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Processes ?

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Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 06:35:39 Pacific
OS: XP Home SP2
CPU/Ram: 3.2 ghz / 2 gig ram
Product: Home built
Comment:

Just bought a new laptop that came with Vista Home Premium. There are 78 processes running and cpu usage is running at 50%. Is 78 processes normal for vista? Seems awfully high to me considering my xp machine only has 36. I have not yet installed anything on it.

My laptop is a dual core with 2gig ram.


Brian



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Response Number 1
Name: XpUser
Date: February 10, 2007 at 06:54:47 Pacific
+1
Reply:

My daughter just bought a desktop with Home Premium. She has 51 processes with only one installed program - NIS 2007. I would think the extra processes is for laptop battery, WLAN, etc?

i_XpUser



Response Number 2
Name: blackbill
Date: February 10, 2007 at 07:34:24 Pacific
+1
Reply:

I'm on a desktop with a fair few programs installed.... 52 processes and cpu at relitive idle is between 2% and about 18%. So I would think XPUSER is on the right track.... must be unique to laptops.



Response Number 3
Name: XpUser
Date: February 10, 2007 at 07:39:15 Pacific
+1
Reply:

I also think Vista Aero and its sidebar gadgets takes up a lot of processes and make the OS resource hog. I got an idea. Why don't we right-click desktop > personalize. Switch theme to something else that isn't Aero-related. See how many processes will be running after reboot.

i_XpUser



Response Number 4
Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:02:01 Pacific
+1
Reply:

I turned off the Aero stuff and still running 73 processes. Cpu usage is jumping around the 5% to 15% range.

Brian



Response Number 5
Name: XpUser
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:06:30 Pacific
+1
Reply:

I have the same fluctuation (normal for Vista who knows??? and don't forget that this latest OS is more dynamic than XP)

Are you running the Gadgets sidebar?

i_XpUser



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Response Number 6
Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:11:19 Pacific
+1
Reply:

I was but I turned it off to see if how much the processes dropped.

Brian



Response Number 7
Name: XpUser
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:15:52 Pacific
+1
Reply:

The fluctuation is definitely linked to the sidebar gadgets. I kept watching the Task Manager to better understand the processes correlation.

i_XpUser



Response Number 8
Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:16:53 Pacific
+1
Reply:

I turned the sidebar gadgets back on and now its up to 75 processes running.

Brian



Response Number 9
Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:17:57 Pacific
+1
Reply:

Where is the run? Like in other windows where you type in msconfig?

Brian



Response Number 10
Name: XpUser
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:22:29 Pacific
+1
Reply:

OK I don't think this should be a matter of concern. I do know that Vista learned the many mistakes & weak links of XP to be a better OS. Vista also handles memory resources better. In other words if you are not running any application the gadgets like to roam but if you are using some sort of memory-intensive like graphics Vista reallocate the memories from the gadgets.

i_XpUser



Response Number 11
Name: mattie
Date: February 10, 2007 at 08:37:55 Pacific
+1
Reply:

when i boot my laptop into XP, i have 18 processes running (incl. 3rd party firewall and virtualization software) using 115 MB ram ... leaving over 1900 MB of physical memory for my applications to go mad.

c'mon, Vista, beat THAT! :-)

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'



Response Number 12
Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 09:02:39 Pacific
+1
Reply:

Wow 18 processes! I can't get mine below 73. Don't really know why as there isn't that much in msconfig startup (by the way vista moved the "run" to assecories not in the start menu anymore). I been removing pre-installed programs all morning. I just rebooted it and still have 76 processes running.

13 processes are McAfee
12 svchost.exe running

Not sure how many processes are needed or the side bar

I need to do some research on what all the others are and if they are needed.

The computer seems to be running smooth. Its pretty fast booting up, lot faster than my desktop.

Brian



Response Number 13
Name: mattie
Date: February 10, 2007 at 09:04:36 Pacific
+1
Reply:

oh and: Hey XpUser ...

Vista AND nis 2007 on your daughters laptop? something gone hayward in your household? LOL

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'



Response Number 14
Name: mattie
Date: February 10, 2007 at 09:07:51 Pacific
+1
Reply:

read carefully ... i said when i boot into 'XP'

i couldn't be a**ed to install McAfee, and 4 of the 18 processes are SVCHOST.exe

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'



Response Number 15
Name: mattie
Date: February 10, 2007 at 09:11:36 Pacific
+1
Reply:

here's vista service tweak guide:

http://www.errorforum.com/microsoft...

use autoruns to disable unwanted stuff in your system startup.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sy...

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'



Response Number 16
Name: mattie
Date: February 10, 2007 at 10:03:40 Pacific
+1
Reply:

"something gone hayward" ... should read haywire

note to self: remove old pinup from locker door :-)

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'



Response Number 17
Name: Sabertooth
Date: February 10, 2007 at 12:08:05 Pacific
+1
Reply:

Make sure you have task manager - "show"ing processes from all users, that way you can see all the processes, including the those "user" type that's hogging CPU usage, but with things like McAfee and who knows whatelse - similar to that - you can't claim too much unawareness there, can you?

However, the point is not to be arbitrarily scouting for stuff to nuke - just the ones that might make a positive difference & won't be at the expense of your machine's integrity.

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way



Response Number 18
Name: bmeek
Date: February 10, 2007 at 12:21:12 Pacific
+1
Reply:

The performance of my laptop is good so for now I'm going to leave it alone.

Now if I can just figure out my other problem as in my other post after this one.

Brian



Response Number 19
Name: bmeek
Date: February 11, 2007 at 06:32:18 Pacific
+1
Reply:

Just an update, I removed McAfee and installed Kaspersky and now have 66 processes running. McAfe is awefull.

Brian



Response Number 20
Name: mattie
Date: February 11, 2007 at 06:43:33 Pacific
+1
Reply:

TMSIDK :-)

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'



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