Personally, I read more sensible "Quick Start" guides and then only skim those to get key points. The way I use software is usually different than that envisioned by designers and even other users, so it really only makes sense to look up stuff when troubleshooting.

If I read manual for my digital watch, my cell phone, my two-line digital cordless phone, my PDA, my printer and my ebook, I'd never use them for lack of time. What do I need to know more about my software for if it is serving it's purpose? What I need is for everything to be a hosted app on web and universally accessible wirelessly with built-in voice recognition troubleshooting software.

That way I could just say "Diagnose error" and it would fix itself. I don't care HOW it works, just THAT it work. If it isn't relevant to me, it isn't relevant.

You are not only one that collects and tries programs to see if you will like them, or if they will Magically change way you use your Puter. The New Year is best time I can think of to Clean House. Well, anytime is good but this is best excuse I can think of.

This may be oversimplified but let's bypass tech Speak. A couple of things happen when you install programs. First, they sit on your hard drive taking up space, and they have installed files to your "Registry". Also probably some DLL's (these are little files needed for Windows to make programs run) in your system.ini.

So what is a DLL? Dynamic Link Library file. These go in a Windows initializing file called "system.ini". INI for Initialization File. When Windows starts it looks at "system.ini to see what programs have to be available so they will start when you want to use them.

Windows also reads Registry to see what programs are on your Puter and what it has to do to make them work. OH, Windows also reads your Startup Folder to see what has to start automatically and hide in background. Also "msconfig" to place all these programs in your "Startup".

There are a lot more things happen but let's just look at these items to see how they effect your system. Yeah, I thought same thing. "I never use them and I have plenty of room on my hard drive so why bother removing them?"