there are thousands of entries in this category...i believe it is bogging down my already slow computer...how can i figure out which of the entries i can delete....or am i totally on the wrong track?????

It's not usually a registry problem it's easy to wreck things there. No harm getting a registry cleaner or running scanreg /opt ("shut down" to DOS). I've heard that scanreg /fix does optimising too and that one often clears up bugs. I would be much more inclined to look for background programs that are running. If you do Ctrl-Alt-Del it will give a clue. See how many icons you need in the system tray (next to clock). These are all running programs and maybe some can be disabled from within the icons and replaced by a shortcut to the .exe (start only when needed). Also type msconfig in the Run box (Startup tab) and see what is showing there. Then there is clearing Temporary Internet Files, good old defrag, and many more. Scumware can also cause slow-downs so get hold of Ad-Aware, CWShredder and the like. These freebies can work wonders. D

Hi Wyldcat002, hello everyone, You are best to leave the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT branch alone. Otherwise you are going to experience much greater problems than your computer bogging down. Problems in which an install of Windows of the top will not resolve. Those entries have to do with file extensions and associations between applications and documents among many other things. Is this happening with just certain programs or the internet? Did this slowdown just recently start? Have you added any new software? Best Regards, Mesich

Howdy Mesich, recently did a clean install of Win98 had to reload all drivers and reinstall programs(over Christmas holidays...hohoho)so if anything, not as much stuff running as b4. alot of stuff i didn't reload...wasn't being used so why bother. the only new thing, we are using mcafee virus protection thru aol and it keeps task scheduler kikkin looking for updates every 5 min...even when not online...i've tried to turn this off and do temporarily but its back at reboot or when i get online.MS tech had me rename files and save to c drive so i wouldn't lose everything...working my way thru those files and deleting unneccesary ones.have scanned disk..defragged...run trojan removers and cwshredder.what's next my friend????

Hi Wyldcat002, Derek, hello everyone, It does this every 5 minutes?!! I thought I was paranoid checking every few days for updates. :-) Have you tried Spybot or Ad-Aware? What all is listed in msconfig within the StartUp tab? Best Regards, Mesich

Wow, looking for updates every 5 mins. This could slow down everything. Just to see if it makes any difference, go to task scheduler (if that's where McAfee is running from) and in "Advanced" temporarily try clicking "Stop using task scheduler". See if this makes any difference. Can you see much running in the background (see my #1)? D

Good Morning All! Well it took me a little time but here is the list in my start up menu. These items are checked: • Scan Registry • System Tray • Load Power Profile • VSO Checktask- (mcafee) • Virus Scan Online- (mcafee) • MCAgentExe-(mcafee) • MCVSRTE- (mcafee) These items are not checked: • Atikey • AtiCwd32 • RealTray • HP SimpleTrax • Adaptec Direct CD • Winamp Agent • HP Scan Monitor • Still Image Monitor • MC UpdateExe-(mcafee) every 5 minute search for updates…have to fight to keep off! • Trojan Scanner • Load Power Profile • ATI Scheduler • Reminder-hpc41801 • MS Office Start Up • AOL tray icon Have not used spybot or ad aware since clean install. Hubby used spybot a few monthes prior to that and Deleted so much that it shut down computer and had to reinstall windows to get back up and running. Needless to say I’m not real confident running spybot without someone giving some good instructions So I don’t make more trouble than I already have. This computer is primarily used by my husband…used to he could check his email…download attachments, listen to music on winamp and play python solitaire all at the same time. Now if he tries to Do all that usually winamp locks up(like a badly scratched 45) sometimes he can escape out…sometimes Not….and he has to manually turn off computer. Will not alt ctrl del out or anything. After win98 clean install he did upgrade his winamp to 5.1 had been running 3.2. I’m grasping at straws here…LOL Any help appreciated Mesich….thanks and have a great day!