Performance

[Guest]

What is the best way to check if your computer is running at aptimum
performance? I have completed disk clean up and disc defragment - is there
anything else that I can or should do? At any given time I have about 50
processing happening, is this normal.

Thanks.

 

[Jim]

What is the best way to check if your computer is running at aptimum
performance? I have completed disk clean up and disc defragment - is there
anything else that I can or should do? At any given time I have about 50
processing happening, is this normal.

Thanks.

It is a misnomer to believe that a computer can have more processes running
than there are cpu cores.
It would be more accurate if MS would have stated that there are x processes
that are eligible to run.

Having 50 processes eligible to run is by no means too many.

As for you basic question, disk cleanup may make a slight difference. Disk
defragmenting does help in some
instances. In others, defragmenting makes no difference.

Your best procedure is to access the System icon in the control panel. You
can, after a considerable chase, find
a place to specify how you want your system configured. In your case, that
would be "best performance".
Jim

 

[Leonard Grey]

There is no objective standard against which you can measure your
computer's performance. The best way is to learn how to maintain your
computer and to use it wisely. Then you may be assured it is running
with optimal performance.

 

[David Starr]

What is the best way to check if your computer is running at aptimum
performance? I have completed disk clean up and disc defragment - is there
anything else that I can or should do? At any given time I have about 50
processing happening, is this normal.

Thanks.

Let me guess, you find XP is running slowly, or at least slower than you
would like? XP comes with, will run, and can be infested by, an
incredable number of programs. If your system gets the slows, one cause
is some piece of software is running, often behind your back, and is
sucking up cpu time. You say "have about 50% processing happening".
Not sure just what you mean there. On normal systems, you run task
manager (ctl-alt-del brings up task manager) and look at the "process"
tab. Click on the column "CPU" and it will sort the list by CPU usage,
in percent. Normal systems (if you keep your hands of the keyboard and
don't have anything tricky running) will show 99 % of cpu time going to
the "system idle process". If you have other processes sucking up cpu
time, that's the cause of the slows.
"Other processes" are most likely malware of some sort. Run your
anti virus, the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, Adware, and
Spybot Search and Destroy and see that kills some or all of them. If
that doesn't do it, there are other things to try, but lets talk about
one thing at a time.

David Starr