Hello Experts,

Is it just my configuration or is it linux that it takes a couple of seconds to launch applications in either KDE or GNOME. Why is it slow and how can I (if any) twik it to make my programs launch faster? In MS Windows, it takes less than a second (for most of the programs) to launch an application.

Also another problem is that I ocassionaly run into cases where I can't close an application (ie. CD player)...what's up with that and how can I kill it and will the kill command does the job?

Thanks in advance.

One thing you might want to try is to disable any uneeded services from starting:

In Red Hat, Mandrake etc etc - su to Root user appropriately - then to check what services are set to start in Run level 5 use:

chkconfig --list | grep 5:on

To stop a service from starting on boot up do ( for example )

chkconfig httpd off

(to stop apache from starting in levels 2,3,4,5)

(same "syntax" applies for stopping other services from starting)

For Slackware - as Root user, cd into /etc/rc.d and do (for example)

chmod a-x rc.sendmail

(same "syntax" for other "services")

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Lighter Window Managers are also something to consider - maybe Flux or IceWM?

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Or as a good starting point - a fast distribution like Slackware 9.1 or Vector 4?

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You can always use

xkill

to kill GUI apps.

in KDE you can press CRTL-ALT-ESC to run xkill. Your cursor turns into a skull and cross bones and will destroy whatever you click on.

Thank you...I'll give your tips a try.