MSCONFIG and virtural memory

[mom to 4]

I recently read an article in my local newspaper about virtural memory and what is running in the background that we don't even know about.

I typed in the msconfig and a huge list came up. My question is: How do I know what I can get rid of on that list and what I really need running???? Some say "Common startup" a bunch say "HKCU\Software\microsoftwindows\current version" in the "LOCATION" section, yet I cannot see the entire "location" and I cannot see the entire "COMMAND" line. Some I can tell are things on my computer for a reason, like my external HD, and my Palm Pilot, but how can I tell what I can delete???????

I checked my virtural memory and according to "My Computer" it says I have:

Virtural Memory:

Total paging file size for all drives is 720 mb

Under my C drive it says:

Paging file size for selected drives:

space available: 68924 MB
initial size : 720 MB
Maximum: 1440

Total paging files size for all drives"

Minimum allowed: 2 MB
Recommended : 1486
Currently allocated: 720

Does that sound like it is right. I hestitate to change any of those settings, but my computer now and then tells me my virtural memory is low.

Any help anyone can give me is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!

[Benny Pedersen]

I recently read an article in my local newspaper about virtural memory and what is running in the background that we don't even know about.

I typed in the msconfig and a huge list came up. My question is: How do I know what I can get rid of on that list and what I really need running???? Some say "Common startup" a bunch say "HKCU\Software\microsoftwindows\current version" in the "LOCATION" section, yet I cannot see the entire "location" and I cannot see the entire "COMMAND" line. Some I can tell are things on my computer for a reason, like my external HD, and my Palm Pilot, but how can I tell what I can delete???????

I checked my virtural memory and according to "My Computer" it says I have:

Virtural Memory:

Total paging file size for all drives is 720 mb

Under my C drive it says:

Paging file size for selected drives:

space available: 68924 MB
initial size : 720 MB
Maximum: 1440

Total paging files size for all drives"

Minimum allowed: 2 MB
Recommended : 1486
Currently allocated: 720

Does that sound like it is right. I hestitate to change any of those settings, but my computer now and then tells me my virtural memory is low.

Any help anyone can give me is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!

Could you post me a screenshot ?
Most stuff in MSCONFIG is not wanted junk that give you some problems.
To start msconfig: Click start > Run > msconfig
Now you should see 6 options in msconfig:
1 General
2 System.ini
3 Win.ini
4 Boot.ini
5 ? (Can't translate to English)...
6 Start

Click option number 5 and then a checkbox in bottom, something like: Hide all Microsoft (Check that box) - Now shot a screeshot (Alt+Print Scrn)

Open PE4 and save that screenshot for Web, or *

Then select option number 6 (start) - Now take a second screenshot...

* double the canwas width to make both shots on one picture

Benny

[mom to 4]

Benny:

I have never done a screen shot....I printed out your instructions and I am off to try it....be right back!

[Benny Pedersen]

Just take your time. If the screenshots give you problems, then I got other ways. If you are patient then wee could use this thread a week or two --> optimizing your computer using all my best tricks...

But my clock here say 4:45 AM, so I will soon go to sleep :D

Benny

[mom to 4]

Benny:

here is my 1st screen shot....I don't know how to get it bigger.....can you enlarge it or tell me how to???


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1r0uAGL4W8fWdsLnvZ4sj05G67KqF0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1r0uAGL4W8fWdsLnvZ4sj05G67KqF0)

[mom to 4]

Benny:

I understand...can't believe you are still awake at 4:45!!!!!! :eek: I will try to figure out how to get my screen shot better....I guess I will have to figure out what is the correct size to make my new file for it in PSE. I did print off your instructions so I will try to get them all done tomorrow morning for me...

If you are willing to help me, I am willing to use all your best tricks!!! Thanks so much for your help!:D

[Benny Pedersen]

Yes Okay :)

Here are two screenshots from here:
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=11673
You can disable those disabled above.
I goto sleep now.

Benny,
BTW. Alternative (Windows XP) you could post the text file (REG) in %TMP% by this CMD file, (written by myself)@echo off
goto%1 00
:00
call %0 :05 "%tmp%.\EX.REG" "%tmp%.\EX.TMP"
goto:eof
:05
if not exist %2 goto next
set /p answer= Delete: %2, (y,n):
if %answer% == y del %2
if %answer% == Y del %2
if not exist %2 goto next
set /p answer= Append data to %2, (y,n):
if %answer% == N goto:eof
if %answer% == n goto:eof
:next
call %0 :10 %2 %3 HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\pol icies\explorer\Run
call %0 :10 %2 %3 HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\pol icies\explorer\Run
call %0 :10 %2 %3 HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVer sion\policies\explorer\Run
call %0 :10 %2 %3 HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
call %0 :10 %2 %3 HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
call %0 :10 %2 %3 HKU\.DEFAULT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVer sion\Run
echo.;>> %2
del %3
start /wait %windir%\system32\notepad.exe %2
cls & echo.
set /p answer= Import: %2, (y,n):
if %answer% == y %windir%\system32\reg.exe import %2
if %answer% == Y %windir%\system32\reg.exe import %2
set /p answer= Delete: %2, (y,n):
if %answer% == y del %2
if %answer% == Y del %2
goto:eof
:10
echo reg export %4 %3
%windir%\system32\reg.exe export %4 %3
%windir%\system32\find.exe "=" < %3 > nul
if not errorlevel 1 type %3 >> %2
echo ----------

