memory question

[Guest]

If this is not the correct forum, please direct me to the correct one..

I have windows xp, 512 MB ram. At start up, antivirus software is running,
explorer etc but nothing else. With nothing else running, I only have 186 MB
of the 512 MB ram available. There are however, 40 processes using memory.
Can I shut some of these off to release some of my RAM? Are so many of them
supposed to be running?
Thank you

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Leslie

What you see is normal.. if large amounts of memory is required for
anything, Windows will get what it needs from wherever it can.. do not worry
about it at this stage..

 

[Guest]

Thanks Mike. I became concerned because the computer seems to be running
slower lately, but if the memory usage is normal then I will let it be..

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

There are 5 people living in your home, and you have 6 chairs at the dinner
table. How do you make more chairs available yet accomodate all 5 people?

The point is this: 1) you can't, not without disaccomodating one or more
people and 2) that's why you have the chairs - so they can be used. Think
about the sixth chair. Is it useful right now? No, so it's wasted until
someone comes along and uses it. If two people show up, and both must be
seated, then one of the five give up their place.

Windows will use as many "chairs" as it can fill. What you are seeing is
normal and by design. If you're not using memory, then why do you have it?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Thanks..guess I'm just a worrier..it's hard when you don't understand exactly
how and why things work )

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Leslie

Spyware/Adware/Scumware has become a major player in compromising
computers.. they introduce viruses, trojans and worms.. they attempt to send
out information about you, and they also slow your computer down..



The worst of it is that you probably downloaded the spyware, albeit
inadvertently..



Some basic steps to removing Spyware/Adware..



First step is to run a one shot virus remover.. I have found that McAfee
Stinger works for people.. download and run it..



http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/



You will also need to download Spyware removal software.. Spybot and Adaware
are available at these websites.. both are free.. download and run them..
don't forget to check for updates after you have started them..



http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html



http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/



.... and this link is for the latest Microsoft helping..



http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx



Spybot has the ability to immunize a system, but there is better for this
function, so download and run Spyware Blaster too.. again, check for
updates..



http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/



If you have had your Internet browser hijacked, that is to say, you get
redirected through a search engine NOT of your choosing, you will need
different tools..



HijackThis is a popular and effective tool.. download it from here..



http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_hijackthis.html



CWShredder will eliminate CoolWebSearch and variants.. there is a free
download here..



CWShredder.. http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html



About:blank.. http://lunatic-skydance.de/mr/soft/SpoonWeg.exe





For other tools in the fight against spyware, visit this website and
bookmark it..



http://www.pchell.com



You must also run a firewall and anti-virus program.. here are some links
for you..



http://www.mcafee.com

http://www.symantec.com

http://www.zonealarm.com

http://www.kerio.com

http://www.gate.com

http://www.avast.com

http://www.grisoft.com





Please return to this thread and provide feedback.. it is the only way that
helpers here can determine how effective the advice given has been..



Good luck..


--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/user

 

[Jim]

Thanks..guess I'm just a worrier..it's hard when you don't understand exactly
how and why things work )

Keep following this (and other) groups. You will see that a lot of people
don't understand virtual memory systems. You are very far from being
alone.
Jim

 

[Ron Martell]

If this is not the correct forum, please direct me to the correct one..

I have windows xp, 512 MB ram. At start up, antivirus software is running,
explorer etc but nothing else. With nothing else running, I only have 186 MB
of the 512 MB ram available. There are however, 40 processes using memory.
Can I shut some of these off to release some of my RAM? Are so many of them
supposed to be running?
Thank you

Windows will always attempt to find some use, anything at that might
potentially be of some benefit, for all of the RAM in your computer
rather than just leaving the RAM sitting there idle doing absolutely
no good for anything.

And just as soon as some more important use comes along for some of
that RAM then Windows will instantaneously drop the more trivial
usages so as to free up whatever is now required.

The general principle with all versions of Windows since Windows 95 is
that "free memory is useless memory".


Hope this explains the situation.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that explanation Ron. I understand it all much better now!

 

[Galen]

In Leslie <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Thanks for that explanation Ron. I understand it all much better now!

<sniped some of the good stuff out>

Google the process name of the running processes to find out if you need it
or not or if you want it at all. Disable the processes in various ways (more
info on request but I'll assume you know how already) and yet it will help
you increase your system performance. Will it release RAM? No and yes.
Windows will take what ever was released but as you've already been made
aware it will give it back on request in an ideal situation.

Galen

 

[frogspawn]

If you can pinpoint a date when you are SURE the problem did no exist, you
may be able to fix this with System Restore.
Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Restore.
System restore will take your system back to a previous configuration
without harming settings and files. It usually collects restore points
automatically going back several months. Safe to do and reversible. Any
software installed in the period from the restore point forward will need to
be reinstalled, though.

 

[frogspawn]

Sorry, thought you mentioned your machine was slow. Must have been the
previous post. I do recommend Googling your processes, just to be familiar.
Also, 40 processes is more than double what I have, so you may be justified
in finding out more about what you have running.