• Windows 10 Tasks safe to disable?

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    #2321214

    I’ve run across quite a few seemingly credible sites enumerating Services safe to disable,
    but no so much for tasks. There are some that seem so logical that are either not needed
    or should be disabled but I’d like better confirmation than I am finding. My list follows. For example:

    All from Microsoft/Windows tasks. This group all says:

    “Collects program telemetry information if opted-in to the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program.”

    Well, I have not agreed, why should these be enabled?

    Application Experience \ Appraiser
    Application Experience \ ProgramDataUpdater
    Customer Experience Improvement Program \Consolidator
    Customer Experience Improvement Program \UsbCeip

    Then, this one:
    AutoCHK \ Proxy

    “This task collects and uploads autochk SQM data if opted-in to the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program.”

    This one really worries me If what I read is true, then an SSD should NEVER have CHKDSK run. This is enabled. Why?

    CHKDSK \ Proactive Scan

    Is this needed?

    Diagnosis \ Scheduled:
    “The Windows Scheduled Maintenance Task performs periodic maintenance of the computer system by fixing problems automatically or reporting them through Security and Maintenance.”

    Maybe OK on these:

    MemoryDiagnostic \ ProcessMemoryDiagnosticEvents
    MemoryDiagnostic \ RunFullMemoryDiagnostic

    “Schedules a memory diagnostic in response to system events.”

    Then a concern here for these two:

    Disk Cleanup: I KNOW this removes some TEMP files that are worth keeping from Adobe, etc.

    Servicing: StartComponentCleanup

    That also may well be OK. Worth asking.

    Got a trusted site or reviewer to check for the state of these or care to discuss here?

     

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    • #2321215

      Collects program telemetry

      Your choice.

      SSD should NEVER have CHKDSK run

      Not true, SSDs may need CHKDSK. Leave that one alone.

      Diagnosis \ Scheduled:

      Not running this will clog up your disk. Leave.

      MemoryDiagnostic

      If I had an error I would want Windows to run diags automatically. Leave.

      Disk Cleanup

      Nothing to do with Adobe, just a regular clean up. Leave.

      StartComponentCleanup

      Windows tidying up things that sometimes go wrong. Leave.

      cheers, Paul

    • #2321218

      Thanks, Paul Are you totally confident in those replies?

      For example:

      Disk Cleanup

      Nothing to do with Adobe, just a regular clean up. Leave.

      Not true. I monitor all my temp directories and this DOES remove some entries  that validate licenses, etc especially with Adobe. For sure.

      As to the telemetry being “my choice”, why should the be enabled if opted out? Must be a valid argument either way that they now do nothing and consume no resources or M’soft should have disabled them when I opted out or….?

      And is there no controversy with CHKDSK and SSD’s?

      I do appreciate the replies, I just like to know more before I disable or leave things in tasks and services. I’m confident with my services choices, just not so much on these in tasks.

    • #2321219

      If Adobe are storing licenses in places Windows cleans up, you should complain to Adobe.

      If you have opted out then nothing will be sent.
      If your machine crashes, Windows will collect crash data and offer to send it to MS. If you disable those tasks the send may fail.

      There is no controversy over CHKDSK. It is part of your toolkit to fix Windows errors.
      There is some discussion over whether to run it with the “/r” switch, which comes down to personal preference.

      cheers, Paul

    • #2321284

      Thanks Paul.

      This search started as my TEMP files get wiped out once or twice a month. i should note the periodicity, but have not. Never happens on Win 7. Consistent on Win 10. So I set to see what might be running on Win 10 Tasks to do this. And what other tasks might not be needed.

      Adobe has, for at least since CS6 (10 years?) kept a bunch of info in both Windows/Temp and Appdata/Local/Temp. It is the results of validating licenses on Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, etc. Acrobat has a folder there. Adobe downloads.

      Wacom has a file showing licensed there. Photoshop crashes (incredibly rare) stores info there. A program I use called Secure Netterm has a log there useful to its running.

      Most if not all rebuild. Faster and gives me more confidence not to delete them. They take little space. I have never seen them purged before unless I chose to do it manually. So it surprised me some task would make the choice what is not needed in the Temp folders.

      So I asked.

      Noted on chkdsk.

      Thanks. Will keep the recommendeds.

    • #2321288

      Temp directories are for temporary files. Anyone storing things there long term is asking for trouble.

      cheers, Paul

    • #2323148

      Interesting that Susan says in today’s newsletter:

      That’s great, but I recommend that you do not run chkdsk on an SSD, in general. In my opinion, an SSD is one of those devices that either work as they should or suffer a failure severe enough to warrant replacement. There’s no real in-between that chkdsk might help. When I move my computers to SSDs, I no longer check event logs for warnings of a drive failure; I simply plan for a drive failure.

      Right hand left hand?

      Great example of why it is so hard to find answers to issues. What is the AW consensus on this one now?

      And just since I am here and typing, I spent the better part of today trying to find why Win 10  deletes manual restore points by itself. Many users with the issue. Many experts with different root causes. Still trying things to find out. MIGHT be the DiskCleanup task and might not be. Cannot confirm if this can delete restore points or not. Will know that one tomorrow.

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      • #2323181

        What is the AW consensus on this one now?

        I’m not sure there is one. See the chkdsk thread.

        cheers, Paul

      • #2323390

        I honestly don’t run chkdsk anymore.  Tech is often one of those “this is what I have experience with and what works for me”.  I have SSD’s in nearly everything (except some storage servers) so I honestly don’t run chkdsk anymore.

        Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

        • #2323391

          P.S. if I think I drive needs repairing… I’m replacing it.

          Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

    • #2323153

      If Adobe are storing licenses in places Windows cleans up, you should complain to Adobe.

      If you have opted out then nothing will be sent.
      If your machine crashes, Windows will collect crash data and offer to send it to MS. If you disable those tasks the send may fail.

      There is no controversy over CHKDSK. It is part of your toolkit to fix Windows errors.
      There is some discussion over whether to run it with the “/r” switch, which comes down to personal preference.

      cheers, Paul

      Actually Adobe does not store “licenses” in temp, but license checks, download logs, update checks etc. In Win 7 right now I have 23 folders and 24 files outside those folders. Most there for long periods of time. A handful Adobe. I agree that anything in temp should be able to be deleted and I’ll bet these can. But some are useful and do no harm leaving them there. Maybe even speed a few things up. So that is why it bothers me Win 10 will purge wholesale.

      As to CHKDSK, see my other post from tonight in this thread.

    • #2323406

      I honestly don’t run chkdsk anymore.  Tech is often one of those “this is what I have experience with and what works for me”.  I have SSD’s in nearly everything (except some storage servers) so I honestly don’t run chkdsk anymore.

      Thanks. So have you disabled the CHKDSK task? If not, you might be running chkdsk every day.

      • #2323579

        Letting Windows manage your disk includes leaving that service enabled.

        Running chkdsk manually is probably never required unless you have specific issues.

        cheers, Paul

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