Hi SeniorNovice,
It sound like it would be easier to do that in SAFE MODE instead, and just close all your running programs. Would not mess with system processes. Did you do a clean install? To find out what the processes are in Task manager, right click the process & click "GO TO SERVICE". This will highlight the service running that process in the SERVICES tab in Task manager. Here's a link that explains all the services in Vista:
http://www.speedyvista.com/services.html
Hope this helps you,
Shawn
I agree with Ronnie. I must of been asleep to have missed that.