Windows Task Manager Processes: Which ones are necessary?

[Nathan Sokalski]

My system has 512MB memory, yet I sometimes recieve a notification message
stating I am low on system memory and that the system is increasing the size
of my paging file. I know what a paging file is, and why it gets increased,
and my current settings for memory usage are:

Initial Size: 512MB
Maximum Size: 1024MB

Although I never actually kept track, it seems like I receive this message
usually when I keep my computer turned on for several days at a time.
Because I never used to receive this message, and I don't believe I
installed any software since then that I keep running, I would like to find
out what each of the processes displayed in Windows Task Manager is and why
each one got started, so that I can prevent unnecessary ones from getting
started. Because the processes do not list the application or process that
started them, how can I find out this information? I have looked in all of
the "Run" directories in my registries, so I know none of them are being
started by that, and my Startup folder is empty. If someone could help me in
learning how to find out what started each process (and why some of them
such as SVCHOST.EXE gets started multiple times sometimes by SYSTEM,
sometimes by NETWORK SERVICE, and sometimes by LOCAL SERVICE), and what I
might be able to do to stop any unnecessary processes from starting. Thanks.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

The first thing you need to do is to check your computer for spyware, which
often sucks up so much memory that you get the message you are seeing.

The subject of system processes is vast. You can start your education here:

"The Elder Geek on System Services"
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

In general, you don't need to fiddle with XP's system services. Don't fall
for know-it-all web sites with fast answers.

You know, you really don't need to cross-post to so many newsgroups.
Especially for so basic a question. All you're doing is getting people to
dislike you. Better to pick the correct newsgroup and post there.

Ted Zieglar

 

[Rock]

My system has 512MB memory, yet I sometimes recieve a notification message
stating I am low on system memory and that the system is increasing the size
of my paging file. I know what a paging file is, and why it gets increased,
and my current settings for memory usage are:

Initial Size: 512MB
Maximum Size: 1024MB

Although I never actually kept track, it seems like I receive this message
usually when I keep my computer turned on for several days at a time.
Because I never used to receive this message, and I don't believe I
installed any software since then that I keep running, I would like to find
out what each of the processes displayed in Windows Task Manager is and why
each one got started, so that I can prevent unnecessary ones from getting
started. Because the processes do not list the application or process that
started them, how can I find out this information? I have looked in all of
the "Run" directories in my registries, so I know none of them are being
started by that, and my Startup folder is empty. If someone could help me in
learning how to find out what started each process (and why some of them
such as SVCHOST.EXE gets started multiple times sometimes by SYSTEM,
sometimes by NETWORK SERVICE, and sometimes by LOCAL SERVICE), and what I
might be able to do to stop any unnecessary processes from starting. Thanks.

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

http://www.blackviper.com/

 

[Alex Nichol]

My system has 512MB memory, yet I sometimes recieve a notification message
stating I am low on system memory and that the system is increasing the size
of my paging file. I know what a paging file is, and why it gets increased,
and my current settings for memory usage are:

Initial Size: 512MB
Maximum Size: 1024MB

Although I never actually kept track, it seems like I receive this message
usually when I keep my computer turned on for several days at a time.
Because I never used to receive this message, and I don't believe I
installed any software since then that I keep running, I would like to find
out what each of the processes displayed in Windows Task Manager is and why
each one got started, so that I can prevent unnecessary ones from getting
started.

In Task Manager - Processes, set View - Choose Columns to display Memory
and Memory Delta for each process. Then monitor for what process is
using a large and every increasing amount of memory and concentrate on
that. But it may result from other reasons; see the Problems section at
my page www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm. One of the interferences from
Symantec software sounds probable, and it has just been reported here
that it has resulted as one of several side effects of a Copy Protection
system called PACE (see discussion on that at
http://www.pfarrell.com/prc/pace.html)

Provided you do not keep constantly loading more and more instances of
programs without ever exiting them, your page file settings should be
more than enough