Low on Memory ?

[Guest]

Regularly whenever I am working on my laptop, I notice that intermittently my
desktop becomes background blue, all the icons on my desktop disappear, the
system tray becomes empty and then after 10 – 15 secs or more everything
comes back. I have loaded Google search sidebar and it shows the amount of
processor and the memory that I am continuously using. I was suspecting that
these symptoms are because explorer shuts off in between dues to inadequate
resources. Mostly my CPU is 2-8-34% in use and memory is 74-85% in use. The
lowest memory usage is always 65%. I have Toshiba satellite M 30, Intel
Pentium M 1.5GHz, 512 MB DDR RAM, and 60 GB 5400 rpm HDD. DMA enabled.
I am enclosing the task manager details outlining my processor and memory
consumptions. I realize that zone alarm pro consumes the maximum of my
processor and memory capacities, but I haven’t got a satisfactory solution
even from the help line from zone alarm guys and obviously I cannot shut off
zone alarm.

Here is the log file from procexp:

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 95.10
Interrupts n/a 0.98 Hardware Interrupts
DPCs n/a Deferred Procedure Calls
System 4
smss.exe 1216 Windows NT Session Manager Microsoft Corporation
csrss.exe 1280 Client Server Runtime Process Microsoft Corporation
winlogon.exe 1308 Windows NT Logon Application Microsoft Corporation
services.exe 1356 Services and Controller app Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1552 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
WINWORD.EXE 3176 Microsoft Office Word Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1592 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
svchost.exe 1864 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
svchost.exe 1892 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
CCSETMGR.EXE 580 Symantec Settings Manager Service Symantec Corporation
SNDSrvc.exe 600 Network Driver Service Symantec Corporation
SPBBCSvc.exe 692 SPBBC Service Symantec Corporation
CCEVTMGR.EXE 744 Symantec Event Manager Service Symantec Corporation
spoolsv.exe 876 Spooler SubSystem App Microsoft Corporation
schedul2.exe 968 Acronis Scheduler 2 Acronis
AluSchedulerSvc.exe 988 Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler
Service Symantec Corporation
BTNtService.exe 1012
CFSvcs.exe 1024 Service of ConfigFree. TOSHIBA CORPORATION
cisvc.exe 1064 Content Index service Microsoft Corporation
cidaemon.exe 3280 Indexing Service filter daemon Microsoft Corporation
DkService.exe 592 DKSERVICE.EXE Executive Software International, Inc.
MDM.EXE 1120 Machine Debug Manager Microsoft Corporation
NAVAPSVC.EXE 1288 Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service Symantec
Corporation
NPFMNTOR.EXE 1544 Norton AntiVirus Firewall Install Monitor Symantec
Corporation
nvsvc32.exe 1624 NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 45.62 NVIDIA
Corporation
WRSSSDK.exe 1784 Spy Sweeper SDK Webroot Software, Inc.
symlcsvc.exe 2120 Symantec Core Component Symantec Corporation
wdfmgr.exe 2152 Windows User Mode Driver Manager Microsoft Corporation
UAService7.exe 2188
vsmon.exe 2256 TrueVector Service Zone Labs, LLC
lsass.exe 1368 LSA Shell (Export Version) Microsoft Corporation
explorer.exe 5996 Windows Explorer Microsoft Corporation
procexp.exe 4728 2.94 Sysinternals Process Explorer Sysinternals
ctfmon.exe 2428 CTF Loader Microsoft Corporation
00THotkey.exe 2440 THotkey TOSHIBA Corp.
TFNF5.exe 2472 TFnF5 TOSHIBA Corp.
ltsmmsg.exe 2532 SoftModem Messaging Applet LT
TPSMain.exe 2540 TOSHIBA Corporation
TPSBattM.exe 2588 TOSHIBA Corporation
TFncKy.exe 2556 TFncKy TOSHIBA Corporation
CCAPP.EXE 2572 Symantec User Session Symantec Corporation
stacmon.exe 2580 SigmaTel Inc.
GoogleDesktop.exe 2608
GoogleDesktopIndex.exe 2680
GoogleDesktopDisplay.exe 2820
GoogleDesktopCrawl.exe 2848
GoogleDesktopMail.exe 3028
TrueImageMonitor.exe 2648 TrueImage Acronis
SpySweeper.exe 2692 Spy Sweeper Client Executable Webroot Software, Inc.
ima.exe 2700 LCD3 for Cranberry Publishing Ltd
zlclient.exe 2712 0.98 Zone Labs Client Zone Labs, LLC
wcescomm.exe 2804 ActiveSync Connection Manager Microsoft Corporation
msmsgs.exe 2856 Messenger Microsoft Corporation
OUTLOOK.EXE 2912 Microsoft Office Outlook Microsoft Corporation
HDDlifePro.exe 2988 HDDlife executable file BinarySense, Ltd.
Konfabulator.exe 3092 Konfabulator Yahoo, Inc.
Konfabulator.exe 3520 Konfabulator Yahoo, Inc.

