Computer wizards inside please.

[Nemisis8u]

I was looking over some stuff about my computer and noticed that 41% of memory is being used up, and im not even running anyhing. How come so much and is there a way to decrease the amount of memory used. I already removed everything from startup. Also how can I identify useless processes and how do I make them go away? Finally what do you guys use for spyware removal, I have adaware but it seems that it is not doing its job.

[saadie]

in windows XP there are alot of useless processes running .......

identifying them is yer job cuz noone knows what u got loaded on ur system ....

to end a process ....press ctlr+alt+delete ..... goto processes ... select a

Process ...then press the End Proces button

and btw ... if u end a necessary process tht is used to run windows ... say by by

and restart yer system ......

if u want to know what process is used for what purpose ......... end tht

process ..and see what happens ..... :D

and one more thing .... when u login to uour user ... ure using windows as an

application software ......... so dont worry and try anything u want ......... ( thats the reason for XP being the most stable windoze ) :twisted:

[Nemisis8u]

Also, from run->msconfig I can see all the "services" and i have a whole shitload of them, some running and others not, are there any that are vital?

[mhn3773]

u want to keep ur system tray running that has like ur quick links in it some progys use that..if u have a keyboard that has a volume or hotlink buttons on it u want to leave that running..anything else im prety sure u can turn off..i have only 2 things aside from explorer that start on start up

all that other stuff if just crap unless its a specific program u NEED to run on start up...firewalls stuff like that

[DTM8]

Actually, 41% of memory used up when you are not running anything is normal (unless you have more than 512mb of ram on your computer). The OS itself uses alot of memory. :twisted:

What you can do (but do carefully!!) is the following::

Start ---> Run ---> regedit ---> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run

Once you get into the Run folder, look carefully at things that you dont want to appear on your system tray because that uses up memory. If you want to delete something that you know you dont need, delete it (but be careful, because you may delete the wrong thing).

As for MSCONFIG, check it out, especially the last tab (I think), because that tells you all the programs that you are running as well at CTRL-ALT-DEL which is already posted.

Some programs (such as norton antivirus or some shit like that) has an option for you to close it from the tray bar so it dosent start up.

Holp this helps :D

[jasc]

Things you can safely kill in the Startup or Services tab of msconfig:
- Wireless Zero Configuration*
- Uninterruptible Power Supply*
- Print[er] spooler*
- Task Scheduler

* if you don't have any of this stuff

Use StartPro to remove these:
- cftmon
- loadqm
- findfast (office garbage)
-systray (this is only the volume thing)
-any ATI garbage

[T-Bird]

you need help go to this site: http://www.blackviper.com/

[DTM8]

oh yea, forgot to say.

I use "Spyware search and Destroy" to delete all that spyware/adware, etc... Works good.

[jasc]

^^ Spybot?

[RC45]

I was looking over some stuff about my computer and noticed that 41% of memory is being used up, and im not even running anyhing. How come so much and is there a way to decrease the amount of memory used. I already removed everything from startup. Also how can I identify useless processes and how do I make them go away? Finally what do you guys use for spyware removal, I have adaware but it seems that it is not doing its job.

Ok - now that all the yokels have been by, lets offer you some proper support.

How much memory does your system have?

Fire up Task Manager, and look at the Performance Tab - what is the Total, available and System Cache shown in the Physical memory section?

In the Commit Charge section, what is the Total Limit and Peak memory usage?

Now flip over to the Processes tab - now go to the View menu and add the following columns to the display:

Mem Usage
Peak Mem Usage
Mem Delta

Click the column header to sort (ascending or descending) and see what processes are the top memory users, the peak memory users and the ones with the most constant change in memory usage.

Take note of these processes, and if you don't know what they are - search Google and read up about them - determine if they are critical system processes, voluntary programs you can do without - or unwanted spyware clogging your system

As with any problem solving - I am amazed at how anyone can offer solution advice without first having diagnosis data... *shrug*

Once you have gathered this info - you will be able to tackle the job of freeing up your memory - which you can accomplish 1 of 2 ways:

First - try determine the few critical processes you need and kill the rest - hopefully able to get by with a minimal GUI menu system hat will not be able to do much... ;)

or Second - buy more fargin RAM.... ;)

[Nemisis8u]

Thnx a lot :D. Now when I look at it it would be much easier for me to just format my computer. But before that, I have to back up almost 20 gigs of vids :shock:

[RC45]

Thnx a lot :D. Now when I look at it it would be much easier for me to just format my computer. But before that, I have to back up almost 20 gigs of vids :shock:

Don't believe that "windows needs to be reformated" shit that the yokals tell you.... you could probably count the number of times a reformat was needed on 1 finger... seriously - don't loose your data becaue of hearsay and urban legends.

How much RAM does your system have?

