where can I find...

[Guest]

Can someone please tell me where I can (or cannot) find info on my computer,
that shows what program, or whatever, is running?!?!? I've noticed for the
last few days, that my computer is almost always "running" - the little light
beside the power light is flickering, and I can hear the computer running.
I'm really worried that someone or something may have access to my computer.
I have done the whole/full windows live onecare scan/tune up, and nothing is
out of order.

Windows xp
dell
IE 7 - I think.... it is the latest version
winloc version ? ... bought the first day the beta trial was over...

Thanks a lot folks!
the village idiot - has struck again!

 

[Guest]

Hello VI,

Check the task manager.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

A PC, these days, nearly always has a number of background processes that
are running when you might not expect.

Do you have a search app of any kind installed--Google desktop, for example?

Windows, all on its own, has some defragmentation processes that run at odd
times, for example.

 

[Guest]

Can someone please tell me where I can (or cannot) find info on my computer,
that shows what program, or whatever, is running?!?!?

Task Manager will show you the bare bones, as Engel suggested, but if you'd
like more (and friendlier) information, Windows Defender has a software
explorer tool built into it (open the panel, select 'Tools', then 'Software
Explorer) you can use the tabs to see what programs will run at start-up, and
which processes are actually running, together with information about them.
Spybot Search and Destroy has a similar feature that you can use in 'Advanced
Mode'.
I'm sure there are dozens of other programs that will do the same thing, but
you may well have Spybot and/or Defender already on board?

 

[Tom Emmelot]

Hi Idiot,

I always use CodeStuff Starter here is the free program download site:
http://codestuff.tripod.com/products_starter.html#down
I use it since my first PC with W95 !

Regards >*< TOM >*<

village idiot schreef:

 

[Dave M]

I might as well throw my hat in this ring too... but I'm making this
assumption.

I think you're suspecting WLOC of running on your system at odd times and
using much of your system CPU cycles. There have been reports of this
happening with MsMpEng.exe which is a process that Defender uses but it's
also is used by OneCare when it replaces and disables Defender. If you
find that MsMpEng.exe is using high levels of CPU when using Engel's Task
Manager > Running Processes Tab suggestion, OneCare Support indicates that
this problem was fixed on July 14 so you may need to update or refresh your
OneCare program to gain this benefit. Sorry, I don't know the most current
WLOC release level.

http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsOneCare/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1887548&SiteID=2

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I didn't make this assumption, but now that it has been made:

There has been a problem with apps which install or update via .MSI files
using a high percentage of CPU time during that update or install--to the
point that the machine becomes unresponsive. This is quite different than
simple background disk activity that is unexpected.

This issue should indeed be fixed now on any machine which is set to
autoupdate.

Two different updates are invoved, and I don't have the details handy, I'm
afraid. One is a numbered patch, and the other is an update to the Windows
Installer itself--that one is designated Windows Installer 3.1 (KB893803)
and will be found listed in add or remove programs--even without checking
"show updates."

If you see that in the list, and have no critical updates that you have
blocked intentionally, I think you won't be seeing the high-cpu usage issue.

Unexplained background disk activity is a different issue--and there are
myriad causes for this, most of which are benign--but maybe worth
investigating just for the learning that might result.

--

 

[Guest]

I think you're suspecting WLOC of running on your system at odd times and
using much of your system CPU cycles. There have been reports of this
happening with MsMpEng.exe which is a process that Defender uses but it's
also is used by OneCare when it replaces and disables Defender.

I think you're suspecting WLOC of running on your system at odd times and
using much of your system CPU cycles. There have been reports of this
happening with MsMpEng.exe which is a process that Defender uses but it's
also is used by OneCare when it replaces and disables Defender.

Does this mean that Defender's 'Software Explorer' isn't available if you
have WLOC? If so, then half of my suggestion slides quietly out of the
window, alas ....

 

[Dave M]

More or less, Alan, but I believe manually starting Defender is still
possible if it's been installed on XP or if running Vista where it's always
part of the OS. Defender just comes up disabled upon re-boot, so you have
to go out of your way to access the Software Explorer features that are
only available in the standalone WD. It's normally disabled to prevent
running two concurrent real-time instances of the Microsoft anti-spyware
and potential conflict.

 

[Robinb]

and to add to the bunch try process explorer. Shows you everything that is
running and what speed
Works on Vista too
you can get it at

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.mspx

robin

 

[BoaterDave]

Some think I'm an idiot too!

However, the UK High-Tech Crime Unit recommended this programme to me (and
it's free!)

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Perhaps this will help you! <g>

David
***********************************************************************

It will tell you much about what is on your PC!