80+Running processes and 50%+ physical memory

[john]

I just want to know how to optimize vista,I run very few programs except
Zone Alarm Pro and Symantec antivirus. But in the task manager, there are 80
running processes, and 50%+ physical memory,the CPU usage is usually
15%-50%. Is there any professional software to optimize vista

PS, friends told me vista is crappy and xp is better, but I have no other
choices cuz the OS is from the HP.

 

[Malke]

I just want to know how to optimize vista,I run very few programs except
Zone Alarm Pro and Symantec antivirus. But in the task manager, there are
80 running processes, and 50%+ physical memory,the CPU usage is usually
15%-50%. Is there any professional software to optimize vista

PS, friends told me vista is crappy and xp is better, but I have no other
choices cuz the OS is from the HP.

You are running two of the most problematic and resource-hungry applications
out there: Zone Alarm and Symantec (Norton) Antivirus. Uninstall both of
them. Use a better antivirus such as NOD32 (commercial) or Avast (free).
The built-in Windows Firewall is fine for most people.

You will be amazed at how much faster and responsive your computer is.

Malke

 

[john]

Sorry, I have to add sth., I also installed Acronis True Image 2009 to have
more "professional" image backups(I found this program has improved very
much since I used it a few years ago, And I set up a One click startup
recovery using F11 if OS was crashed, and there is another start up recovery
option came from HP company), and Acronis Disk Director Suite 10 to resize
the partition

Adobe Acrobat Pro and Office Plus 2007 are for file handling.

You are running two of the most problematic and resource-hungry applications
out there: Zone Alarm and Symantec (Norton) Antivirus.
---I am sorry that I use Zone Alarm Pro since using XP, and Symantec
Antivirus Corporate Edition 10 does not seem to be that "resource-hungry"> I
am so used to both of them.


Ps. I am using Vista Home Basic from HP， which does not provide many backup
options for users.

 

[Malke]

Sorry, I have to add sth., I also installed Acronis True Image 2009 to
have more "professional" image backups(I found this program has improved
very much since I used it a few years ago, And I set up a One click
startup recovery using F11 if OS was crashed, and there is another start
up recovery option came from HP company), and Acronis Disk Director Suite
10 to resize the partition

Adobe Acrobat Pro and Office Plus 2007 are for file handling.

You are running two of the most problematic and resource-hungry
applications out there: Zone Alarm and Symantec (Norton) Antivirus.
---I am sorry that I use Zone Alarm Pro since using XP, and Symantec
Antivirus Corporate Edition 10 does not seem to be that "resource-hungry">
I am so used to both of them.


Ps. I am using Vista Home Basic from HP? which does not provide many
backup options for users.

You have too many processes running in the background, legitimate or not, if
your computer is slow. All of the programs you listed (except AFAIK for
Office) run processes in the background. Perhaps you don't have enough
physical memory for all the stuff you want to run. You should have at least
3GB. Yes, it does make a difference that you have Symantec's corporate
edition and it would have been nice if you'd stated that in the first
place. However, my opinion about ZA Pro is unchanged. If you want to run
it, naturally that's your choice. Acronis TI is an excellent choice but you
certainly don't need another backup program running too. You probably aalso
have a lot of HP's preinstalled stuff running.

Optimize your Startup, leaving everything you want/need and removing
unnecessary programs, etc. For example, Adobe Acrobat doesn't need to have
a running process for the program to work.

Malke

 

[john]

Thank you very much.

You probably also have a lot of HP's preinstalled stuff running.
----exactly, but the security tools/credential managers are what I like, so
I will keep them running.

You should have at least 3GB.

----That is amazing, I have 2GB now.Is it worth buying additional RAM ONLY
for a good looking OS? Also the CPU usage is unusually at the high
percentage 15%-50%. My CPU is very good.

Personally I think Vista is very like XP SP3. The disadvantage of Vista is
that only ultimate version provide multilingual package, and the ultimate
version has so many unnecessary functions.

I know many friends who have their vista from HP uninstalled, and installed
XP mannually for better performance( It seems to be very difficult cuz HP
and other hardware providers "struggled" to meet the needs of Microsoft, all
the hardwares nowadays are made for Vista, so are the different drives , but
It could worth it if one is used to XP for quite a long period? --Is it
necessary to keep "fashion" using OS and sacrifice the time to adjust the
habit of using computer?)


I am considering installing the old XP, too, even at the risk of OS
crash(There is F11 one click recovery to overwrite the current system state)

what do you think?

John

 

[Malke]

You probably also have a lot of HP's preinstalled stuff running.
----exactly, but the security tools/credential managers are what I like,
so I will keep them running.

You should have at least 3GB.

----That is amazing, I have 2GB now.Is it worth buying additional RAM ONLY
for a good looking OS? Also the CPU usage is unusually at the high
percentage 15%-50%. My CPU is very good.

Personally I think Vista is very like XP SP3. The disadvantage of Vista is
that only ultimate version provide multilingual package, and the ultimate
version has so many unnecessary functions.

I know many friends who have their vista from HP uninstalled, and
installed XP mannually for better performance( It seems to be very
difficult cuz HP and other hardware providers "struggled" to meet the
needs of Microsoft, all the hardwares nowadays are made for Vista, so are
the different drives , but It could worth it if one is used to XP for
quite a long period? --Is it necessary to keep "fashion" using OS and
sacrifice the time to adjust the habit of using computer?)

I am considering installing the old XP, too, even at the risk of OS
crash(There is F11 one click recovery to overwrite the current system
state)

I am honestly not sure what your question is or what sort of advice you are
looking for. You started this thread by implying that your computer was too
slow yet you don't wish to change anything. If you want to run
memory-hungry, processor-intensive programs that are resident, add another
1GB of RAM for better performance. Vista is a memory hog. Vista is not like
XP SP3 at all in its performance needs.

As for whether XP will meet your needs better, I can't answer that. Only you
know what you want. Here is my usual information about replacing Vista with
XP:

A. On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by calling
them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If you will
void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you can
have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk. This will
be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine.

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP restore
disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail copy of XP
from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if you
have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

Malke

 

[Frank-FL]

I am honestly not sure what your question is or what sort
of advice you are
looking for. You started this thread by implying that your
computer was too
slow yet you don't wish to change anything. If you want to
run
memory-hungry, processor-intensive programs that are
resident, add another
1GB of RAM for better performance. Vista is a memory hog.
Vista is not like
XP SP3 at all in its performance needs.

As for whether XP will meet your needs better, I can't
answer that. Only you
know what you want. Here is my usual information about
replacing Vista with
XP:

A. On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for
your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't
install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a
CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support
website or by calling
them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do
this. If you will
void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them
and see if you can
have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore
disk. This will
be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the
machine.

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't
have an XP restore
disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a
retail copy of XP
from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean
install of XP so if you
have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you
can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and
purchase one
running XP instead.

Malke

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for
your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't
install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a
CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

It can be done. However it is a real dog and pony show, and
I will never do it for anyone again.