If you really want to know what is going on inside your PC, the best place to start is by viewing what is being loaded at startup, what processes are currently running and where those processes are going. A favorite tool of mine over the years has been AnVir Task Manager. AnVir Task Manager is a task manager on steroids for Windows that combines an enhanced view of processes and startup items with intelligent related information about those processes and startup items. Each is given a risk factor along with any known information about an item being viewed. Click another tab to see all the current processes and where they are currently connected. Curious about a service, right click it in AnVir and check it online for a virus. They have even included at "Teaker" tool that allows easy access to a number of Windows settings allowing easy customization of the Windows environment. There is a Free version and an enhanced version. All-in-all this is a powerful tool and a favorite software utility of mine that provides easy to use quick views of what is going on...
