Task manager question

[NarkotikBuzz]

When i bring up my task manager, and check my processes, i have 29 running. what is the average number of these i should have running, and what is the minimum i can run with and not crash? Lately when i play some games(not all) i get these freezes, it will freeze for a couple seconds then start again, and this happens frequently, i have no idea what is causing it. Last night i started playing Soldier of Fortune 2 and it happened alot.

[Áedán]

Check your event log.

I have about 28 processes running when the machine is idle.

[QSDT]

Good question, I can get mine down to 21 apps.(Shutting down AVG when not online) Who knows with XP how low can you go and it still keeps going. A list if some one knows would be great!

[Gizmo]

I have 21 on WindowsXP with one instance of IE running, and this is a fresh install.

However, if you are having a problem with periodic freezes during game play, your problem is probably not with the normal complement of services and drivers.

Are you running the Folding@Home client, or any other distributed-computing-project-type client? If so, they can cause what you are seeing, as can programs designed to monitor such clients.

[Chesso]

I can have 19 processes running and this thing hasn't had a clean install in quite a long time but i don't allow anything to run on startup and what not.

Best to shut most of the crap down(that you know is safe) before playing a game.

[robbie]

Change your video card driver.

[Izzban]

I ALWAYS shut down all uneeded processes before playing games. Even virus-scaners, but not firewalls. I can get down to 16 processes with win XP, win ME is even less, I think about 6.Here is a list of the only processes you NEED to have running for win XP.

alg-this is windows firewall, and not needed, but I reccomend leaving it run.
csrss
explorer
lsass
services
smss
spoolsv
svchost
system
system idle process
winlogon

there may but multiple instances of each, especially svchost. Just leave them all run.

Here is a link to clean up processes at start-up.
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
Site is under construction, but should be back soon.

I don't have a link, but there is a program called enditall2 that will allow you to set up which processes you want killed, and which ones to leave active. Then when you go to game, just click one button, and the program will kill them all. Much faster than using task manager. If you can't find it, PM me and I will E-mail it to you.

I don't know what would cause those freezes, though the other responses might be right, but I do know killing processes before you play games will increase performance. Especially so if you have an older video card.

Hope this helps.

[skool h8r]

Just on a sidenote to Izzban's post, some programs start secretly by using a switch at the end of the winlogon startup entry in the registry. Many malware programs use this method to start themselves which also allows them to start further programs. I have had this happen to me quite a few times, all were infections, but i cleaned up after them. I think i'm gonna make a guide/tutorial on how to find the rogue processes.