I have TWO pooter questions for ubergeeky types

[WilfsElf]

1. How do I get rid of all those little, er, thingies on the right hand side of the menu bar at the bottom of my screen. I know they're something to do with stuff 'running on the desktop' or in the 'start up menu' or summat, but beyond that I'm foxed.

I have picked up some half-baked notion that all this stuff running when I don't need it is affecting my performance.

Is this right? So how exactly do I cull? And how do I know which ones I actually need or not. So my work PC seems to have a Java icon, an Intel Audio studio icon that I have no idea whether I need to be there or not... On my laptop there are MILLIONS more.

1. I really really want to install Skype on my home PC again before Xmas. Last time I did it buggered up my Skype connection (I installed it only on my laptop, not on the main PC connected to the wireless router...)

Summat to do with Firewall settings...?

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP...

[WilfsElf]

When I say Skype connection, obviously I mean wireless broadband connection

[WilfsElf]

bump

[WilyWombat]

"I have picked up some half-baked notion that all this stuff running when I don't need it is affecting my performance."

Me too - id love the answer but am wary of removing anything important

[onager]

The only way is to post each one and ask. For example you should keep the Java one (though if you go to control panel - java you can untick a show icon option to make things look less cluttered)

"Intel Audio studio" will be for the sound on your computer, but it is probably extra stuff you don't need all the time.

Look in the Start Menu - All Programs and find the 'Startup' submenu. Anything in there runs when you start the PC. If there's an 'Intel Audio studio' shortcut there you can hold the left mouse button & drag it out of that bit for now and when you restart the computer it won't run. You will know then if it affects anything and can always drag it back in. Just drag it into the main part of the menu for now.

Post what else you have and someone will have it and know if its needed.

[GoodWilfToAllMN]

Palm hotsync icon (though I rarely sync my palm with this pooter)

omnipass - summat to do with my fingerprint recognition thing that I never use

Cordless mouse icon - assume this stays while I use it...

iPlayer download manager - from when I downloaded a BBC programme once. Might use it again, no idea why its there all the time

Windows Messenger - never used it, no idea why it is there

Two identical icons saying 'a network cable is unplugged' (I do sometimes connect the laptop up to the network at work...)

Roxio audiocentral

F-secure client security - real time virus/firewall stuff (presume I need this one?)

Roxio drag-to-disc (very occasionally have burned a CD but rarely...)

Intel graphics media accelerator driver for mobile (wtf? huh?)

Toshiba touch and launch (again wtf?)

Toshiba zooming utility

Toshiba HDD protection (sounds important)

And finally, touchpad (although I use a mouse when I'm not out and about!)

[Kevlarhead]

Goto

Start>Run and type msconfig.

This starts the MsConfig program that lets you choose what variety of guff you want running in the background when you're trying to do something more important.

[onager]

Palm hotsync
omnipass
iPlayer download manager
Roxio audiocentral

These you may want to stop for now but with the option to start again

Method 1
Try right clicking the icon to see if there's a menu or double clicking to see if it brings up a window. Either way it might have a box to untick saying "always run when windows starts" etc

Method 2
Look in the Start Menu - All Programs and find the 'Startup' submenu. Anything in there runs when you start the PC. Hold left mouse button & drag it left a bit into the main part of the menu for now

Method 3
As suggested by Kevlarhead you can go to Start - Run and type msconfig. In the box that comes up you can pick the 'startup' tab and look through the items. If you can tell which is the one you want then untick it. Don't untick if not sure!
If you have changed anything in msconfig then when you reboot the computer it will pop up a message asking you if you want it to run every time. Just say no and those unticked items will not come back until ticked again.

Keep
Cordless mouse icon
F-secure client security

uninstall Windows Messenger by going to control panel - add/remove programs then clicking the Add/Remove Windows components section. Down the bottom you will see a tickbox for Windows Messenger.

not sure about the others. Maybe someone else has those.

[GoodWilfToAllMN]

thank you onager and kevlar,

Now, whaddayaknow about Skype and broadband connections ...?

[onager]

I didn't ask if you have Windows Vista. While it should be essentially the same some thing may be laid out a little differently.

TOSHIBA Touch and Launch is some 'extra' that brings up a window if you tap the touchpad in just the right way. Probably just an annoyance, but if you right click the icon it should have a disable option.

[onager]

Don't know much about wireless, but if you describe that a bit more someone will know.