71 processes at idle / computer slow - what's wrong?

catalogue · 03 Feb 2014

My computer has gotten molasses-slow over the past 6-12 months with no major new programs. Could it have something to do with the 71 processes that Task Manager reports when the computer is freshly started, with no programs opened? They use about 1 Gb of RAM - is that high? High or not, the computer is definitely very, very slow.

For example, is it okay to have 12 instances of svchost.exe?

I know you can look up processes online but it's not that simple. Can anyone recommend a preferred site for this? The problems is that sites tend to (1) report wide-ranging, contradictory opinions submitted by many users, and/or (2) provide useless non-definitions like "abcd.exe is a executable file for Windows. The filename extension .exe is the abbreviation for executable." A lot of the sites look like bogus aggregators or click farms.

Also, please be aware I am most of the way through this big list of steps for optimizing Win 7: Optimize Windows 7

Attached: process list sorted by size and alphabetically.

PS - I am most of the way through this optimization list, but plan to do Black Viper's services tweaks after checking out the running processes.

ShamrockRig · 03 Feb 2014

I have around 78 at the minute but i do have a few things open so im usually around the same mark,
In terms of general slowness, you could have a few unwanted goodies in your system, i suggest running these

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
The tool will open and start scanning your system.
Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.

catalogue · 03 Feb 2014

Devlin1888 said:

i suggest running these

Will do. I hope it's adware or similar because at least that might be easy to target and remove

ShamrockRig · 03 Feb 2014

Yeah, they can be prime examples of slowing down systems
Also, if you only have 2gb ram i'd Highly advise upgrading it to 4gb, you will notice a massive difference especially on a 64bit OS, 2gb of ram would be more suited to a 32bit OS and 4gb for 64bit os.

Layback Bear · 03 Feb 2014

Read through these from this Tutorial.

By Brink:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11728-optimize-windows-7-a.html

Take a close look at # 8 & 9
I would recommend not fooling with Windows Services.
On both of my computer I have less than 50 processes.

LMiller7 · 03 Feb 2014

12 Instances of svchost.exe is typical. How many processes you have running isn't very important. What is important is what they are doing, and considering that the displayed CPU usage is 0 the answer seems clear. Not very much.

40% CPU usage with a 32 bit OS and 2 GB RAM is very reasonable. I doubt your problem is memory related. But understand that 2 GB RAM is the minimum for a 32 bit OS. 4 GB will allow a higher working set for processes, more in the system cache, etc, leading to better performance.

ShamrockRig · 03 Feb 2014

LMiller7 said:

12 Instances of svchost.exe is typical. How many processes you have running isn't very important. What is important is what they are doing, and considering that the displayed CPU usage is 0 the answer seems clear. Not very much.

40% CPU usage with a 32 bit OS and 2 GB RAM is very reasonable. I doubt your problem is memory related.

I read in his system specs that he has a 64bit OS?

catalogue · 03 Feb 2014

Devlin1888 said:

Also, if you only have 2gb ram i'd Highly advise upgrading it to 4gb,

I will for sure, but the thing is, the computer used to be plenty fast with 2 Gb. So something must have changed - and I am ruthless about not installing adware, bloatware, anything that comes bundled with freeware, doodads that run in the background or sit in the taskbar or Quick Launch, all that stuff. Naturally something can sneak in without your knowledge.

Layback Bear · 03 Feb 2014

These pictures might help. Msconfig/Startup and Services.
Notice: Hide all Microsoft Services lower left corner.

71 processes at idle / computer slow - what's wrong?-msconfig-startup.png

71 processes at idle / computer slow - what's wrong?-msconfig-services.png

catalogue · 03 Feb 2014

Devlin1888 said:

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

A few Firefox-related things I see in there:

1) anttoolbar - This relates to an extension (which is not a toolbar; wondering why it says that). Looked it up; it tracks all your web browsing - holy bejeezus - I got rid of it.

2) Something about ask.com - I don't know what that is and I can pretty much guarantee I don't want anything to do with ask.com

3) rambler.ru - I assume anything to do with .ru (Russia) is dangerous until proven otherwise. However it conceivably could be a perfectly safe, clean and useful FF add-on.

# AdwCleaner v3.018 - Report created 03/02/2014 at 18:21:56
# Updated 28/01/2014 by Xplode
# Operating System : Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1 (64 bits)
# Username : R - RTHINKPAD2
# Running from : C:\Users\R\Desktop\AdwCleaner.exe
# Option : Scan

***** [ Services ] *****

***** [ Files / Folders ] *****

Folder Found : C:\UseRs\R\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\FiRefox\PRofiles\cx93p3fq.default\Extensions\anttoolbar@ant.com

***** [ Shortcuts ] *****

***** [ Registry ] *****

Key Found : HKCU\Software\Conduit
Key Found : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497}
Key Found : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5}
Key Found : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497}
Key Found : [x64] HKCU\Software\Conduit
Key Found : HKLM\Software\Conduit
Key Found : HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\au__rasapi32
Key Found : HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\au__rasmancs

***** [ Browsers ] *****

-\\ Internet Explorer v8.0.7601.17514

-\\ Mozilla Firefox v26.0 (en-US)

[ File : C:\UseRs\R\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\FiRefox\PRofiles\cx93p3fq.default\prefs.js ]

Line Found : user_pref("extensions.wrc.SearchRules.ask.com.style", ".WRCN {display:none} #yui-main .tsrc_vnru .title + .WRCN, #yui-main #teoma-results .title + .WRCN {display:inline !important; background: url(\"I[...]
Line Found : user_pref("extensions.wrc.SearchRules.ask.com.url", "^hxxp(s)?\\:\\/\\/(.+\\.)?ask\\.com\\/.*");
Line Found : user_pref("extensions.wrc.SearchRules.rambler.ru.style", ".WRCN {display:none} .search-results .title + .WRCN {display:inline !important; background: url(\"IMAGE\") right no-repeat}");

[ File : C:\UseRs\R\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\FiRefox\PRofiles\glni89au.New clean blank profile 6-25-12\prefs.js ]

*************************

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [1938 octets] - [03/02/2014 18:21:56]

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [1998 octets] ##########