what's taking up room and resources?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Saudades
  • Start date Start date
S

Saudades

Hi

Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:

1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
what's using them?

and

2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
drive?

Thanks!
s.
 
Hi

Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:

1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
what's using them?

and

2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
drive?

Thanks!
s.
Click to expand...

Not sure what kind of resources you're looking to track as XP is very
generous with resource heaps. However, task manager can show a wide variety
of detail about loaded processes. With Task Manager open, click on View>
Select Columns... and choose from a long list of measures.

When a program installs, the main portion of the program will reside in the
program's folder. Some portions will be shuttled off to the Common Files
folder and perhaps a bit in Windows or one of the Windows folders. User
data might be stored in any number of locations including, but not limited
to, one of the Application Data folder under \Document and
Settings\<username>\. Because of the multiple possible locations, getting
an accurate tally is difficult. However, by right clicking the program's
folder and selecting "Properties" you can get a report of the total size
and total size on disk for the main portion of the program.

Windows reports numbers only. If you want something a little more visual -
pie charts and graphs - there are third party tools that can illustrate
disk usage. An example is Disk Recon found here:
http://www.blacksunsoftware.com/
 
Phillips said:
1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
Click to expand...

But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs
are shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
greater than 50%.
 
New said:
But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs
are shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
greater than 50%.
Click to expand...
Click on the CPU label. One click sort ascending click again sorts
descending. It should show the process taking up the CPU cycles.
Google that process name and you should get the program using it.
If not post the name here.

gls858
 
C'mon, read the Help files in WTM, wtf.
Michael

New Guy said:
But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs are
shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
greater than 50%.
Click to expand...
 
Did you check ShowProcessesFromAllUsers in WTM/Processes?
If you have HyperThreading, one locked process can lock (use) one thread -
hence 50% one thread plus a few percents on the other thread.
If it does not show in processes (SysIdle=99% or a little less), look after
some app set to run on start up; that app (might be a driver as well)
wouldn't actually open and loops waiting for whatever input. You should get
a message at shutdown that WhateverApp is still running or such.
Use msconfig/Startup (disable/reenable one at a time and see which one's the
culprit) or Hijakthis to isolate the faulty app.
Michael
 
Phillips said:
Did you check ShowProcessesFromAllUsers in WTM/Processes?
If you have HyperThreading, one locked process can lock (use) one thread -
hence 50% one thread plus a few percents on the other thread.
If it does not show in processes (SysIdle=99% or a little less), look after
some app set to run on start up; that app (might be a driver as well)
wouldn't actually open and loops waiting for whatever input. You should get
a message at shutdown that WhateverApp is still running or such.
Use msconfig/Startup (disable/reenable one at a time and see which one's the
culprit) or Hijakthis to isolate the faulty app.
Michael
Click to expand...

Yes, I have checked ShowProcessFromAllUsers.
Older Duron 700 CPU, 256 meg ram,no hyperthreading.
SysIdle=99% or just less.
Cold boot with all startups disabled, no errors on shutdown.
Still shows between 50% and 75% usage?
Will try Hijakthis later tonight.
Thanks.
 
I did not understand if the system has been slow since you installed XP or
just got slower with usage.
With that hardware you are running on, 50% is not a lot.
Add 256MB RAM - more would be better, that type of RAM's cheap, but the
hardware will be obsolete when Vista comes out.
Other things to try and see if your performance improves:
1. SystemProperties/Advanced/Performance -> uncheck whatever fancy graphics
you don't need. If you like the looks of XP GUI, keep the last setting: "Use
visual styles on windows and buttons"
2. Disable unnecessary services.
3. Disable System Restore - you need some backup, though.

Well, there could be many ways to improve system performance - I assume you
do recommended XP maintenance, check for malware etc.
Michael
 
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