[DTM8]

Ok - now that all the yokels have been by, lets offer you some proper support.



hey now, I just gave some pretty legitimate information :|
I am assuming that Nemisis has already figured out his problem, and just simply wanted to free some physical memory.


I use "Spyware search and Destroy" to delete all that spyware/adware, etc... Works good.


Sorry about that, I mean "Spybot"

[RC45]

hey now, I just gave some pretty legitimate information :|
I am assuming that Nemisis has already figured out his problem, and just simply wanted to free some physical memory

I never said there was anything wrong or incorrect with the information given - it was all factual and based on reality - it just did not do anything to help diagnose the problem at hand and provide a solution... ;)

Didn't mean to appear so harsh - however, as I have noted before - I am a "cleanup specialist" - the guy that gets called when all else appears to have failed and everything is lost - but 99.9% of the time that is not the case....

The problem was just not correctly identified and the correct solution provided.

In my line of work I witness many times that although great effort has been made to provide accurate and truthful information with regard to solving the IT problem at hand - it is often the incorrect information for effectively diagnosing and solving the CURRENT problem. :P

Perhaps my bedside manner is too honest... ;)

[Nemisis8u]

How much RAM does your system have?

I have 256 rambus, I think. It just easier for me to format it becasue some of the software that I want to use does not work any more, dont ask me why, but it worked before. I already tried reinstalling it but just got more errors. Basically my computer is slowly going to shit.

[RC45]

How much RAM does your system have?

I have 256 rambus, I think. It just easier for me to format it becasue some of the software that I want to use does not work any more, dont ask me why, but it worked before. I already tried reinstalling it but just got more errors. Basically my computer is slowly going to shit.

Last time I am offering free consulting... ;)

Upgrade to 512mb at least. Don't argue - just do it... :P

Now - I am typing really slowly right now so you can keep up ----

There is no need to "reformat" - which would result in you losing all your data just to "fix the slow system"...

Simply install a fresh copy og Windows/Windows NT/ Windows 2000/ WIndows XP (what ever your preferred poison) into a new directory... naming is for example x:\Windows2 or x:\WINNT2 or some such...

Then when you are all done - simply delete the original x:\Windows or x:\WINNT or what ever your ORIGINAL Windows directory was... and then reinstall all your software (at this point I would also recommend that anything you install, goes to a x:\APPS directory and NOT to x:\Program Files)

...and "Hey Presto..." - no lost data...

Some prep work you may want to do is just before you re-install (without reformatting remember) - create a new user account, make it an Administrator - and goto C:\Documents and Settings\ and either save files you may have been dumb enough (again with my friendly bedside manner.. ;)) to "save" to "My Documents"... for any users you logged on with - and then be sure to delete ALL the locally cached profiles for the rest of the users - that will make sure that after you reinstall and logon on the default users won't inherit all that old HKEY_CURRENT_USER crap...


Because - believe it or not - when some dumba$$ at the computer store recommends you "reformat and reinstall" all they are really trying to accomplish is recreate the user and machine registry hives...

...but if you are hell bent on formatting your hard drive - go ahead... just be sure to NOT back anything up - that way you lose all your data and get proper value for your format... ;)

[Nemisis8u]

Thanks for the help. I will definitely try what you have suggested. The formatting idea has been at the back of my head for a while now its not a new thing I've been delaying it for ever now simply because I don't want to go through the hassle of backing stuff up like e-mail's, music, videos, etc.

[RC45]

Thanks for the help. I will definitely try what you have suggested. The formatting idea has been at the back of my head for a while now its not a new thing I've been delaying it for ever now simply because I don't want to go through the hassle of backing stuff up like e-mail's, music, videos, etc.

You are welcome.. ;)

I just hate seeing people lose data and go through hell etc just because of urban legends about how to fix things...

Good luck...

[he7lius]

If your going to format your hard disk try and partition it so next time u need to format it u just transfer everything to one of the other partitions and only format C drive.
I have 80Gb into 6 partitions
C: System 10 GB = where i have Windows XP, anti-virus, Firewall
D: Programs 10 GB = all other software, like office, Photoshop, etc
E: Games 20Gb = just for games
F: Music 10 GB = only MP3's
G: Videos 20Gb = only vids, top gear, movies, etc
H: Share 10Gb = this is where i have kazaa, and bit torrent, and all the file i share and download to.

I usually do virus scan, scandisk and defragment every month on all the drives expect the H: Share as this one is always with stuff to download and delete. It does take a few hours but just do it when you’re not at home.
My system with this maintenance goes on for more than a year with no problems or crash's at all. :D :D :D

If u don't know to partition it use fdisk and search for the instructions on the web.
Just be very very careful when using it as it will erase all the data u have on the disk.

This is good because the next time your Operating System starts going funny u just need to format C: and everything else is safe :D

Hope it helps.