Task Manager - Processes

[LJSNYC]

Help!

According to my Task Manager, I have 63 Processes running and as a result my
system freezes and crashes often.

What can I do to remedy this situation?

Please let me know.

Thank you!

 

[Malke]

Help!

According to my Task Manager, I have 63 Processes running and as a result
my system freezes and crashes often.

What can I do to remedy this situation?

You don't know if having 63 processes is causing your computer to freeze. We
don't know either, because you haven't given us any detail about your
computer, its recent history, or what you've already done to troubleshoot.
Lockups can be caused by bad hardware or bad software.

Rather than us trying to guess what is causing your problem and giving
scattershot advice, look over the links below to see what details to
include in your next post:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 - How to Ask a Question

Then come back with all pertinent details - including what you've already
done - so you can get focused help.

Malke

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Help!

According to my Task Manager, I have 63 Processes running and as a result
my
system freezes and crashes often.

What can I do to remedy this situation?

Please let me know.

Thank you!

It's not the number of processes that counts but the type of processes you
run. I suspect that you have installed lots of things indiscriminately and
that some of your processes might be malware or viruses. Run msconfig.exe
and untick all items under the Startup tab (except for your virus scanner).
If this does not help then a reload onto a freshly formatted disk might be
required.

 

[JS]

You need to find the specific process that's taking all (there are lot of
sub-processes tied to the 'System' process) the CPU resources and taking
down/crashing your PC.

To do this try Process Explorer:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Once you have Process Explorer installed and running:
In the taskbar select View and check 'Show Process Tree' and 'Show Lower
Pane' options.
(This will provide some of the detailed info you need)
Next click on the CPU column to sort processes by %CPU usage.
Then click on and expand the 'System' and 'Explorer' process to expand and
identify the specific sub-process that's using most or all the resources.

Click on any process or sub-process to highlighted it,
right click and from the options listed select: Search Online.
This should display what out there on the web about that process.

Note: some entries like Explorer, System process (as explained above)
and svchost entries may need to be expanded to show
the detail (sub processes), in this case click on the + located to the left
of the entry.

If you need to stop an application (Process) from loading:
Try Autoruns from the MS Windows SysInternals site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

AutoRuns will show/list all apps/etc. that load/run when you first boot ...
(the 'Boot Execute' tab),
when you logon (the 'Logon' tab) and other programs that load
(grouped by labeled tabs) for easy viewing.

It also provides the ability to selectively allows you to stop
(use with care) any program that you don't want to load.
You can undo any changes you have made.

Note: To get additional details on an item in the list you can't
readily identify you may need to highlight the item (right click) and use
the 'Search Online' option to get the details,
especially useful for the more obscure items in the list.

There is also a change in the latest version's (v9.39) menu 'Options':
"Autoruns changes the Hide Microsoft Entries to only hide Windows entries"

 

[R. McCarty]

A basic setup of Windows XP has somewhere around 37 processes as
the system runs. Without knowing your 3rd-party drivers and applications
there is no list of what can be safely disabled/removed.
A website "Black Viper" provides information on Windows Services:
http://www.blackviper.com/

Programs and peripherals have a bad habit of installing Startups that are
not always needed. You can use a Microsoft tool, AutoRuns to view a
comprehensive list of what starts when your PC boots up.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

You have to be careful in what you disable. You might inadvertently
break a critical service or app from running.

 

[LJSNYC]

I have recently installed a variety of anti-virus, pop-up blocking and other
such software programs in an effort to protect my computer.

If after doing what you suggested will those Processes be removed from the
Start-Up list permanently?

What else can I do to remove unncessary Processes from slowing down my
computer?

 

[Daave]

I have recently installed a variety of anti-virus, pop-up blocking and
other
such software programs in an effort to protect my computer.

Did your freezes and crashes also occur before you installed all these
programs (it would help to name them all)? Or just after? If the answer
is after, one of them is the cause and it needs to be uninstalled. It
might even be necessary to run Windows System Restore as well.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested logs
in an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

 

[LJSNYC]

Here's the list of recently installed programs...

Comodo
ZoneAlarm
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
avast Anti-Virus
SpyBot - Search and Destroy

I think I've noted them all.

Are any of these programs known to cause issues?

As you can see, I was trying to safeguard my system but I might have over
done it with installing all of these applications.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks again.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What are the full names of the Comodo and ZoneAlarm applications?

Is Spybot Tea Timer enabled? What other Spybot "protections" are enabled?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Installing more than one virus scanner or malware program often causes
problems. Your best bet is to select a single product that does both virus
scanning and malware protection.

 

[dadiOH]

Here's the list of recently installed programs...

Comodo
ZoneAlarm
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
avast Anti-Virus
SpyBot - Search and Destroy

I think I've noted them all.

Are any of these programs known to cause issues?

As you can see, I was trying to safeguard my system but I might have
over done it with installing all of these applications.

Particularly so if you installed ALL of Comodo including the antivirus
portion therby having it and avast! engage in fisticuffs.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Malke]

Here's the list of recently installed programs...

Comodo
ZoneAlarm
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
avast Anti-Virus
SpyBot - Search and Destroy

I think I've noted them all.

Are any of these programs known to cause issues?

As you can see, I was trying to safeguard my system but I might have over
done it with installing all of these applications.

And that's why your computer is crashing. Uninstall Comodo, ZoneAlarm, and
Spybot. Make sure you disable the TeaTimer feature of Spybot from within
Spybot before you uninstall. Keep MBAM and Avast and activate the Windows
Firewall after you've uninstalled the other programs.

I wrote a brief article for my clients called "Too Much Security". You can
download it if you like by right-clicking on the link and choosing "Save
As". The article is in .pdf format.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/Too_Much_Security.pdf

Malke

 

[JS]

Comodo has a feature named "Defense+"
Open the Defense+ settings box and move the
slider to "Disabled" and below that check the box
named "Deactivate Defense+ Permanently",
click "Apply" and restart your computer.

Defense+ is one too many pieces of active AV
software running at the same time as your other
AV products.

 

[LJSNYC]

Comodo Internet Security and ZoneAlarm Security.

I am not quite sure what features are enabled. I tried to locate this in the
settings area but did not see anything.

Of the programs I have installed which should I consider removing?

Comodo
ZoneAlarm
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
avast Anti-Virus
SpyBot - Search and Destroy

Please let me know.

Thank you again!

 

[JS]

Comodo and Zone Alarm are firewalls, you
don't want both running at the same time.

 

[LJSNYC]

Got ya. Thanks.

I've now uninstalled Comodo and Zone Alarm. The total Processes running is
at 61.

I am now running Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to see if there is anything
negative on my system.

 

[Olórin]

Well, if you've uninstalled them *both*, then unless you've enabled Windows'
own one, you now have NO firewall running, a situation you should rectify
soonest!

Having none = bad
Having one = good
Having more than one = bad

 

[LJSNYC]

I've enabled the Windows Firewall but is Comodo or Fire Alarm better?

System still slugglish and slow. I am going to uninstall SpyBot next.

 

[Olórin]

I prefer Comodo to Zone (not Fire) Alarm - gave up on the latter a couple of
years ago, too flaky for my liking. I like outbound protection too, which
the XP Firewall does not provide - but you'll find robust arguments both
ways here on that issue.

re Spybot - if you have the TeaTimer component running, try
disabling/uninstalling that part first, if it's not too late.