WIN 95 -- how do i disable programs that run in background?

[gardener]

My in-laws are running windows 95 and there are something like 17 programs that are always running in the background. There is unfortunately nothing like msconfig in that version of windows, and I my various attempts at inactivating them have failed. Its a p.o.s. compaq with the frigging bios on the hd, so my idiot-proof plan of reinstalling windows has been foiled. How do computer savy peeps do it the right way?

[Paul Cunningham]

as a general guide, startup programs lurk in thses places.

The Registry, run regedit and search for the offending programs

Win.ini Just look through.

Startup folder of your start menu. Just delete the shortcut.

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[DR]

Make sure that what you remove are not programs that you want running. For instance I have a virus scanner and Cleansweep running all the time. These programs run several programs also. To find the program these are associated with I write them down,
go to Start/ Find files and do a search. This tells me the directory that they are in.
It can speed up the process of finding where
to remove the run command as in the previous post. You want to keep Explorer and Systray running.

[techs]

why not just reformat the primary partition and reinstall windows? or better yet get the service pack, fdisk and recreate the diagnostic partion? i think what i have done in the past is used Ghost to copy the diagnostic partition to another drive and then copied it back on.

[NightVa]

Ok reformatting for this problem sounds like cutting off a leg because you have a splinter in your toe.

Browse to www.outertech.com (http://www.outertech.com) and download the program StarEd 3.70 under software downloads.

This program lets you control what programs start up with the windows registry. Try and see if that helps. Very good user interface included in the package. Just uncheck the programs you dont want running in the background. Good luck.

[RedBeard]

Would it be possible for them to upgrade the computer to win98?

[pmailloux]

Just find a win98 machine and copy the msconfig program onto a floppy, its not a big program and it runs fine on a win95 machine. Should be found in C:\windows\system