how to get rid of unnecessary running processes?

[splashpot]

I'm pretty certain I have more processes running than I should have. I don't have tons of junky spyware or programs, but i can tell that some of the processes don't belong. How can I determine which ones are junk and how to stop them from running in the future?

Google for hijackthis and download it.

[BBill]

You can go to this website:
Windows task lists (http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm)
and look up each process that is running and find out if it is required or optional or is bad and should be removed.

This site also explains how to turn off the process - for some items they might suggest purchasing an application to modify the process but you dont have to do that, any process can be stopped or started if you know what to do.
Post here if there is something you can not figure out.