I try to use the windows task manager and COMODO Internet Security's task manager to close programs that aren't windows required. Which means i can only usually reduce the number of running programs from anywhere around 65-69 down to 49-52. I could be missing some though.
I think i could close a couple of others that are from my hardware and windows, without causing harm just as long as I restart the computer before i try and do anything else. Those would be the Synaptics Touchpad thing, [i have a wireless mouse], Windows Defender (i usually disconnect from the internet because i can't use it when running tg2), whatever SeaPort.exe is, something for my sound card, search indexer, and i attempt to kill wmpnscfg.exe and wmpnetwk.exe but they usually just come right back up. I turn CIS to disabled for everything because nothing should start up when all the computer is doing is terragen 2. If any of you think this would be a safe bet to terminate when using tg2 tell me please, i'll terminate them the next time i use tg2.