Low on system resources

[Lenster]

Hi folks,

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on a slight problem I'm having with my computer.

Sometimes when I'm running a few programs my computer runs real slow and if I try to open an other application (no matter what size) it tells me I have insufficient resources. I go to task manager and I only have a few applications running and clik on the processes tab and have a ton of those.

I also notice just a before I posted this message I intentionally opened up a few programs, (ie: crazy browser, adobe photo deluxe, a 180kb jpeg and a video) and i noticed my cpu usage went sky high and my computer froze.

Is this a memory problem or cpu?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Info on my computer

windows xp pro
shuttle ak31 mobo
256 ddr pc2100 memory
amd athlon tbird cpu@950mhz

ps. I havent done anything yet to correct this
problem because I have no clue what I should do. lol

[bill1971]

Welcome, Lenster!
You've come to the right place for help. Hang on, and you'll get some more knowledgeable advise than I can provide.

I didn't think XP suffered from the system resources problem that
Win 3.1, 95, 98, and Me suffered from. But it's been said here that XP loves a lot of memory, and for general use, 256MB SDRAM
should be adequate.

I also don't want to confuse system memory(RAM) with system resources, because they're not really the same thing.

However, given that XP is running all of those processes in the background by default, you might want to consider adding another 256MB stick of memory - I think Best Buy is selling PNY or RK-Byte for $40 after rebate.

My next question for you is: Do you have programs running in the background, such as an Anti-virus? I would recommend disabling this when you are off-line, as well as turning off the XP System Restore function. XP has a lot of "baggage" that comes with it, and as a result is considered "overbloated' with features, etc.
Alot of those processes are required for the OS to run.
You'll get advise here on which ones you can disable at startup.

Remember also that processing video is extremely CPU intensive,
which would explain the latest system slowdown and increased CPU usage - that's to be expected.

Try disabling any anti-virus, and the System Restore first, and let's see what happens to performance, before you make the investment in memory, and/or upgrading your CPU.

Hope this helps a little. . .

- Bill

[Lenster]

Hi Bill,

Thank you for the welcome. Ok, I do have an anti-virus running in the background, but I had this problem with system resources b4 I had anti-virus protection. I did disable it for the time being like you said to.

Now where do I go to turn off the xp restore function?
Im a little familiar with computers, but there is sooooo much more for me to learn.

Thanks for the help

[Lenster]

I just found the xp restore function in the my computer icon.

I will turn it off and see what the results will be.

Thanks again :0)

[bill1971]

Len:

I need to swap my two PCs, because my main PC is running WinME on a PIII 500, and cable modem, and my 2nd PC is a 1.4GHz T-Bird w/ 512MB DDR SDRAM, running XP Pro, but on a dial-up connection. (Should be the other way around!). I'll get around to networking these two soon, I hope!

To disable System Restore, right-click on My Computer on the desktop, select Properties, select the System Restore tab, and check the Disable SR checkbox.

This will help a little. But remember that everything that's in your System Tray is also running in the background. So you might want to consider systematically disabling some programs or applications that are launched at start-up, and see how your performance improves. The easiest way for someone not that familiar with PCs, would be to right-click the items in your System Tray, Close or Disable them one by one, and monitor your performance. Ironically, by using the System Tools feature to monitor CPU usage, you're actually contributing to your problem, because it takes a small amount of resources and CPU cycles.

In the end, you will have to come to the realization that there will be a limit to how effectively your system,(or mine, for that matter), can multi-task. But by systematically disabling or closing applications one by one, you should be able to tell which program might be the memory "hog."

Hang in there, and there will be others here that can expound on this whole subject far better than I.
Let me ask this as well: What kind of peripherals are you running - any USB devices? Also, what type of internet connection do you have? If a dial-up, you're prolly running a Win modem, which also is heavily dependent on the CPU. Just a thought.

- Bill

[squeech]

Hey Lenster, Welcome to TechIMO!

One thing you can do is check in the processes tab of the task manager to see which of those MANY processes is actually doing you any harm (if any). Check them when your system is idle (no proggies open), and then subsequently with a few apps loaded.

You will see in that window there is a column for CPU usage. Look for anything that has a number higher than about "10" (Note: some processes flex on CPU requirements so watch for a few seconds because some numbers will change).

In that performance tab, you can also look at a graph of you page file usage. If the system is constantly accessing this file, then you need to find ways to either add physical RAM, or free up what you have. If this graph is a flatline, then your RAM being used up is not really and issue.

Hope this helps, keep posted!

[Lenster]

Hey Bill and Squeech,

Thanks for your replies. To answer Bills question, no, I dont have any usb devices, and my internet connection is via cable.
Hey, maybe I just cant do any multitasking..lol

Squeech, I opened task manager and under the processes tab I dont see any process with more than "6" for cpu usage...it does fluctuate though but not that high. The only thing that is above "10" is system idle process (94-99)which im guessing that is supposed to read that high?

Thanks for the help fellas, Im off to bed now, I work the night shift and need to get some zzzzzzz's.

Will check this in the morning, thanks again

[Lenster]

Oh yea Squeech, in task manager under performance tab, page file usage is flatline.....pf usage 115mb

[brucecampbell]

goto start run type in msconfig and disable all non essential startup items.

I had the same problem when I started adding more programs and had to add another stick of ram which fixed the problem

ALSO WELCOME FRIEND

[Lenster]

Thanks Bruce,

I think Im going to have to add more ram, and Ill run msconfig and disable startup items I dont need. Thanks for the advice