Task manager help please

[pesty]

When I go into task manager there are a lot of preceses running around 35.

Now I take it these are running in the background and therefore are using memory and proccesing power?

The question is can I turn these processes off or do I need them? And if I can how do I ?

msconfig start up?

[Agent006]

I have 46 running, most of which are bits of windows. Not much to worry about really.

[jam1et]

If you're on winxp and you are looking under the processes tab (rather than applications) then thats not unusual as lots of processes are required to for windows to run. Many of them are processes that you may not require but unless you know what you're doing I'd leave them alone.

If however you're using win98 then these are applications running in the background and yes, you should get rid of some of them - although if this was the case your PC would probably have ground to a halt by now!

[FunkyNige]

Here is a list of programs in the task list and what they all do
Most are harmless, some run for no reason and take up memory (damn you Sapisvr.exe, damn you to hell), others are viruses, adware and spyware, etc.

[pesty]

Cheers guys.

I am on XP there are a few on there that seem to be taking a bit of memory for no reason. Realplay for example whatever that is. Just ended it and computer hasnt blown up yet. I will try and stop a few of them when pc starts up.

[WildfireS3]

If you want to disable some of these programmes run:

services.msc

Then modify the properties of each setting from Auto to Manual.

[pdV6]

pesty said:

Realplay for example whatever that is. Just ended it and computer hasnt blown up yet.

That would be RealPlayer - totally unnecessary unless you happen to want ot use it, so its ok to stop it.

pesty said:

I will try and stop a few of them when pc starts up.

Be careful what you decide to stop, though. Check them out online to find out what they are before doing it in case you get Windows into a state where it won't work properly!

[The DJ 27]

I can turn off every process that has your username next to it (i.e, not SYSTEM) with no ill effects. Don't turn of explorer though

[simpo two]

Hmm, I have 5 x 'svchost' running: 3 System, 1 local service and 1 network service...

[Roadrage]

simpo two said:

Hmm, I have 5 x 'svchost' running: 3 System, 1 local service and 1 network service...

svchost is a pain but its needed


svchost - svchost.exe - Process Information
Process File: svchost or svchost.exe
Process Name: Service Host Process
Description: Application that works as a host process for services that run from dynamic link libraries.
Company: Microsoft Corp.
System Process: Yes
Security Risk ( Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware ): No
Common Errors: N/A


but there a loot of shit in xp you can turn off.
thats nmot needed depending on what you need on the system.

[simpo two]

Thanks Roadrage, always good to hear from someone who knows these things!

Maybe one day they will design a version of Windows that only runs what it needs?