i understand that when you push control alt delete on your pc it shows you all running programs. well when i?

Question

push cntrl,alt, delete i have like 12 items on there when i only have 1 or 2 open. can anyone help?

Answer 1

make sure you're talking about "Applications" and not "Processes". (these are two different tabs on the task manager)

If it is applications you are talking about, you can highlight the ones you KNOW you aren't running, right click, and exit the application(s)

Answer 2

Windows runs a lot of things, and a lot of things that you install get started automatically when you start up - if you look at your task bar down where the clock is there will be a number of icons those are all active programs that will end up being listed. Many of them are automatic like firewalls and anti-virus programs and things like that, for me I have an automatic AOL one to make it easier to logon.

Answer 3

Part of it will depend on what version of Windows you are using. On my old desktop, which runs Win98, the task manager that pops up will include system programs like "Systray" and "Explorer". On my work computer, however (running WinXP) the task manager only shows programs that I opened.

Answer 4

The primary reason is that there are all sorts of programs which run "in the background" are are invisible.

Most are helper programs for various applications you Do have open & running.

Some are what is called TSR/"Terminate & stay resident"---even when you Close the program and it doesnt appear active,,it continues to run.

Some are from your computer maker,,they load and run each time you start your PC,,,,and sort of "Idle" in the background.
They do various functions,,like Live Help,,Auto Updates,Remote Assistance,etc

SOME are Malware/Spyware/Virus-type programs.

I'd recommend investigating Each of those 12 running programs to determine exactly what they are.

You can do an Internet Search,,using their name as the search term.

MOST "bad-ware" type programs WONT show up as Running Programs---they are typically better disguised

................................
You can STOP whatever is running from the Task Manager(Ctrl/Alt/Delete Screen)

Simply Click the "Mystery Program" to select/hilite it,,
then click END TASK at bottom of page.

Normally you wont crash anything or lose any functionallity of what you DO want Open.
If you DO need something that you've turned off,,,it will restart itself automatically when needed.

So,,You Can't really mess-up anything by Ending those Mystery Tasks.
..............
If you switch Tabs/pages on the TASK MANAGER from
"Applications" to "Processes",,,,
You'll see 25 to 30,maybe 35 Items listed.
Most of those are Windows requirements to Run,,and Always Run.
Some are your Browser Windows,,and whatever you happen to have Open.
Some are things which run in Background,,like your anti-virus software,,,automatic update for a variety of things,,etc.

.......................................

I'd suggest making CERTAIN that you have a Good & CURRENTLY UPDATED>>
*Anti-Virus Program
*Anti-Spyware Program(or 2 or 3 actually)

It's CRITICAL that whatever Security Programs/Software you chose or have,,,that they stay Currently Updated.
On a Weekly Basis at LONGEST interval.
I check for updates at least twice weekly,,usually every 2~3 days.

That gives you a high degree of assurance that what's ON your computer is "safe".
So you can then be fairly confident those "mystery programs" are Not Likely to be Bad-Ware>Virus/worm/spyware/etc,etc.

Once certain you have your Security up-to-date,,,

Then you can investigate the origins/purposes of those "mystery" things running on your PC.

Once you determine they are OK & belong there,,,or just unneeded & delete them,,or whatever you decide to do.....

You can check what programs AUTOMATICALLY Start & Run everytime you start your PC.

MOST auto-start programs are Not needed to be Automatic.
They can be shut down--then will auto-start when You NEED them.

By preventing them from Auto-Start everytime you Restart Your PC,,,
*Your PC boots up Faster
*It Shuts Down Faster
*It Runs under Less Load thru the day
*And Windows doesn't have to manage Open & Close somebody ELSE's Program each time Windows Boots/Shuts down.
So your PC tends to get less trashed-up over time

It's generally BEST to start Windows with the LEAST Possible programs Auto-Starting.
It's a Personal Choice,,For Example--you may WANT an Instant Message Program to start Automatically at Boot-Up..
That's Fine,it's Your Choice.

But,,LESS is Best,,,and many programs install themself and "Make YOUR choice for You"---they default to "Auto Start"

You can manage what programs start at Boot Up automatically .

On far L/H side of your desktop,,,on the menu thingie,,
Click START>RUN>type MSCONFIG>click OK

That get's you to "System Configuration Utility"..
Click on the Tab "STARTUP",,,and see what is selected to AutoStart.

Determine which ones you Want,,,and UnCheck the ones you Dont want or need.
Then click "APPLY",,and close the Utility box.

The NAMES of the things you'll find there,,,are often NOT very clear & descriptive.
You can usually figure them out.
If Not Certain,,,You can ASK someone,,or do an internet search using the names shown on the Utility's list as your search term.

It's usually very easy to find info about the weird names,,,because Soooo many PC users search for same exact things.
there's lots of info available.

For example,,,,I see "apdproxy" listed in mine.
That's "NONSENSE",,meaningless,,and gives NO Clue what it is.
I can type that term into a Yahoo or Google search,,,and see right away that it's
"APDPROXY.EXE - Adobe Photo Downloader component "
Now THAT,,I can Understand.
a)It's Harmless,,part of Adobe's pdf Reader
b)I DONT need it to Auto Run at start-up,,So I disable it's auto-run.
c)If I ever DO happen to need it,,,whatever I click on that requires it will THEN auto-start it,,,,or a Pop-Up will ask if I want to start it.

So I have'nt Lost anything by disabling it's auto-start.

Also,,,,Back to your original question about 'mystery programs" running ...
Adobe Photo Downloader would be a Good Example of one of those type things.
It works "invisibly" if I use it to view or load a certain type picture.
But once I'm finished,,,it Might just keep RUNNING in the background ,,still Invisible.
Next time I want a Photo,,,my PC gets it "instantly" 'cuz that Adobe Photo program is already running & doesn't have to start.

I can Turn it OFF,,,and wait the 2 NanoSeconds for it to load Next time I want a Photo.

The point is,,,,
Some stuff that we use rarely or intermittently AutoStarts each time we boot up of PC,,,it drains resources while we have NO Use at the time.

Some stuff even though we disable AutoStart at BOOT-UP,,,,will Auto-start when we Require that program.
But when we finish,,,it stay's running until we shut down.
At the end of the day,,,we can accumulate several of those.
They're running invisibly in the background.

Hope any of that helps!

Quick Recap:
*End Task of whatever you dont recognize--it'll come back if you need it
*Research anything you DONT recognize to determine if it's OK or BadStuff
*Minimize Programs that Auto-Start at Boot Up
**Make Sure your Security Software is Current & always be Diligent in keeping it Updated

Answer 5

here's a link to tell you what each program running is when you hit Ctrl Alt Delete.......