Hi markabe,
Thank you for your question. I hope my answer helps to get your system
back up to speed.
You're absolutely right to look at this list of programs because it
could well be causing your problem. However, I'd also recommend that
you check whether your system is powerful enough to cope with all the
devices that you have plugged into it. That these programs include
software that deals with scanners, digital cameras and modems suggest
that you're using quite a few. It might be time to upgrade.
However, I've listed the various programs you mention with
explanations of what they are, what they do and whether it would be
safe for you to disable them or not. You would be safe in disabling
quite a bunch of them.
The key reference site to use for these programs is the Startup
Applications List maintained by SysInfo. It's a very useful reference
site and it details all but one of the programs you mention.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
I had to search elsewhere to find the final one, Tbpt.
Here are your programs:
Mfindexer
This is a media file indexer, bundled as part of CorelDraw. It's
similar to the FindFast facility in Microsoft Office, though probably
not quite as annoying. Switch it off and see if CorelDraw suffers a
performance loss. If not, leave it off.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Mfindexer&count=&type=
Loadqm
This runs the MSN Queue Manager, which is installed with MSN Explorer.
On Windows 98 it's probably not important, unless you're running
WindowsUpdate.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=loadqm&count=&type=
Wzqkpick
This is the QuickPick option that comes with WinZip, which is almost
certainly a waste of time. I'd recommend switching this one off.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Wzqkpick&count=&type=
Wkcalrem
This is the Calendar Reminders option that comes with Microsoft Works
and pops up reminders of events that you've scheduled in the Works
Calendar. If you use this, then leave it enabled; but otherwise
disable it.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Wkcalrem&count=&type=
Qttask
This is another 'quick system tray access' program that is a
fundamental waste of time. This time it's Apple's QuickTime, and again
you'll be fine to disable it.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Qttask&count=&type=
Shwicon
This is card reading software for digital camera memory cards. I'm
intrigued as to why something like this should run in the background,
but possibly it only runs while the card reader is connected. Try
removing the reader from the USB slot and check to see if it's still
running. If so, I'd probably leave this one enabled.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Shwicon&count=&type=
Systray
This is the Microsoft System Tray that comes with Windows. If you use
any icons at all in the system tray, such as Volume Control or Power
Management, then this must be running. If not, it's safe to disable it
but I'd recommend leaving it alone just in case.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=systray&count=&type=
Rnaapp
This is part of Microsoft's dialup networking implementation, or in
other words it's used while you dial up to the net. It should only run
while you're connected and terminate once you disconnect. Definitely
leave this one alone.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Rnaapp&count=&type=
Opware32
This enables OLE integration between OmniPage Pro OCR software and
other applications such as Microsoft Word. It may be that you only use
your scanner for pictures, making this software irrelevant. If so,
disable it. However, if you're going to do any OCR work, which
involves scanning text and intelligently transferring it from an image
into a text file, then you're going to need this running. If you're
unsure, then you can always disable it now and run it again at a later
date from the Start Menu.
SysInfo: Startup Applications List
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=Opware32&count=&type=
Tbpt
This is the only one that SysInfo didn't list. It seems to be a home
page launcher from a company called Telstra Big Pond, who seem to be a
major ISP in Australia. I found it listed at #11 in the following url.
The surrounding information is not relevant. If you're using Telstra
as your dial up provider, then they may require this to be running.
More likely, however, it's just another bit of software that an ISP
has forced onto its customers. You're probably safe to disable it but
I'd check with them first if they are indeed your ISP.
Lavasoft: Forums
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=9814&st=20
I hope this helps you. If you are still having problems, please feel
free to request further clarification and I'll take another look at
your problem.
Thank you for using Google Answers and for allowing me to answer your question.
Poe |
Clarification of Answer by
poe-ga
on
12 Feb 2004 10:40 PST
Hi markabe,
Thanks for your clarification request.
Firstly, the bad news...
LAUNCH.EXE
The filename launch.exe is such a common one that it's going to be
difficult to track it down without knowing what software package it's
associated with. A quick Google search brought back a couple of
thousand search results! Many of these are small freeware utilities.
Do you have any idea at all what this software could be?
Examples include PC Access 4.30, WebLaunch or even a Keyspan USB High
Speed Serial Adapter.
REMOVING SOFTWARE
And the good news. As to removing the programs you want to get rid of,
I don't have a Windows 98 box to hand to check the exact procedure but
you should be able to catch each of these by one of the following two
methods.
1. System Tray
When they run, many of these programs will put an icon in the system
tray, which is at the bottom right of your screen by the clock. Moving
your cursor over an icon should activate a popup tip that tells you
what it is. I'm pretty sure you'll see the WinZip and QuickTime icons
there and possibly some of the others too.
For each of these, you should be able to right click on it and choose
to close the program. It will be well worth looking for Options or
Settings or something similar in this right click menu, as while you
might easily be able to close the program now it may just run again
next time you boot up your PC. You may be able to ask it not to do
this again by using the settings. Again I'm pretty sure from
experience that you can do this with the WinZip QuickPick at least.
2. Registry
However some programs may be a little more sneaky than that. They may
have installed in the background while you weren't looking and they
may not leave any easy way for you to stop them running.
However you can find a list of everything that runs on startup in the
system registry. Click on Start then Run and type the word regedit in
the box that comes up. Click OK and you're in the registry using the
Registry Editor. Be very very careful in here and don't delete
anything without being absolutely sure of what you're doing, or you
could leave Windows in an entirely unusable state.
You can navigate through the registry by clicking on the little plus
icons, just as if you were navigating through the contents of your
hard drive in Windows Explorer. You need to navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
When you click on the Run part of the above location, you'll see a
bunch of files listed on the right hand pane. You'll recognise some of
these as some that you've asked this question about.
If you're sure you want to delete one of these entries, then just
right click on it and select Delete. Again, be very careful that you
only delete the ones that you're sure you want to delete.
When you're finished, close the Registry Editor by clicking on the X
at the top right hand corner. You don't need to save anything because
any changes you make are instantaneous.
When you reboot your machine you should find that the programs you
deleted won't run.
I hope that helps. As always, please feel free to ask for further
clarification if you need any.
Poe
|
,
0 Comments
)