Computer question regarding Processes vs. Services.
 

(fwiw I am a user not admin)
I brought up the Windows 7 Task Manager typing cntrl+alt+del:

1). Most of the memory leeching Processes I'm currently able to stop.
Adobe Flash seems to affect this computer the worst, but only appears along with GWX.
There is a "Access Denied Error" when trying to stop it.

2). There are many Services running.
When trying to stop any of these, there is the same "Access Denied Error" as well.

So how does one get rid of these extra Services?
The computer is very sluggish.
Whenever I try to simply rename or move a file, the computer memory will lock-up and randomly "deny it" for 10-30 seconds.

Processes are things that you interact with. Launching a web browser page results in a process. You are the owner of the process. Generally without you invoking it it won't run.

Services are things that the operating system owns which is why you get "Access Denied". Stuff like the clock, networking, is a service.

You can kill processes, you should not try to kill services as bad things can happen.

Flash is a POS. Has always been a memory pig. You don't need it. It's a near dead technology anyway. If you are hitting sites that require it's use then avoid those sites.

You'll need to be admin to kill a bunch of that stuff. Don't indiscriminantly start killing stuff off unless you are sure you know what'll happen. There is a tons of crap that runs for all of your OS and apps to work the way you expect. If you start randomly killing stuff, you could shoot yourself in the foot.

GWX is irritating, but shouldn't be that big a problem memory-wise.

You'd probably get better help if you could export your list of processes (or a screen shot) and post it for us to see. You'll probably get pretty good recommendations of what to kill and what to keep and someone may even spot something that's likely to be an issue.

Is this a personal PC or a work PC?

Is this PC normally connected to a work network, vpn, just a home Internet connection?

Give us more info and maybe we can help with some specifics

Based on the info that you've provided, user not admin and when you try to close stuff, it pauses for a while before giving an access denied, I'd assume this is a work PC and when you try to close things, the PC is trying to authenticate you as someone that should be able to do that and either can't get to the necessary resources to authenticate you (hence the long wait) or is just really slow talking to your DC or whatever is denying your access.

Posting at 10 on a Sunday night I'm going to assume personal PC and not work related.

I think John is retired, apologies and no offense intended if I'm wrong on that.

No apology needed and thanks for the info btw.
'Retired' long ago but still working hard. Middle-age codger here.

(But regardless of whether this is a disposable piece of electronic plastic internet junk, or a networked business computer potentially containing essential proprietary information, it shouldn't matter.)

Personal use w/o admin bureaucracy for the most part.
Home internet connection.
All that.
End user here trying to stop freeze-ups and get rid of unnecessary services, if possible.

I have flash disabled in every browser, activated only to view youtube or mlb videos. Google searches have helped to identify processes that can be removed and which ones to keep running. My PC could benefit from additional memory as well.

Here are a couple links to help you decide:

Disable unwanted services and speed up Windows

Services - Start or Disable - Windows 7 Help Forums

One thing to remember, if you try to make changes, do a restore point BEFORE setting off on your adventure, then try stopping each one to see what happens. If things go wrong and your PC locks up you can always restart it to get back to normal use.

There is one (actually a few) named "Service Host" that can mask all sorts of things and have viruses or malware inside and they are hard to pier into as they will have dozens of DLLs and other parts. There are utilities that allow you to view their internals so try them also.

You haven't said whether the slowness is running software or internet oriented. Apologies if I'm stating the obvious but first thing to do before deleting stuff is:
-Make sure you aren't overtaxing an older machine with low memory. For instance, loading a newer version of Windows will almost always slow down an older machine.
-Defrag the HD if it its an older (smaller HD) and it hasn't been done in a long time.
-Check for Rootkits using tdsskiller.
-Run malwarebytes to see if you have an infection.

Also, have you recently update drivers or software?

Thanks for the links. 2yr newer laptop. Defrag, CCleaner, MS Security Essentials run.

1). Even as an administrator, the services part can't be stopped (Adobe updater, HP assistant, other background stuff, etc).
2). Even logged in with admin, I couldn't access the users desktop folder as well. Odd.

I'm suspecting memory or a MB problem:
1). Part of the keyboard is loose and peeling up.
2). A couple random times the screen has crashed with a skewed irregular pattern, with a loud RGRGRGR sound. Have to re-boot.
3). I'll open a pic in Irfanview. Then close it. Then try to move it to a folder. But for 10-30 seconds Win7 thinks the program is still opened and deny the action.

I do appreciate the help but don't want anyone to spend too much mental time on this.
It will go in the trash when its time is due.

You mentioned Adobe and HP and their services are huge pains in the butt! In those cases you sometimes have to go into the registry and delete the entries that cause them to auto start. In the case of Adobe and it's reader, once you open a document it will auto start the update service and check so you have to go and delete it again!

There are others too and if you are using Symantec as your anti virus software it will show up when Chrome downloads some new version of a DLL and it will pronounce it "safe" always! As for Chrome, look at where the cache and temp drives are and keep them away from C: if at all possible. Also make sure that if you are running a 64 bit OS then make sure ALL the apps are also 64 bit and if you are still in 32 bit mode consider moving to 64 bit as that makes your data path twice as wide.

Get your files off and do a fresh install of the OS. The thing is likely chock full of adware and crap.

Better yet, use it for target practice and go buy a Mac.

I'd forgotten about RUN--> sevices.msc and msconfig
Will proceed cautiously.
Thx again.