There are a lot of applications that when installed, also install a little application to run in the background while you work. Little icons usually appear in the system tray next to the clock, or just run without a direct method of using them.

Having these applications allow the full functionality of the main application to either run automatically when triggered by a scanner activation or digita camera connection, offer quick operation of the application when clicked, or offer additional system functionality with ease. In most cases people who are not over familiar with computers will either enjoy good use of such 'shortcuts', or not even know what they are for.

In my opinion, most of these background applications are pointless, and offer little or no functional gain in the user's experience of the software.

Below are the Pros and Cons of having them running...

		Pros		Cons
1		Some peripherals (scanner, digital camera etc) might automatically trigger the relavent application to run when it is activated.		This means that a small application is constantly running slowing the PC down, whether you are using that peripheral or not.
2		Can performs background tasks to maintain the system.		Taking up memory, disk access and processing time from the applications you are trying run.
3		Ease of access to the applications.		A shortcut to the relavent application, running it when you need it will surfice.
4		Some applications load much faster.		However they will run at exactly the same speed, if not slower if you have other background applications running.
5		Many applications available these days offer this cabability, including system drivers.		PC takes much longer to boot up. It slow's the PC down as you have many applications running at once, taking up memory and processing time. The more applications you have running, the more likely a crash is.
6		Some applications offer extended functionality.		Most applications offer no additional functionality other than a quick route to the application.
7		But it get's automatically installed when I install the software.		This doesn't mean it will not do the required function if the background application is not running.

In most cases, the background application can be run at any time offering the same functionality. There are some applications that do offer a great deal to the user experience if left running all the time, for example virus scanners, quick resolutions tools, volume tools etc. However other graphical tools, music tools, office tools etc are not necessarily required to be running constantly.

Even virus scanning software can be configured not to be scanning constantly, only entry points onto your PC (CDROM, Email, Internet etc). This will improve system performance by not constantly draining resources.

The ultimate solution to this dilema, is to be selective about what you 'allow' to run automatically on startup. To determine what you have running on startup, look here...

Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information > Software Environment > Startup Programs

This shows what the application is, and where it is run from. You can determine what the application is by looking for it on your computer, and identifying what it is used for. Try entering the file name in Google (www.google.com).

A good rule of thumb for determining what you need running, is it something you use a lot? and does it need to be running on startup? If the answer is no to either, then you probably don't need it to be running constantly. However, there are some essential applications that will need to be running... you'll be able to work out which ones by seeing what Google brings up.

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