[mom to 4]

Benny:

I think I figured the screen shots ... almost...I couldn't figure how to put two on one page....so, I have seven......

first are the ones for option #5

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1UepUmFATTim3iLCiMZxZjPS4UvAh_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1UepUmFATTim3iLCiMZxZjPS4UvAh)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1yeFRMsGAQmDSsR28e9s37bXdH9So_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1yeFRMsGAQmDSsR28e9s37bXdH9So)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1IAXBsLwjRRrt5AHv7YaVu6F8bwahw1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1IAXBsLwjRRrt5AHv7YaVu6F8bwahw1)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1MeoHbpVZycf8gPqLQaDc8fZzVdF1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1MeoHbpVZycf8gPqLQaDc8fZzVdF1)



I will continue the last ones in the next post....

[mom to 4]

Here are the last ones Benny:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1LuG3nsWXpSvEgvxiYKctXsJz5UD1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1LuG3nsWXpSvEgvxiYKctXsJz5UD1)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1TQQ7gJtgHBIaW3bpToMPJySQ6vGl_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1TQQ7gJtgHBIaW3bpToMPJySQ6vGl)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1U7rgdxopWxg2MlOFcLhRFeZ9V5p0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1U7rgdxopWxg2MlOFcLhRFeZ9V5p0)

I hope you can make some sense of this

[mel]

I can't wait for Benny to wake up and see how he explains all this, because I'm learning from it as well :D ;)

[baderms]

Wow, what a lot of stuff!! There is quite a bit here that could be removed without hurting performance. Webshots for example is one of them as is Nero check, iTunes Helper and acrobat reader. It will take a while to go though this listing.

Mark

[mom to 4]

Mel:

This stuff drives me nuts and I don't know enough about the internal running of a computer to know what it needs to run and what it doesn't. I wish I knew HOW to figure that stuff out myself. It is like trying to read a foreign language! I feel like an idiot and I am the only one not able to figure this out for myself. So, thank you for your post, it makes me feel like I am not alone!:D

Mark:

Now the three you mention are ones that I recognize and would have though I would hang onto....Nero is my DVD burner....so would I just be removing them from running in the background, or would I be deleting them completely from the computer???????????

[kimh]

That all makes me crazy too, because we are on the computer all the time and it would just help to understand it all! I'm taking a little computer class at our technical center (Basic computer 2) in a couple months. Hope it helps.
Kimh

[mel]

Mel:

This stuff drives me nuts and I don't know enough about the internal running of a computer to know what it needs to run and what it doesn't. I wish I knew HOW to figure that stuff out myself. It is like trying to read a foreign language! I feel like an idiot and I am the only one not able to figure this out for myself. So, thank you for your post, it makes me feel like I am not alone!:D


Colleen I'm sure we're not the only ones ;)

I have to admit that since I've been coming to this forum I've not only learned alot about PSE but also about computers and how to do things.

Questions like the one you asked may seem simple to alot of people who know the internal running of a computer, but to many others it's indeed like a foreign language. If you've never been taught or shown how to do something (or maybe never had a need to) then how can you know about it? I find myself reading up on these kinds of things more and more lately because I just want to know, I'm even buying computer magazines lately :eek:

Before I never used to be bothered and didn't think I would need to know that kind of stuff.......that was for computer freeks!! Now I get a kick out of learning something new about the computer's internal runnings :)

[TonyW]

I have to admit that since I've been coming to this forum I've not only learned alot about PSE but also about computers and how to do things.

Me too and it sure isn't simple. I have only a screen full of start up programs and that's probably too many so I'm looking forward to seeing how this thread develops. Simple things I can manage but once you get into Command line scripts and msconfig I get lost too and I don't like to mess around too much in case I break something and can't put it back together :)

Tony.

[Benny Pedersen]

I can't wait for Benny to wake up and see how he explains all this, because I'm learning from it as well :D ;)


If you uncheck an item, it is not removed, only disabled. In other words
you can go back to msconfig and check it back.

Those "iTunesHelper", "iPodService", "NeroCheck", "qtask" and "Adobe..." are
very common and absolutly unwanted in msconfig. Instead you should start
those when needed.

