Why do I have so many SVCHost.exe processes?

[jeffreyabr]

As I've started back into school and have some video editing to be doing, I'm looking for ways to speed up my laptop. I've always noticed I have a large number of instances of svchost.exe. I highlighted the one that seems to draw the most memory.

When I have firefox running, it tends to spike and become the most draining process.

What are these processes doing? Are all of these necessary? Is there any way to tell what each process is tied to? Any recommendations?

 

[Neutron16]

Those files are actually running various windows services. Some services are vital, some can be switched off.
For example, you might want to switch off Windows Defender instance of scvhost.exe if you have more advanced internet security package installed (but most of the time those packages do that for you when they get installed).

You can use CodeStuff Starter to check what services are running and shutdown or disable those you do not need. But be careful, you might shutdown some serious windows functionality! Example: if you shutdown Themes service you will have only Classic windows theme, if Windows Audio - you will lose audio completely.

The services that are used very rare can be put in manual mode (they will start only when particular program will need them), services that are used every day should be in Automatic mode (they will be always running on the computer). Some crapware services like Dell, HP add-ons can be disabled.
This CodeStuff Starter is better organized than standard services viewer, plus it has embedded Task manager and Startups manager.

I am not sure which particular instance of scvhost.exe is taking that memory, you have to figure it out with that program.

 

[jeffreyabr]

I tried running it and terminating some processes like TeamViewer_Service. Even if I terminated them in CodeStuff, they popped back up when I refreshed. It was like I just hit End Process in Task Manager...

Any other suggestions?

 

[Neutron16]

In Starter you have to go to Services tab, select service, then right click and make sure it is Manual (if you plan to use it) or Disabled (if you never plan to use it).

 

[jeffreyabr]

Will setting it to manual make it run when I plug something it or start a program?

 

[maxseven]

A nice tool for reviewing what svchosts are doing is Svchost Viewer:

svchost viewer

I currently have 10 svchosts running and a total of 50 services.

You should also take a look at GameBooster--it intends to switch back/forth between "necessary" and "unnecessary" processes, ostensibly in order to improve gaming fps for example, and it may help you:

Game Booster 3.0 Free Download, Speed Up PC for Top Gaming Performance

I have not used it in some years myself but it seemed to work just fine. In general, turning-off Services is not a good idea, as it results in odd behaviors at times in Windows and then you can never keep track of what you changed, or know the impact of it...

Good luck!