A question first before I give the list. I notice this entry on your HJT log;
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present Did you place these?
I only ask because, according to HJT guidelines;
Now here are the items I see in your HJT log which are either running as a Start up program or running at Start up via services and are not really required to run at start up;
Google Desktop Search>>> supposedly, this is "a desktop search application that provides full text search over your email, computer files, chats, and the web pages you've viewed. By making your computer searchable, Google Desktop Search puts your information easily within your reach and frees you from having to manually organize your files, emails, and bookmarks". This program is not required to start automatically as you can run it when you need to. It is advised that you disable this program so that it does not take up necessary resources.
Windows Defender>>>this is users choice. I use only SpywareBlaster, which DOES NOT run in the background and find it's protection superior to those programs which must actually RUN.
NvCplDaemon>>>Intializes the clock and memory settings on nVidia based graphics cards. Enable if you overclock your card. User's choice
AppleSyncNotifier>>>Added by Apple's MobileMe synchronization software. This service helps to synchronize contact, email, and calendar information between your ITouch, iPhone, Mac, and PC.
QuickTime Task>>>System Tray access to Apple's "Quick Time" viewer from version 5 onwards. Not required
iTunesHelper>>>Installed with Apple's iTunes for Windows. Uses ~3-4MB of memory. If disabled in MSCONFIG or deleted from the registry it will re-instate itself after running iTunes a few times but it CAN be disabled if you want.
MSMSGS>>>Windows Messenger utility. If you don't use Windows Messenger, this can be annoying. Available via Start -> Programs. This is NOT an IM program.
Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar>>> Alternative shortcuts to the Start -> Programs way of running applications installed as part of MS Office. Some people prefer it but a better way is to create Desktop Shortcuts if you want access these programs quickly
ctfmon.exe>>>CTFMon is involved with the language/alternative input services in Office XP. CTFMON.exe will continue to put itself back into MSConfig when you run the Office XP apps as long as the Text Services and Speech applets in the Control Panel are enabled. Not required if you don't need these features.
The noted below can be turned off by going to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. In Services they are listed in alphabetical order. Scroll through the list and double click on entries you wish to turn off. When the property box of the service opens if it is running Stop the service by clicking the Stop button. Once the service is stopped then go up to Start up type and click the little arrow next to the start type listing. You can either disable entirely or set it to manual. I will list recommended setting.
Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe>>>Disabled.
Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe Used by iTunes to communicate with the Apple iPhone when it is connected to your computer. If you use all these then set to Manual. If you know you don't use this service then Disable it.
Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe The Bonjour Service is typically installed with the iTunes software. Apple's site describes: "Bonjour, also known as zero-configuration networking. It is NOT needed to run automatically and can be set to Manual.
Service: Google Desktop Manager 5.7.801.1629 (GoogleDesktopManager-010108-205858) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe I noted this above. Not needed.
Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe This service is used by Itunes for using your Ipod. If you do not use Itunes you can disable this service
Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe Java Quick Starter (JQS) improves the initial startup time of Java applets and applications. But I found that it made very little difference and when I turned this off my Firefox especially loaded pages faster, why? I don't know but it did and have not noticed ANY problems with java at all.
Service: TuneUp Drive Defrag Service (TuneUp.Defrag) - TuneUp Software GmbH - C:\WINDOWS\System32\TuneUpDefragService.exe. These types of programs generally are not needed. Myself and many others just don't see the benefit of running these. Your choice
Service: Viewpoint Manager Service - Viewpoint Corporation - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe AdAware. It is recommended that you remove this program. Considered foistware as it comes bundled with other items such as AOL Instant Messenger, etc. This should be Uninstalled via Add/Remove.
Thanks for all of this but I have one problem. Lately all of my links to uninstall my programs were gone. I did not remove them. I installed and then uninstalled a program and some worked. You gave me the BitDefender uninstall help but the one you said I did not do was CyberDefender so I did follow most of your suggestions.
I am going to try to do most of the red are true but some as you said are my choice I have to check what happens to everything I use when I turn of something.
Thanks for that. I still want to know where you learned all of this. It as if you are on a HELP DESK.
What does work instead of AD-Aware? My techie friend is a PC engineer and he only used AVG FREE 8.0 ANTI-VIRUS, AD-AWARE2008 and SPY BOT 1.6. And he makes a lot of money doing it. What do you suggest? as alternative programs
Jim
