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WINPATROL - Product Evaluation
This is a reprint from the December 2006 issue of TOE (The Outer Edge)
By Jim Thornton
One of the more common ways to keep your computer running at its best performance is to closely monitor which programs automatically startup whenever you turn your computer on. A method that I have used for years was to do a print screen of the program names as listed in Windows' System Configuration Utility. These programs may be viewed by clicking on Start then Run, typing msconfig in the blank window titled Open, then clicking on OK, and the Startup tab of the Utility. Then I would go to one or more websites that provided information on startup programs. One of these sites is Answers That Work at (www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm) and another is Startup Application Knowledge Base at (www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php). Then I would research each program and delete the unnecessary ones. For example, a listed program was QTTask.exe, which places a QuickTime icon down in your System Tray. Both websites recommended the removal of this program as not necessary! The only problem with this procedure, it that it should be done monthly and is somewhat time consuming. In addition, if the program wasn't listed on these websites, then I would Google to find out if it was really needed. I recently found a better and faster way of doing this routine maintenance activity with a small utility program called WinPatrol. Steve Bass, of PC World magazine, mentioned it in the April 2006 issue, and Kim Komando on her weekly radio show, recommends the program.
WinPatrol groups the various programs that affects your computer's performance into seven different categories - Startup Programs, IE Helpers, Scheduled Tasks, Services, Active Tasks, Cookies, and File Types. Six of the category screens provide this common information - the program's full name or title, the program's executable or command filename, the name of the company or developer, and the generic program type. Options are available after highlighting a program's name - viewing addition information about the program, and to add, remove, or disable the program. In the information mode, the program's name, developer's name, version number, copyright information, file location, and status are displayed. Informational options include more information about the program from WinPatrol's website - PLUS Info and Free Info. PLUS Info is a shareware feature that provides more detailed information about the selected program with a recommendation while Free Info is the freeware feature that provides general information on the most common files. Another useful option is to create a note about the program, i.e., the date and why you stopped the program, etc.
The purpose and individually differences between these categories are:
STARTUP PROGRAMS - Lists all of the programs that start whenever you start or reboot your computer. This screen is a more user friendly that Windows msconfig routine previously described. With WinPatrol, all you do is start WinPatrol, click on the Startup Programs tab, highlight the program in question, click on Info, and read the information and recommendation whether or not to disable or removed the program.
IE HELPERS - Lists the programs or links that are installed and available for your Internet Explorer browser. In addition to the same basic screens, the version number of the program and its registry location are displayed.
SCHEDULED TASKS - Lists the programs that are run by Windows Task Scheduler along with the scheduled dates and times. Again, the same screens appear along with the next scheduled and last run dates and times.
SERVICES - Lists the services that typically include your sound, video, network, disk manager, task scheduler, firewall, etc. - all of the programs that run in the background that makes your computer work. The same screens appear along with the status, startup (manual or automatic), and other information.
ACTIVE TASKS - Lists the programs that are currently running. The same screens are there with the version number, and the refresh and disable options.
FILE TYPES - Lists the programs sorted by filename extensions. The type of file (system or explorer) and status are displayed in addition to the same screens.
The three remaining tabs have a different format.
COOKIES - Lists all of the cookies on your computer. The individual cookies may be viewed showing the location on your computer and the date and time that it was created or placed there. You may globally remove all the cookies that you have checked as unwanted. In addition, you may sort the cookies into certain folders by using the WinPatrol Cookie Filter.
PLUS - This tab is for checking for updates and for searching for a program by filename. It also provides the registration information.
OPTIONS - This tab allows you to set the options for the continuous monitoring by Scotty the Windows Watchdog, WinPatrol's icon, to detect any changes to your Internet Explorer's Home and Search pages and whenever a change is about to happen WinPatrol sounds and displays a warning. The display includes the program's name, company or developer, version, and location and requests your approval to permit the installation of the change or not. The PLUS Info option is available should you want more information and a recommendation.
The original version of WinPatrol was first release in 1997 and the current version is 9.8.1.0 and this little freeware program is easily found by going to its website http://www.winpatrol.com. The $29.95 shareware WinPatrol PLUS or Pro version is currently discounted to $25.95 and comes with a full refund if not satisfied. It's fully compatible with Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP and besides the English language version, the program is available in 11 European languages.
