I'm running Windows 7 64 bit and as always, seems over the years to accumulate more and more processes running when I look through task manager.  I'm not running about 90.  I have ESET anti-virus which is up-to-date and finds no infections, so I don't think these are viruses.  However, I have a feeling many are "bundle ware" where I fail to see and uncheck the box to install the Bing bar or whatever (ok, I know it's not Bing because I actually saw that one).

 

Is anybody able to point me to a guide or software to get started identifying some of these processes and perhaps getting ride of them?

Start with this program to identify which processes are running.  Will even show hidden processes.  

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

I do these all the time and there is to many processors to tell you which one is good to shut off, so the best way is:

 

1-run msconfig in Windows Vista or W7 in the search menu (if XP then in "Run")

2-you will see multiple tabs, go to "startup".  You can run any of these processors off, so go through them and uncheck like Adobe. Apple products, HP, Dell......anything that you feel that doesnt need to run at start up.  If unsure, just google it.

3-go to the "service" tab and from there check "hide all Microsoft services"

4-be careful on this one......I leave any antivirus or malware programs running, all with printers, Bonjour, Flexnet license service, graphics, and or soundcards. Once your happy hit apply and restart your computer. 

 

Notes: if a program doesn't work anymore, it maybe due to you shutting this processor off and will need to go back into msconfig and look for this processor and restarting it.

 

  Hope this helps

 

 

   If you haven't cleaned out your computer before download the following:

cceaner: http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/    (the download tab is top right called "download latest version". There will be four tabs, so on the cleaner tab just hit run cleaner.....this cleans out temp files from the internet.   Then on the registry tab hit scan issues and then follow the instructions 

 

Then from there you should use several tools to clean out adware and malware ....etc:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/windows/     Download "Adware" and run it.  Once the scan is done press clean and then it will restart your computer

 

  I would also down load Malwarebytes from the same link above (dont check Pro version when installing it).  Malwarebytes does Trojans, malware, spyware....etc