Process: Procexp Pid: -2

Type Name

Thanks
Dr Alok Modi MD

 

[Phillips]

You are running too many programs for a 1.5GHz Pentium M and a 5400RPM HDD
to work acceptably fast; generally, unlike mid to high end desktops,
notebooks are slow unless the running software is reduced drastically. If
you have a corporate notebook, you might be required to run all that stuff -
norton, outlook, za pro.
Try to use Outlook Express instead of Outlook, uninstall all Norton - use
AVG free, use ZA free instead of ZA Pro, prevent Acronis from running all
the time, disable indexing services, get rid of Google toolbar, get rid of
Diskeeper Pro - use XP lite version of it, and Spysweeper - use MS
AntisSyware.
Of course, you can try not running some of the above one at a time (via
msconfig/startup, or HijackThis for ex) and see if you can improve speed. I
repeat, while all those apps would run smoothly on a decent desktop, on a
notebook they are a pain in the... CPU
Michael

 

[Harry Ohrn]

I'd suggest you remove the Google Desktop software - through Control
Panel->Add and Remove Programs and also disable Indexing Services - through
Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services->Indexing Services. Both of
these will be creating databases of all the files on your system and really
bog it down.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys for the help. Can increasing my RAM to 1 GB from 512 MB help me?
Dr Alok Modi MD

I'd suggest you remove the Google Desktop software - through Control
Panel->Add and Remove Programs and also disable Indexing Services - through
Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services->Indexing Services. Both of
these will be creating databases of all the files on your system and really
bog it down.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Regularly whenever I am working on my laptop, I notice that intermittently my
desktop becomes background blue, all the icons on my desktop disappear, the
system tray becomes empty and then after 10 - 15 secs or more everything
comes back. I have loaded Google search sidebar and it shows the amount of
processor and the memory that I am continuously using. I was suspecting that
these symptoms are because explorer shuts off in between dues to inadequate
resources. Mostly my CPU is 2-8-34% in use and memory is 74-85% in use. The
lowest memory usage is always 65%. I have Toshiba satellite M 30, Intel
Pentium M 1.5GHz, 512 MB DDR RAM, and 60 GB 5400 rpm HDD. DMA enabled.
I am enclosing the task manager details outlining my processor and memory
consumptions. I realize that zone alarm pro consumes the maximum of my
processor and memory capacities, but I haven't got a satisfactory solution
even from the help line from zone alarm guys and obviously I cannot shut off
zone alarm.

Here is the log file from procexp:

