Background Tasks and Vista

Spooks5151 · 15-10-2008, 12:57 PM

Can anyone tell me how to close down unrequired background tasks in Vista? My game keeps crashing and I think it might be fighting with Vista. I'm not a techy though and have always bottled out in the past when you get to the list of programmes running (or whatever it is) and the instructions say 'Close down any unrequired programmes'. How am I supposed to know which are required and which aren't? I only use my PC for TS2. I have a different PC for internet and other stuff. Thanks

Adam Hornsby · 15-10-2008, 06:06 PM

press CTRL+ALT+DELETE together and scroll down to task manager, then go to the processes tab, only close required applications as you can damage the computer otherwise

Spooks5151 · 15-10-2008, 07:03 PM

So exactly which ones which ones am I supposed to close?

Ayeffen · 15-10-2008, 07:08 PM

Un-required background tasks, I believe, refers to programs such as virus scanners. You can normally close them or pause scans using the icon that appears in the system tray, at the end of your taskbar.

Spooks5151 · 16-10-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr A

Un-required background tasks, I believe, refers to programs such as virus scanners. You can normally close them or pause scans using the icon that appears in the system tray, at the end of your taskbar.

As I am not connected to the internet and only play TS2 on my PC. I have uninstalled my virus scanner (Norton) and I can't turn off anything to the right of the task bar as it as stuff like Safely remove hardware, Num Lock on, HP Total care advisor, Windows defender. When I right click on any of them I either get no options, options to open them or exit which I think just takes it off the task bar.

What I really need is this for Vista - and just for the record I hate Vista!!

Troubleshooting Guide - Background Tasks

Any help gratefully received.

Rohannnn · 16-10-2008, 10:20 PM

If you use the "exit" option, that should close them completely.

Follow the instructions for Windows XP in the troubleshooting guide, it should work fine on Vista too.

Since XP it is pretty unlikely for any background tasks to interfere with the game, and using the task manager to close processes regularly is not a good idea as it doesn't give them a chance to exit properly. It's fine to try it a couple of times just to see if any are causing problems, but I wouldn't recommend closing programs that way every time you run the game.

Spooks5151 · 17-10-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rohannnn

If you use the "exit" option, that should close them completely.

Follow the instructions for Windows XP in the troubleshooting guide, it should work fine on Vista too.

Since XP it is pretty unlikely for any background tasks to interfere with the game, and using the task manager to close processes regularly is not a good idea as it doesn't give them a chance to exit properly. It's fine to try it a couple of times just to see if any are causing problems, but I wouldn't recommend closing programs that way every time you run the game.

Thanks for this. Since last posting I have installed the AL patch and .. so far so good ... no crashes ... oh I wish I hadn't said that ... tempting fate. So I'll keep going. I've never been keen on clodsing tasks down anyway.

Adam Hornsby · 18-10-2008, 07:55 AM

im sure i came across a website that listed every entire process, and told you whether it was safe to close.
i just close processes like ccc, system mechanic and the apple itunes and ipod helpers.

Becky · 18-10-2008, 10:09 AM

I tend to close the iTunes/iPod helpers too - however, since switching to Windows Media Player, I'm able to keep it running because it uses a third of the memory while playing music that iTunes does while doing nothing.

I tend to close Firefox too, as I just chat on MSN while I play instead.

15-10-2008, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spooks5151 Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 551	Background Tasks and Vista Can anyone tell me how to close down unrequired background tasks in Vista? My game keeps crashing and I think it might be fighting with Vista. I'm not a techy though and have always bottled out in the past when you get to the list of programmes running (or whatever it is) and the instructions say 'Close down any unrequired programmes'. How am I supposed to know which are required and which aren't? I only use my PC for TS2. I have a different PC for internet and other stuff. Thanks __________________ Spooks I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing!

15-10-2008, 07:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Spooks5151 Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 551	So exactly which ones which ones am I supposed to close? __________________ Spooks I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing!

15-10-2008, 07:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ayeffen EA Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London, England Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 19,777 Blog Entries: 2	Un-required background tasks, I believe, refers to programs such as virus scanners. You can normally close them or pause scans using the icon that appears in the system tray, at the end of your taskbar. __________________ A y e f f e n

18-10-2008, 10:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
Becky EA Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Birmingham Age: 18 Gender: Female Posts: 30,642	I tend to close the iTunes/iPod helpers too - however, since switching to Windows Media Player, I'm able to keep it running because it uses a third of the memory while playing music that iTunes does while doing nothing. I tend to close Firefox too, as I just chat on MSN while I play instead. __________________ last.fm twitter

15-10-2008, 06:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Adam Hornsby Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Yorkshire Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 305	press CTRL+ALT+DELETE together and scroll down to task manager, then go to the processes tab, only close required applications as you can damage the computer otherwise

16-10-2008, 10:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rohannnn Forum Junkie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Surrey UK Posts: 4,003	If you use the "exit" option, that should close them completely. Follow the instructions for Windows XP in the troubleshooting guide, it should work fine on Vista too. Since XP it is pretty unlikely for any background tasks to interfere with the game, and using the task manager to close processes regularly is not a good idea as it doesn't give them a chance to exit properly. It's fine to try it a couple of times just to see if any are causing problems, but I wouldn't recommend closing programs that way every time you run the game.

18-10-2008, 07:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Adam Hornsby Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Yorkshire Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 305	im sure i came across a website that listed every entire process, and told you whether it was safe to close. i just close processes like ccc, system mechanic and the apple itunes and ipod helpers.