Out-of-the-Box Defaults

Out of the box, most new computers come with software defaults that bog down the system and could potentially invade your privacy! The fewer tasks, services, and processes that execute at startup, the faster your system will boot and run. Look at your Taskbar icon tray and answer this question: do you really need to have all those programs running, or could you live without some? Take back control of your PC! Disable all tasks services, and processes that aren't essential.

Essential boot-up processes:

• Antivirus

• Firewall

• Windows system controls

• Peripheral and application drivers

• Options you can't live without

I disabled 16 out of 22 tasks programmed to launch when my PC boots. As a lefty, I can't live without a little application called SwitchMouseButtons.exe. Adaptec installs a DirectCD driver because I burn CD-RWs. Norton is my antivirus, ZoneAlarm Pro is my firewall, wfxsnt40 is my WinFax driver, and Rundll32 initializes NVIDIA's display panel. Those are the only tasks I allow to start at boot-up!