Optimizing my Dell PC for ProTools audio.

pisces7378

pisces7378

New member
I know that there are 1,000 posts on optimizing system performance. I don't have nearly as technical a question.

Years ago someone on another Pro Audio forum taught me how to go into some part of my PC and click on what I do and do NOT want to start up automatically upon start up. Because right now, when I CTRL+ALT+DELETE to look at my Task Manager in Windows XP, I have the following things running in the background...

HPZipm12.exe
iPodService.exe
mcagent.exe
wdfmgr.exe
svchost.exe
hpqgarly
MFWAKeys.eve
hpqtra08.exe
QuickDCF.exe
iTUnesHelper
qttask
hpwuSchd2.exe
hpcmpmgr.exe
vsnpstd2.exe
ViewMgr.exe
jusched.exe
Directcd.exe
wuauclt.exe
spoolsv.exe
MpfSvr.exe
explorer.exe
firefox.exe
mcusrmgr.exe
svchost.exe
nvsvc32.exe
svchost.exe
spkrmon.exe
mctskshd.exe
svchost.exe
mcprogr.exe
RedirSvc.exe
lsass.exe
services.exe
winlogon.exe
csrss.exe
mcods.exe
smss.exe
McNASvc.exe
mcupdmgr.exe
mclogserv.exe
HWAPI.exe
rundll32.exe
System
System Idle Process

I can't imagine that I need one tenth of this stuff. Especially all the HP stuff that I know has to do with my printer. I know that these things come on to save me time when I want to print, or download something with iTunes or whatever. But if you look at the SYstem Memory that it requires to run these things in the background, it's a miracle I can even type this on this forum.

Now, I know that I have McAfee Anti-Virus, and I have heard about how ANti-virus programs are huge no-no's for audio. but unfortunately I must have it because this PC is my internet and audio PC. I can't afford a dedicated DAW PC. And I need an Anti-virus because I have had to do two complete system re-installs due to viruses. Forget that.

What can I do to get most of these things to not start up upon start up?

Thanks!
Michael
 
pisces7378 said:
Now, I know that I have McAfee Anti-Virus, and I have heard about how ANti-virus programs are huge no-no's for audio. but unfortunately I must have it because this PC is my internet and audio PC. I can't afford a dedicated DAW PC. And I need an Anti-virus because I have had to do two complete system re-installs due to viruses. Forget that.
Click to expand...


Just stop visiting porn sites and downloading random crap!!
Honestly, that's 99.9% of the reason people get viruses.

However, if you must use an anti virus software...ditch McAfee and use Avast. It's free and takes up less resources than McAfee does.
 
Okay. I probably am an idiot and got my viruses by unintentional mistakes. But the way he phrased it was a little cheaky. I'm not too cool with strangers talking about my porn downloads in a public forum.

Anyway. I just went to MusicXP.net and did all the tuning tips it suggested. That site is phenomenal. Thanks guys.

However, I did not find anything on there about how to tell Windows what applications I want to start when I start up Windows. I mean, you guys see the list of things that I have running in the background. I don't know how to make iTunes, QuickTime, HP Printer functions, this and that mgr.exe, all not run in the background upon start up.

Anyone got a tip on that?

Thansk guys!
Michael
 
Okay. I probably am an idiot and got my viruses by unintentional mistakes. But the way he phrased it was a little cheaky. I'm not too cool with strangers talking about my porn downloads in a public forum.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone here, myself included, care what you download....porn or no porn. But what I said was 100% serious. Probably 90% of all viruses come from websites or e-mails that are porn related. That's just what you get when you dabble on those sites. The rest of the 10% come from friends accidently passing their viruses onto you or random, stupid websites that have been hacked or maliciously have a virus on them. Hence as to why I said porn and random crap. I've never received a virus from CNN.com, Yahoo.com or the like. Just use common sense if your anti-virus is disabled.

Again, none of what I said was meant as any offense to you. Hopefully as you stay around here longer, you'll learn people say a lot of shit on this forum. Just learn not to take any offense to it.


