how do you make your computer take more programs running?

Question

i have a 2.54GHZ celeron with 1.5G of ram, Nvidia 6600, custom machine. Windows XP Home edition service pack 2

Some reason just having my Firefox browser and my virus scan and rhapsody running my computer is maxed out, and it reboots =[ so how can i beef my computer to take more stuff to do, i know its great with performance now but what am i missing???
when i look at my computer performance, it bounces with 70% - 100% - 90% etc
and i really want to do multiple stuff, and i program and use Adobe alot so i want to listn to music and do that stuff too

Answer 1

Here's how to stop many programs from loading when Windows starts up:

To stop those programs from loading go to start==>run==>type in "msconfig" and click OK. The System Configuration Utility will come up. Click the "Startup" tab on top. You will see a list of programs with check marks next to them....these are all programs that load themselves when windows starts. Uncheck all but the ones associated with your anti-virus (if you have one) and any others that you think you may need. You can always redo the steps and enable an item if something is not working right. Click apply and then OK. It will tell you you have to restart your PC. When you restart a box will appear...check off the box so it does not appear every time you start windows. Doing a disc cleaning and a defragging will also help speed things up.

Answer 2

Here's some special recipe to improve your computer' performance so you can take more programs running:



1.Remove Unnecessary Software.

You may have a bunch of software packages on your hard drive that are no longer needed, or they were gratuitously installed when you downloaded some other package. Toolbars, file-sharing programs, free email enhancers, online shopping "companions" and download managers are notorious for this practice. These uninvited guests can put a big drag on your startup time, cause web pages to load slowly, and generally slow down your computer.



2.Clean Your Registry

Registry Cleaner can cleans your system registry of unnecessary entries that are created when you install or remove programs on your computer. An "orphaned" registry entry can confuse Windows and cause a delay. Slimming down your registry will make Windows run faster. Sometimes it can speed up your computer up to 300%.Top 5 Regsitry cleaners can be found on this page:

http://www.speed-up-computer.info/index.php?t=respeed



3.Clean out spyware and Malware

Spyware and malware can slow down your system a lot, because they use your resources to generate popup ads, send spam, and often interfere with the operation of good programs.



4.Stop Programs from starting on Windows boot

To prevent programs from launching themselves at start-up.Click Start-Run-Msconfig-Startup,then uncheck unused programs.



5.Clean history and temp files.

Deleting temporary and unnecessary files from your hard drive can improve your computer's performance.



This site http://www.speed-up-computer.info/index.php?t=speed lists a step-by-step guide,hope that help you.



Good Luck!

Answer 3

1.5 gb of RAM is plenty of RAM to run simple programs such as Firefox and many other programs.

There must be other hidden programs that must be running.

To prevent other programs from starting after a boot:

Start -> run -> type in "msconfig" and press enter -> a box called "system configuration utility" should pop up -> check the circle that says "selective start up -> then go to the "services" tab up at the top -> check the "hide all microsoft services" box -> then uncheck all the boxes left -> then click on the "start up" tab up at the top -> and then click "disable all" -> click apply and then ok.

Then reboot and no programs should automatically start after a boot up.

If the cpu performance still shoots up, it must be a virus problem.

Answer 4

You must have a crapload of background processed that you don't even know about. Go to start->run->services.msc and that will show you all of the stuff going on in the background.



I have only 512 mb ram and I can run firefox, photoshop, play music, aim, and run servers without any significant slowing down.



I would suggest you reformat your harddrive and reinstall windows xp fresh. You may have a lot of spyware too.

Answer 5

RAM IT UP!!!

You need more ram

Ram is the space and stuff can handle at once. Think of it this way,your brain holds a lot but you cant use all of it all the time can you? anyway, ram is not that expensice and if your gonna do adode, music and the web i suggest 1 gb of ram top make everything go nice and smoothly!

Answer 6

How long has it been since you defragmented your hard drive?

Answer 7

Open Task Manager processes tab and determine which processes are using the most memory.



You have one or more of the following.



1) Incorrect virtual memory settings.

2) A lot of unnecessary programs running

3) Bad system file(s)

4) Malware on your system





1) Incorrect virtual memory settings.



Windows Knows Best per:

http://askbobrankin.com/low_virtual_memory.html



If you still see the dreaded "Your system is low on virtual memory" message then the first thing to do is make sure your computer is configured to allow Windows to automatically manage the virtual memory. In Windows XP, follow these steps:



Click Start, then open the Control Panel.

Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.

Click the Advanced tab.

Under Performance, click Settings.

Click the Advanced tab.

Under Virtual memory, click Change.

Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file (virtual memory) settings that you want to change. In almost every case, this will be your C: drive.

Click to select the "System managed size" option, then click Set.

Click OK three times and restart your computer.



When you allow Windows to manage your virtual memory, it should make the optimum amount of virtual memory available, by automatically shrinking or enlarging the paging file as needed.

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2) A lot of unnecessary programs running



Run PC Pitstop "full tests"

http://www.pcpitstop.com/

In the results the "running programs" section will list "programs that can be disabled to improve computer performance". Run msconfig and uncheck the boxes for these programs.



Using MSCONFIG to reduce background programs at startup

http://alri.org/step2/usingmsconfig.htm

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3) Bad system file



Run "check disk" check both options and restart.

Run Disk Cleanup then Disk Defragment.

4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer's Performance

http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx



Install: User Profile Hive Cleanup Service

A service to help with slow log off and unreconciled profile problems.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en



Start> Run> enter "sfc.exe /scannow" in the run box.

Run. You will need the windows XP disk. This utility will check all system files against the disk and repair if needed.



System File Checker (sfc.exe)

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

http://www.networkclue.com/os/Windows/commands/sfc.aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/185836

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747



If this doesn't work, you may need to do a repair install.

Repair install. (should not lose data) Backup files first.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.co.uk/rl/servicesupport/techsupport/software/windows/xp/Repair.htm

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4) Malware on your system



You might have malware installed on your system. If you follow all the following steps it should get rid of your problem and prevent future problems. All programs listed are free.

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Follow step 1:

Uninstall Malware from Windows Add/Remove Program Tab

http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/hijackthis-log-help/15968-updated-important-read-before-posting-log.html

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Update your antivirus and run a full scan



If you do not have virus protection install:

AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

or

Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

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Install Windows Defender (full time spyware protection)

Perform a full scan.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

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Install the following five programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all five. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection.

Install and run now.



Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php



Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)

Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper

After installation: update + scan + immunize

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html



SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html



SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)

http://www.superantispyware.com/



CCleaner: Do not install toolbar and recycle bin options

Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history

In options.

Set to run when computer starts.

Place cookies you want to keep in save list

http://www.ccleaner.com/



Note if a scan detects a problem but is unable to remove, start the computer in safe mode with the internet line disconnected and run a full scan.



In severe cases your system restore files will also be infected. In these cases you will need to turn off system restore to prevent malware hiding in the system restore files and reinfecting the computer during removal or during a future system restore. Turning off system restore deletes the system restore files.



Right click on "my computer"> Properties > System Restore Tab > Check box turn of system restore



After the malware is removed turn on system restore.

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Run this time



Install VX2 tool for Ad-Aware and run tool

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/securitycenter/vx2_cleaner.php



CWShredder: run

http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/



SmitFraudFix

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_use_SmitFraudFix-t109268.html

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Additional run this time and as needed.



Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”

Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports

http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm



Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)

http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

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Rootkit Removal Guide

http://safecomputing.umn.edu/guides/scan_unhackme.html



Rootkits Removers (Pick any 2 install and run monthly)



AVG Anti-Rootkit

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-rootkit-update-app-art/?ver=1.1.0.29



F-Secure BlackLight

http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/



Sophos Anti-Rootkit

http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.html

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Online Free Scanners:

Run Trend Micro, Kaspersky, and Panda Scan now.

Run a different one each month.



Trend Micro: HouseCall Free Scan (removes what it finds)

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

BitDefender Online Scanner http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

Kaspersky Labs Online Scanner http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

McAfee http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?affid=294

Panda ActiveScan Free Online Scanner http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan?

Symantic Online Scanner http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/ssc_eula.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ALUFRHYTINMHDKDCWLL&vc_scanstate=2

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Additional Information read:

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Overview

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Prevention:_Prevent_Re-infection

http://www.castlecops.com/f67-Hijackthis_Spyware_Viruses_Worms_Trojans_Oh_My.html

http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

http://aumha.org/secure.htm

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.php

http://www.castlecops.com/t102301-Hijackthis_Guidelines_Read_Before_Posting.html

http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/hijackthis-log-help/15968-please-read-before-posting-

http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075&sid=901703d08c2ace31389ffef2d84b6607