them. (Free)
Download from here

WhatInStartup

This clean looking Startup manager displays a list of all the programs that load when Windows launches. Disabling any is just a simple task of selecting a target and tapping the disable button. The list displays the .exe name, product name, description, and company name. If that’s not enough information, right-click an item and select the Google search option to find out more. (Free)
Download from here

WinPatrol

How’s this for an idea, rather than trying to fix slowdowns, just prevent them from occuring in the first place! Problem being knowing what hidden junk is being installed, or already running in the background is often hidden from you. Say hello to WinPatrol and Scotty the virtual dog. Don’t fear he’s not annoying like the paperclip guy. WinPatrol operates in the systemtray alerting you to any new unusual activity, giving you the option to allow or deny it from running. For other background startup programs, WinPatrol allows you selectivity disable any of these; paid users get the additional feature of detailed information of what each of these often unidentifiable files really are. (Free)
Download from here