First you should get rid of all the bad Symantec (13 items).
Uninstall all Symantec / Norton, include Liveupdate.
Restart computer.
Install Lavasoft AD-Aware and run it. http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5
Install ClamWin Antivirus http://www.clamwin.com
or AVG antivirus. http://free.grisoft.com/softw/70free/setup/avg71free_405a791.exe

Disable all items in msconfig except ClamWin (or AVG).
If your printer is not working (hp...) then we have to
figure out what box that should be checked back.

Services (24 items)
1 Adobe Active File Monitor
2 Automatic LiveUpdate Sc
3 Symantec Event Manager
4 Symantec Internet Secu
5 Symantec Network Proxy
6 Symantec Settings Mana
7 COM Host
8 Install Table Mana
9 iPodService
10 LightScribeService Direct
11 LiveUpdate
12 Norton Antivirus Auto-Pr
13 Norton Protection Cente
14 NVIDIA Driver Helper Se
15 Softex OmniPass Service
16 Office Source Engine
17 Pml Driver HPZ12
18 Retrospect Express HD
19 Retrospect Express HD L
20 Symantec AVScan
21 Symantec Network Drive
22 Symantec SPBBCSvc
23 Symantec Core LC
24 TabletService

Startup (40 items)
- 1 hpsysdrv HP track of system recovery information
- 2 hkcmd Intel’s Hotkey Command Module
- 3 KBD HP and Compaq Multimedia Keyboard Manager
If you do not use the multimedia and configurable keys, remove it.
- 4 RECGUARD
- 5 ps2
- 6 S3tray2
- 7 hpztsb07 Background print job spooling tasks
- 8 ALCXMNTR Realtek Audio Event Monitor
- 9 dumprep 0 -k
- 10 lshosts32
- 11 ViewMgr
- 12 dumprep 0 -u
- 13 userint32
- 14 AcctMgr
- 15 ccApp Symantec’s Common Client Application
- 16 sgtray System Tray icon and background monitoring task for Veritas Storage Guard
- 17 apdproxy
- 18 iTunesHelper
- 19 qttask
- 20 Onetouch
- 21 RetroExpress
- 22 NeroCheck
- 23 DVDTray
- 24 msmsgs
- 25 Adobe Reader Spe
- 26 Compaq Connections
- 27 Event Reminder
- 28 HotSync Manager
- 29 hp psc 2000 series
- 30 hpoddt01.exe
- 31 Monitor
- 32 NkbMonitor.exe
- 33 OZ_ZQ-29H Sync...
- 34 Personal Coach
- 35 Quicken Scheduled
- 36 TabUserW.exe
- 37 PowerReg Schedul
- 38 PowerReg Scheduler
- 39 spamsubtract
- 40 Webshots

Benny

[mom to 4]

Tony:


That is my fear....that I will change something, it will cause a problem and then I will not be able to undo it! I just saw Benny's reply.:eek: I know he will be helpful, I am just glad it is not 11 pm here. my eyes would start to glaze over!!!!

[mom to 4]

Benny:

"If you do not use the multimedia and configurable keys, remove it."

I have no idea what that even is much less if I use it!!!!:eek:

In looking at your list, are you saying I should get rid of my Norton Anti-virus all together and not use it all?

I am just a little confused, I have not checked my msconfig list with the one in your thread yet. Are the ones listed in YOUR thread ones I should delete or the ones I should keep?

I do have Ad-aware (the free version) and I run it on a monthly basis. Is that good enough? Do I need to purchase a "stronger" version of ad-aware?

AVG, is that to replace my Norton. I have no problem with dumping Norton and installing a different one as my Norton expires the end of this month anyway.

Looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks so much for your help!!!:D :D

[GaryK]

Colleen

There ae a few resources around for checking tasks like that.

One here

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/

They would prefer you to buy their product but you can type in a process in the process box and if they have it will tell you what it does.

or you can try here

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

Hope this helps give some insight. :)

[Benny Pedersen]

Benny:

"If you do not use the multimedia and configurable keys, remove it."

I have no idea what that even is much less if I use it!!!!:eek:

In looking at your list, are you saying I should get rid of my Norton Anti-virus all together and not use it all?

I am just a little confused, I have not checked my msconfig list with the one in your thread yet. Are the ones listed in YOUR thread ones I should delete or the ones I should keep?

I do have Ad-aware (the free version) and I run it on a monthly basis. Is that good enough? Do I need to purchase a "stronger" version of ad-aware?

AVG, is that to replace my Norton. I have no problem with dumping Norton and installing a different one as my Norton expires the end of this month anyway.

Looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks so much for your help!!!:D :D

Don't be confused. The list is the same as your screenshot. I only wrote the list if we should talk about an item.

AD-Aware as you got it now is fine, but we may take a closer look about ad-aware later.

The only thing to do now is download another Antivirus. When you have downloaded the new Antivirus (link in previous mail) then goto Control Panel > Remove Programs >
Uninstall all Symantec, Norton and Liveupdate. You will get problems when uninstalling Symantec. Virus and junkware is not easy to uninstall.
When Symantec are gone then Install the new Antivirus, and wee take the next step.