Computer Processes explained

[Xander]

I just came across this site, and I thought it was so useful, so I'd tell you guys.

Basically if your computer starts running crappily, cos your memory is being used up by stuff and you're not sure what's using it up, this is really helpful. You can put in the name of the process that's running and it'll tell you what it is and if you should keep it open, or if it's safe for closing. Also useful if you're not sure if something is spyware/adware. Most of the things I searched for, I found on this site.

http://www.processlibrary.com/

If anyone else has any good sites for computer problems/stuff like this, you can post them here too. =)

[crono_logical]

Shame it's only for Windows :p And if something you look up does turn out to be Spyware etc., killing it will only be a temporary solution, since it'll likely restart again next time you boot the computer up. Preventative measures like tightening up IE's security or using something other than IE such as Firefox so you don't get any more of this software would be a better thing to do :p Other software that can be a security problem are Kazaa and AIM.

Therfore, my useful links shall be:

Ad/spyware finder/remover: http://www.lavasoft.nu/
Browser replacement: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
AIM/YM/MSN replacement: http://gaim.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

:monster:

[MoonsEcho]

Ok, I've looked on Google and I just checked the link you posted, Xander, and I still can't find anything on bretiuxh.exe. Does anyone know what it is? *feels stupid* It just popped up one day in my taskmanager so I'm pretty sure it's nothing good. I've found it on my hard drive and deleted it countless times but, yes, it comes back every startup. Does anyone know what it is or how to get rid of it completely? A friend told me to try out Spybot S&D but I had that downloaded at one time and it seemed to make everything worse. :(

Also, I FINALLY just downloaded Firefox. Hope it's as wonderful as it's put up to be. :)Thanks for the links, Farah.

[Glendon]

I've never had problems with adware, avoiding them is usually common sense (watch what plug ins you DL). I use ad-aware with spybot search and destroy every so often to remove the tracking type cookies I get on occasion, and also use google toolbar to block pop-ups.

Nice link Xander, sometimes I use google to research a process on my machine, but I'll bookmark that for the next time. :)


Ok, I've looked on Google and I just checked the link you posted, Xander, and I still can't find anything on bretiuxh.exe. Does anyone know what it is? *feels stupid* It just popped up one day in my taskmanager so I'm pretty sure it's nothing good. I've found it on my hard drive and deleted it countless times but, yes, it comes back every startup. Does anyone know what it is or how to get rid of it completely? A friend told me to try out Spybot S&D but I had that downloaded at one time and it seemed to make everything worse. :(

Also, I FINALLY just downloaded Firefox. Hope it's as wonderful as it's put up to be. :)Thanks for the links, Farah.

I couldn't find anything on it either, it may be new. Download Ad-Aware and Spybot Seek and Destroy. Update and run them both, update your anti-virus software and run it. If its something bad, one of those three apps should find it.

<b>Edit by Yamaneko: Please don't double post. Use the edit/delete button instead.</b>

[Meat Puppet]

pup.exe

[Dr Unne]

http://www.gentoo.org

If you can't easily identify what a running program is, you shouldn't be running it, is my philosophy.

[edczxcvbnm]

Ad/spyware finder/remover: http://www.lavasoft.nu/


www.adware.com is alright. It doesn't remove stuff for you unless you pay for it but it does tell you where everything is so you can go do it yourself :D

It also gives an explaination of just exactly what the spyware is and does. Really nice and it has picked up some things that ad-aware has missed.

[Yamaneko]

svchost.exe
explorer.exe
spoolsv.exe
services.exe
lsass.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
smss.exe
System
System Idle Process

That's all you need.

[MoonsEcho]

Quick question then, because I'm always running WAY more processes than that...how can I kill a process that's being run by System? Since it tells me access is denied and all. I feel like such a dummy, but I've never really had to deal with this before; my computer's usually well protected. :(

[crono_logical]

svchost.exe
explorer.exe
spoolsv.exe
services.exe
lsass.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
smss.exe
System
System Idle Process

That's all you need.I'm not even sure spoolsv is needed if you have no printer :p


Quick question then, because I'm always running WAY more processes than that...how can I kill a process that's being run by System? Since it tells me access is denied and all. I feel like such a dummy, but I've never really had to deal with this before; my computer's usually well protected. Make sure you're logged in an administrator account. Either that, or it's spyware being really nasty, in which case, it should still be killable with Process Explorer (http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml) - it's kind of like Task Manager on drugs :p

[Rostum]

If you can't easily identify what a running program is, you shouldn't be running it, is my philosophy.