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 95.10
Interrupts n/a 0.98 Hardware Interrupts
DPCs n/a Deferred Procedure Calls
System 4
smss.exe 1216 Windows NT Session Manager Microsoft Corporation
csrss.exe 1280 Client Server Runtime Process Microsoft Corporation
winlogon.exe 1308 Windows NT Logon Application Microsoft Corporation
services.exe 1356 Services and Controller app Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1552 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
WINWORD.EXE 3176 Microsoft Office Word Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1592 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
svchost.exe 1864 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
svchost.exe 1892 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services Microsoft
Corporation
CCSETMGR.EXE 580 Symantec Settings Manager Service Symantec Corporation
SNDSrvc.exe 600 Network Driver Service Symantec Corporation
SPBBCSvc.exe 692 SPBBC Service Symantec Corporation
CCEVTMGR.EXE 744 Symantec Event Manager Service Symantec Corporation
spoolsv.exe 876 Spooler SubSystem App Microsoft Corporation
schedul2.exe 968 Acronis Scheduler 2 Acronis
AluSchedulerSvc.exe 988 Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler
Service Symantec Corporation
BTNtService.exe 1012
CFSvcs.exe 1024 Service of ConfigFree. TOSHIBA CORPORATION
cisvc.exe 1064 Content Index service Microsoft Corporation
cidaemon.exe 3280 Indexing Service filter daemon Microsoft Corporation
DkService.exe 592 DKSERVICE.EXE Executive Software International, Inc.
MDM.EXE 1120 Machine Debug Manager Microsoft Corporation
NAVAPSVC.EXE 1288 Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service Symantec
Corporation
NPFMNTOR.EXE 1544 Norton AntiVirus Firewall Install Monitor Symantec
Corporation
nvsvc32.exe 1624 NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 45.62 NVIDIA
Corporation
WRSSSDK.exe 1784 Spy Sweeper SDK Webroot Software, Inc.
symlcsvc.exe 2120 Symantec Core Component Symantec Corporation
wdfmgr.exe 2152 Windows User Mode Driver Manager Microsoft Corporation
UAService7.exe 2188
vsmon.exe 2256 TrueVector Service Zone Labs, LLC
lsass.exe 1368 LSA Shell (Export Version) Microsoft Corporation
explorer.exe 5996 Windows Explorer Microsoft Corporation
procexp.exe 4728 2.94 Sysinternals Process Explorer Sysinternals
ctfmon.exe 2428 CTF Loader Microsoft Corporation
00THotkey.exe 2440 THotkey TOSHIBA Corp.
TFNF5.exe 2472 TFnF5 TOSHIBA Corp.
ltsmmsg.exe 2532 SoftModem Messaging Applet LT
TPSMain.exe 2540 TOSHIBA Corporation
TPSBattM.exe 2588 TOSHIBA Corporation
TFncKy.exe 2556 TFncKy TOSHIBA Corporation
CCAPP.EXE 2572 Symantec User Session Symantec Corporation
stacmon.exe 2580 SigmaTel Inc.
GoogleDesktop.exe 2608
GoogleDesktopIndex.exe 2680
GoogleDesktopDisplay.exe 2820
GoogleDesktopCrawl.exe 2848
GoogleDesktopMail.exe 3028
TrueImageMonitor.exe 2648 TrueImage Acronis
SpySweeper.exe 2692 Spy Sweeper Client Executable Webroot Software, Inc.
ima.exe 2700 LCD3 for Cranberry Publishing Ltd
zlclient.exe 2712 0.98 Zone Labs Client Zone Labs, LLC
wcescomm.exe 2804 ActiveSync Connection Manager Microsoft Corporation
msmsgs.exe 2856 Messenger Microsoft Corporation
OUTLOOK.EXE 2912 Microsoft Office Outlook Microsoft Corporation
HDDlifePro.exe 2988 HDDlife executable file BinarySense, Ltd.
Konfabulator.exe 3092 Konfabulator Yahoo, Inc.
Konfabulator.exe 3520 Konfabulator Yahoo, Inc.

Process: Procexp Pid: -2

Type Name

Thanks
Dr Alok Modi MD

 

[Guest]

If I shut off indexing services of XP will I be able to search for file
using Start ----> Search?

Dr Alok Modi MD

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks guys for the help. Can increasing my RAM to 1 GB from 512 MB
help me? Dr Alok Modi MD

You get good performance if the amount of RAM you have keeps you from using
the page file, and that depends on what apps you run. Most people running a
typical range of business applications find that somewhere around 256-384MB
works well, others need 512MB. Almost anyone will see poor performance with
less than 256MB. Some people, particularly those doing things like editing
large photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more
than 512MB--sometimes much more.

If you are currently using the page file significantly, more memory will
decrease or eliminate that usage, and improve your performance. If you are
not using the page file significantly, more memory will do nothing for you.
Go to http://billsway.com/notes_public/winxp_tweaks/ and download
WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your pagefile usage. That should give you
a good idea of whether more memory can help, and if so, how much more.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

I'd suggest you remove the Google Desktop software - through Control
Panel->Add and Remove Programs and also disable Indexing Services -
through Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services->Indexing
Services. Both of these will be creating databases of all the files
on your system and really bog it down.

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Regularly whenever I am working on my laptop, I notice that
intermittently my desktop becomes background blue, all the icons on
my desktop disappear, the system tray becomes empty and then after
10 - 15 secs or more everything comes back. I have loaded Google
search sidebar and it shows the amount of processor and the memory
that I am continuously using. I was suspecting that these symptoms
are because explorer shuts off in between dues to inadequate
resources. Mostly my CPU is 2-8-34% in use and memory is 74-85% in
use. The lowest memory usage is always 65%. I have Toshiba
satellite M 30, Intel Pentium M 1.5GHz, 512 MB DDR RAM, and 60 GB
5400 rpm HDD. DMA enabled.
I am enclosing the task manager details outlining my processor and
memory consumptions. I realize that zone alarm pro consumes the
maximum of my processor and memory capacities, but I haven't got a
satisfactory solution even from the help line from zone alarm guys
and obviously I cannot shut off zone alarm.

