system performance issues
I am using Windows XP OS with service pack 2. I have 512 mb of ram. I notice that my system seems quite slow of late. On checking my system processes I note that I have over 50 processes running and that the first 5 are using up about 20% of my ram. Is there anything I could do to reduce these processes, i.e. is there a maximum number that should be running at any one time? How do I do this and are there any of the first 5 that I should get rid of? I have included a screen capture of the task manager
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Brian :confused:
System Performance issues
Thank you SuperSparks and Welshjim for your prompt replies.
I am reluctant to get involved with anything to do with changes to Services or editing the registry as I fear creating bigger problems than I already have. I refer to the following caveat in the XP Services guide “Changing services settings can be just as dangerous as editing the registry”.
In regards to your valid comment Welshjim on the general subject of computer slow down, I did many searches on various forums prior to posting my thread, but I suspect I didn’t use the proper terminology. I didn’t find anything close to what I was looking for. I appreciate your comment and understand where you are coming from. I also didn’t post my original query in the right forum, so this was no doubt part of my problem.
That said I would appreciate some info on the System Configuration utility and how to use it. Will it allow me to get rid of the processes which I do not need?
I have cleaned out temporary Internet files and Temp files as well as having run Error Checking and Defrag a day ago. I also have used Spybot. I note that there are some ads on VirtualDr that offer free scans and repair services for Registry errors and I am wondering if these are safe to use.
Once again thanks for your help,
Brian
system performance issues
Thanks to all of you for your help. I was able to remove the startup items using msconfig as per the instructions in the references you sent me. I was able to remove over 10 of them and it certainly appears to have improved the performance of my system.
Your help is greatly appreciated and best regards for a healthy and Happy 2007.
Brian :)