*shuts down explorer.exe* :D

[Xander]

http://www.gentoo.org

If you can't easily identify what a running program is, you shouldn't be running it, is my philosophy.

The short names for processes usually make no sense, and if you're not a total technical whiz, it's likely you won't know what a lot are. Some may be minor things that aren't actually important to running your computer, but just run because of some other thing you have installed. In this case I think it's useful to know what you can safely close down. Which was the main idea of the link I gave, and not really meant as a solution to spyware/adware either.

[Loony BoB]

I've used that Process Explorer clout linked to - very, very useful for someone who wants to know what each process is actually for. Highly reccomended for people who aren't all that technical, like me!

[MoonsEcho]

Wow, even after killing off all the processes that weren't 'necessary', I'm still running 33. Most of them are Norton-and-Symantec related O_o. What space hogs. Process Library was a big help, thanks. I guess I'll try Spybot S&D again to see if it can get rid of bretiuxh.exe and make it STAY gone this time. And hope Spybot doesn't wreck things again. :sweatdrop:

Sorry to keep asking silly questions here, but now I'm trying to delete some things off the hard drive, and not having any luck. One of them is SideFind, which keeps coming back to haunt me, and it says I can't because 'access is denied to sfbho.dll'. The other is a folder labeled 'xerox' that simply has a folder labeled 'nwwia' inside, with nothing in that folder, but when I try to delete it, it says 'nwwia is being used by another person or program' and it can't be deleted. :confused: :(

[edczxcvbnm]

Don't use spybot. It sucks. Use Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoft.nu/ It will get rid of just about everything.

As for why you can't delete those other things. It is because they are currently running on your computer. If there is nothing in the folder then the files are probably hidden from your view. Running ad-aware will hopefully fix it.

I also had this one program that would flag files when you start up so they would be deleted before they ran. Can't remember the name of it for the life of me.

And yes...all those damn processes for Norton Antivirus suck. Why couldn't it just be 1 instead of like...5 with bizzare names.

[crono_logical]

If you know how to edit the registry by hand and know where to look, you can manually add the files you want deleted upon reboot without the need of some program to do it for you :monster:

[Yamaneko]

regedit is ugly and not fun to use, though. :(

[edczxcvbnm]

regedit is ugly and not fun to use, though. :(

Thats why I use the program. Just makes things easier.

[MoonsEcho]

I'm liking Ad-Aware tons better than Spybot so far. It found a heapload of junk that Norton missed. Thanks, ed!

[Yamaneko]

It's good to have Spybot and Adaware. Spybot catches some stuff Adaware doesn't.

[MoonsEcho]

Hmm, alright, if I still have some problems I'll look into Spybot again. The last time I had it, it seemed like it made everything even more screwy. Could have been something else, though, I guess....

[edczxcvbnm]

Screw spybot. They suck. www.adware.com is pretty good. You just have to go delete stuff yourself. It tells you exactly where to go in the registry to delete things. The program would do it for you but that cost money. Picks up everything that ad aware misses. It runs a hell of a lot faster than ad aware or spybot. It also tells you exactly what the program does and is used for so you know if it really isn't that big of a threat. It caught something on mine but that is because it is pre-installed by compaq. It really isn't spyware but could be classified as such. It was some stupid game program.

I think that program is pretty damn good and useful. Although it might not be the best thing for people who are afraid to go into the registry or don't know how to get there.

Also norton isn't really meant to catch spyware. I think they are slowly coming around to it but they are mainly for viruses and worms.

[Glendon]

I use Spybot (http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2) and Ad-Aware SE (http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10319876.html?tag=lst-0-5) on a regular basis when I do consulting work. Never had any problems with either of them and they always clean house. Infact, I recieved a call tonight about ad/spyware and had them download, update and run both the above programs. Problem solved.

Preventing further intrusions is an entirely different matter. Usually, as long as you do not download software by a company name you are not farmiliar with, everything is ok. For viruses, Norton AV is the industry standard. Time and time again I go to someone's house to look at a PC only to find that they have not updated or even worse, do not even have anti-virus software on their computer. Then I often have to research the virus and take it out manually :(