what processes can i safely remove from windows task manager?

[bhome83]

ok, so i would like to see if i could speed my computer up a little, and was wondering which of these processes (see attachment) i can safely remove from having run in the background while im playing around on my computer. Is there someone i can find out what each of these processes are? also, when it says cpu usage 6% does this mean that of the 512mb of ram i have, ONLY 6% is being used? also, on the next line it says 'commit charge.' what does this mean? and finally, when i have itunes open it shows it as using over 30,000K memory usage. isn't that a lot for an idle program im not currently using? thanks guys!

[law99]

Maybe this is what you are wanting. I did the Safe list, no problems.

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

CPU Central Proccessor Unit & ram Memory are two different parts installed on the Motherboard.
Les

[Fatality]

These are some that are unnecessary to have running in the background and are safe to end(in my personal experience.)

GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
qttask.exe
alg.exe
AcroRd32.exe


If you don't care about useless security programs running in the back you can safely end these. (Most of these can be reopened again)

DkService.exe
Ad-Watch.exe
avgemc.exe
avgupsvc.exe
avgcc.exe
avgamsvr.exe
avgas.exe
guard.exe

These are some I am unsure about what they are but if you know, you can probably end them safely. Anything I don't list I know you need running or I just missed it .

MsPMSPSv.exe
iPodService.exe


Also, if you are not using iTunes, simply close it...

[Panama Red]

Use Black Viper's list (linked by law99 above) to control your Services and use the following link to control Start Up programs.

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Quick way to Services is Run>services.msc. Quick way to Startup is Run>msconfig>Startup tab.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by bhome83 also, when it says cpu usage 6% does this mean that of the 512mb of ram i have, ONLY 6% is being used?

No, it means only 6% of the CPU is being used.

Originally Posted by bhome83 also, on the next line it says 'commit charge.' what does this mean?

Commit Charge.

Originally Posted by bhome83 and finally, when i have itunes open it shows it as using over 30,000K memory usage. isn't that a lot for an idle program im not currently using?

No, because even if it's not being "used" it's still loading into memory and that must be how much memory ITunes uses.

Watch the Page File Usage History and if your system is using the Page File a lot you'll want to add more physical RAM to your motherboard. The Page File is space on your hard drive set aside by Windows to be used like RAM...the more Windows goes to the Page File the less efficient your computer is. This is because the hard drive is way slower than RAM when it comes to Windows accessing and working from it. Adding more physical RAM to your system reduces the Page File usage and increases it's efficiency and this will improve system performance.

Read this web page for more Page File/Virtual Memory information.

Cricket

[bhome83]

hey guys, thanks for this info! will browse through some of it to get a better grasp on the stuff running in the background on my computer. How big of a difference will there be if i add another 512mb or RAM to my already 512MB of ram? I might just add 1 gb more, because i like doing alot of multitasking. Will there be a BIG noticeable difference? thanks.

[Fatality]

Very big.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by bhome83 How big of a difference will there be if i add another 512mb or RAM to my already 512MB of ram? I might just add 1 gb more, because i like doing alot of multitasking. Will there be a BIG noticeable difference?

If your computer is going to the swap/page file a lot now, adding more RAM will make a noticable difference. But if your computer isn't going to the swap/page file much then you won't notice much. But if you like to have lots of programs open at the same time your computer is probably going to the swap/page file a lot with only 512MB of RAM. Did you check the Page File Usage History yet?

Cricket