Here is the log file from procexp:

Process PID CPU Description Company Name
System Idle Process 0 95.10
Interrupts n/a 0.98 Hardware Interrupts
DPCs n/a Deferred Procedure Calls
System 4
smss.exe 1216 Windows NT Session Manager Microsoft Corporation
csrss.exe 1280 Client Server Runtime Process Microsoft
Corporation winlogon.exe 1308 Windows NT Logon Application
Microsoft Corporation services.exe 1356 Services and Controller
app Microsoft Corporation svchost.exe 1552 Generic Host
Process for Win32 Services Microsoft Corporation
WINWORD.EXE 3176 Microsoft Office Word Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1592 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services
Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1864 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services
Microsoft Corporation
svchost.exe 1892 Generic Host Process for Win32 Services
Microsoft Corporation
CCSETMGR.EXE 580 Symantec Settings Manager Service Symantec
Corporation SNDSrvc.exe 600 Network Driver Service Symantec
Corporation SPBBCSvc.exe 692 SPBBC Service Symantec Corporation
CCEVTMGR.EXE 744 Symantec Event Manager Service Symantec
Corporation spoolsv.exe 876 Spooler SubSystem App Microsoft
Corporation schedul2.exe 968 Acronis Scheduler 2 Acronis
AluSchedulerSvc.exe 988 Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler
Service Symantec Corporation
BTNtService.exe 1012
CFSvcs.exe 1024 Service of ConfigFree. TOSHIBA CORPORATION
cisvc.exe 1064 Content Index service Microsoft Corporation
cidaemon.exe 3280 Indexing Service filter daemon Microsoft
Corporation DkService.exe 592 DKSERVICE.EXE Executive Software
International, Inc. MDM.EXE 1120 Machine Debug Manager
Microsoft Corporation NAVAPSVC.EXE 1288 Norton AntiVirus
Auto-Protect Service Symantec Corporation
NPFMNTOR.EXE 1544 Norton AntiVirus Firewall Install Monitor
Symantec Corporation
nvsvc32.exe 1624 NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 45.62
NVIDIA Corporation
WRSSSDK.exe 1784 Spy Sweeper SDK Webroot Software, Inc.
symlcsvc.exe 2120 Symantec Core Component Symantec Corporation
wdfmgr.exe 2152 Windows User Mode Driver Manager Microsoft
Corporation UAService7.exe 2188
vsmon.exe 2256 TrueVector Service Zone Labs, LLC
lsass.exe 1368 LSA Shell (Export Version) Microsoft Corporation
explorer.exe 5996 Windows Explorer Microsoft Corporation
procexp.exe 4728 2.94 Sysinternals Process Explorer
Sysinternals ctfmon.exe 2428 CTF Loader Microsoft Corporation
00THotkey.exe 2440 THotkey TOSHIBA Corp.
TFNF5.exe 2472 TFnF5 TOSHIBA Corp.
ltsmmsg.exe 2532 SoftModem Messaging Applet LT
TPSMain.exe 2540 TOSHIBA Corporation
TPSBattM.exe 2588 TOSHIBA Corporation
TFncKy.exe 2556 TFncKy TOSHIBA Corporation
CCAPP.EXE 2572 Symantec User Session Symantec Corporation
stacmon.exe 2580 SigmaTel Inc.
GoogleDesktop.exe 2608
GoogleDesktopIndex.exe 2680
GoogleDesktopDisplay.exe 2820
GoogleDesktopCrawl.exe 2848
GoogleDesktopMail.exe 3028
TrueImageMonitor.exe 2648 TrueImage Acronis
SpySweeper.exe 2692 Spy Sweeper Client Executable Webroot Software,
Inc. ima.exe 2700 LCD3 for Cranberry Publishing Ltd
zlclient.exe 2712 0.98 Zone Labs Client Zone Labs, LLC
wcescomm.exe 2804 ActiveSync Connection Manager Microsoft
Corporation msmsgs.exe 2856 Messenger Microsoft Corporation
OUTLOOK.EXE 2912 Microsoft Office Outlook Microsoft Corporation
HDDlifePro.exe 2988 HDDlife executable file BinarySense, Ltd.
Konfabulator.exe 3092 Konfabulator Yahoo, Inc.
Konfabulator.exe 3520 Konfabulator Yahoo, Inc.

Process: Procexp Pid: -2

Type Name

Thanks
Dr Alok Modi MD

 

[Phillips]

Sure... it will take a little bit more time - seconds, depending how vague
you are about the file you are looking for.
Michael