ProExplorer CPU usage & system processes (XP pro)

Topic

New Reply

Dear loungers,

Can anyone explain why Explorer.exe takes up so much CPU time when I load. My machine isn’t new but is 1 Gbyte clock speed and has 256 memory so I think it should be adequate. It will show as taking between 80 – 99% CPU for a good 4 -6 minutes on loading my account… what on earth is it doing? I regularly do virus checks, clear temporary files and optimise the discs; I have plenty of spare disc space – 2 * 80 Gbytes arranges with programs on the boot disc and data on the secondary disc. Any recommendations?

Also is there a good book/site which lists and defines the system processes; I want to understand what is loaded and why and remove it if unnecessary

happy new year to all loungers and many thanks………………………… liz

Reply | Quote

Replies

Although WinXP is supposed to run on 128Mb RAM, I would suggest that you try adding more memory. Most users find a comfort zone starting at 512Mb – although I have had a fairly smooth performance at 320Mb. I take it that you are not suffering from excessive slowness, but that you are simply concerned that so much CPU is being used.

Edited to add; there’s a detailed discussion of all the processes that Windows runs by default in the thread starting at post 324336. While it is true that a number of applications may install superfluous processes, WinXP does run a large number of processes itself which should not be disabled. This is a significant contributer to the great hunger it has for RAM. HTH

Reply | Quote

Although WinXP is supposed to run on 128Mb RAM, I would suggest that you try adding more memory. Most users find a comfort zone starting at 512Mb – although I have had a fairly smooth performance at 320Mb. I take it that you are not suffering from excessive slowness, but that you are simply concerned that so much CPU is being used.

Edited to add; there’s a detailed discussion of all the processes that Windows runs by default in the thread starting at post 324336. While it is true that a number of applications may install superfluous processes, WinXP does run a large number of processes itself which should not be disabled. This is a significant contributer to the great hunger it has for RAM. HTH

Reply | Quote

Click on Start – Run and enter msconfig. On the Startup tab, do you see a lot of items? I would guess that you have something that is sucking up resources in that list.

A few Lounge favourites for tracking startup processes are:

• Pac’s Portal and
• The TASK List[/list]Post back with any other questions, or of course if this does not help resolve the problem.

Reply | Quote

Click on Start – Run and enter msconfig. On the Startup tab, do you see a lot of items? I would guess that you have something that is sucking up resources in that list.

A few Lounge favourites for tracking startup processes are:

• Pac’s Portal and
• The TASK List[/list]Post back with any other questions, or of course if this does not help resolve the problem.

Reply | Quote

This site is in the thread Unk just liknked you to but I want to add it because it has a number of helpful references including his colorful helpful process:

Optimize Windows and Tweak Your Way To A Faster PC by Black Viper

Black Viper’s XP Services Reference

Ask BV FAQ

Notice his advice that if you can turn off a service that you don’t need by going to Windows Key +R or Start>Run>Services.msc>to turn off a service you don’t need it may be more effective than unchecking the item in the msconfig utility because some of the items shown in the msconfig utility that cause processes to run may come from as many as a dozen sources.

Mark thanks for The Task List.

SMBP

Reply | Quote

This site is in the thread Unk just liknked you to but I want to add it because it has a number of helpful references including his colorful helpful process:

Optimize Windows and Tweak Your Way To A Faster PC by Black Viper

Black Viper’s XP Services Reference

Ask BV FAQ

Notice his advice that if you can turn off a service that you don’t need by going to Windows Key +R or Start>Run>Services.msc>to turn off a service you don’t need it may be more effective than unchecking the item in the msconfig utility because some of the items shown in the msconfig utility that cause processes to run may come from as many as a dozen sources.

Mark thanks for The Task List.

SMBP

Reply | Quote