There is that need... Often, I am in a crunch to get a project out and oopps! - MS or someones underware has eaten up the processor, or lucallback has torpedoed my chances for making a deadline - or eny one of a dozen other processes that decide it "needs to check RIGHT NOW if it needs to update the software!" I often run a program called EndItAll to clean out the system before doing a compile or something. I have also been known to diconnect the network cable. - Note- I try to keep the adware, etc down AMAP. AND - do I really need ituneshelper in the system when I'm in desparate need of all the processor I can get?