However, I did not find anything on there about how to tell Windows what applications I want to start when I start up Windows.
Click to expand...

Go to Start->>Run->>type msconfig->>startup
 
YEP. Do the msconfig thing & then select or unselect the things you want/don't want & then save the result. There'll probably be a pop up after restarting (you MUST restatrt to get the changes in) so read it carefully etc.
ALSO know what you do & don't want. Some of the file names in the start up list aren't obvious in terms of their operation & connections.
You might find spending time making single changes & rebooting to see what happens a good way forward.
ALSO make a list of what is selected/ticked so you KNOW your starting point.
MSN, Quicktime etc are really good at hijacking access to the startup routine.
Here're the directions from XPmusic.net:
"MSCONFIG
As with other Windows versions, programs can be started automatically by XP. It is worth checking to see what programs (if any) your XP system is starting by itself on startup, as these may be using valuable processing power.

To investigate the automatically starting programs, use the XP msconfig tool. The msconfig tool is not new to XP and first appeared in Windows 98 and then ME.

To run msconfig, click on Start > Run and type in "msconfig" (no quotes) and click OK. Click on the Startup Tab and uncheck any programs, that you don't want to autostart. Dont' disable anything you're not sure about."
 
3 services you can stop for sure out of that list are:

Directcd.exe
qttask
iPodService.exe

unless you are actively using the DirectCD utility w/ Nero, qttask is QuickTime's startup utility (useless), and i'm not positive, but unless you are transfering files to your iPod, i can't see wasting system processes on the iPodService.

and yes... do what's bolded above.
 
I'm curious to see if you can get the Dell to play nice with PT. I picked a Dell Demension 8200 at a garage sale and tried to put a MOTU 2408 mkII in it and it crashed. Good luck.
 
The services should have been listed on the MusicXp site.

If not go to> Run >MSconfig> services> click "hide all microsoft services" > the start disabling stuff that doesn't involve your recording. Things like:

Antivirus
Ipod Service
Quicktime

I'm not at my DAW pc right now, but I have very little running on it. Mainly the drivers/services affiliated with my FW410.

Your protools installation guide also has some suggestions, but most of them are covered in MusicXP.

6
 
hey guys this is all very helpful, though i also use my pc for internet/typing etc...if i disable all this will i ahve to re-enable it each time i boot up?
 
I use a Dell & it runs Pro Audio 9.3 very happily indeed.
The Dell machine I'm sitting at has Pro A 9.3 also for when it's too cold to work downstairs & is hooked up for ADSL & general use as well (which the downstair machines aren't).
I only disabled the trash like Qtime, MSN, HP all the update stuff except for antivirus & windows. It's a compromise but if it's a dual purpose comp. it's already compromised eh?
I also had to go through the COMPLETE disable with a screwy DVD burner & DVD FAB platinum. Wouldn't run & burn with anything running in the background nor while connect to an ADSL modem. So disable, burn, re enable, do normal stuff. IT WAS A RIGHT well you know the rest.
NOW with 1Click & a new Burner NO PROBS I just check regularly for any sneaky stuff that's wormed it's way into the registry.
 
I went to the msconfig and disabled the Quicktime, the DirectCD, and the iTunesHelper. Those names I recgnized, and I can start them up myself whenever I need to use them. However, the list of applications running in the background when I bring up my Task Manager is still as long as my... arm.

I am afraid to disable all the HP things, because they go to my printer, and my wife uses this computer to print out a lot of things for work etc. If I disable the automatic start up of the printer, would she have to go to START > PROGRAMS > and start up the HP printer software herself before she can click on Print in MS Word or a website? What would happen if she just clicks print? Will it start the applications automatically and just take longer? What is the point of haveing Printer Software running constantly in the background?

Thanks guys,
Michael
 
I think the HP stuff in the background is the update/junk mail link. Just try it & see if it affects the printer in word - you can always re select it.
 
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