Which processes can I turn off?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rockinrocker
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rockinrocker

Freedom Hater
I'm having trouble getting my latency down to a reasonable amount w/ out cpu spaz outs, so I checked the task manager and there's like 55 processes running all the time.
I have anti-virus turned off, but i'm pretty unsure about the rest of the stuff.

anybody know what's safe to turn off in order to save some cpu?

Thanks.

i'm on xp by the way.
 
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55 is a lot. I think when you first install XP the number is somewhere around 22-23.

Look at your system tray (bottom right corner of the screen). Right click and close any programs that are running there that you don't need to be open.

In the Task Manager, you can see the processes and click the "User Name" column to sort them. Don't try to close any SYSTEM or LOCAL SERVICE/NETWORK SERVICE processes. That can cause Windows to restart. If you don't want those to run you'll have to go to the Control Panel/Services and disable any that you don't need (you'll want to look them up to see what they do first so you know if you need them).

But the ones running under your Windows username are usually just other programs that can be closed.

Do this first from the system tray and any that still remain in the task manager you can close.

It's best to have all other programs closed before recording. Even one CPU spike from another program can cause skipping in a recording.
 
Anything that's not safe to kill, the system will not let you kill (other than one svchost which will initiate a shutdown countdown). End processes all over the place and if something breaks, don't end it again.
 
musicxp.net said:
Welcome to www.musicXP.net, one of the best known resources on the internet for advice and guidance on setting up and tuning Windows XP for professional audio applications.

Over the period of the last 9 years, this site has received some very positive feedback from people just like you - professional musicians, the media and from audio related software/hardware companies.
Click to expand...

Wow! I did not realize that XP had been around since '98.

I should really stop being so sarcastic all the time...
 
Warning, it depends what else you use your computer for as to which services you can turn off. If you even have antivirus installed on it, that tells me you use it for other things...which is fine, but disabling certian services will cripple use in other areas.
 
The easiest thing to do is use the computer for sound and nothing else. No internet, no email, no tv, no antivirus, etc.... just that step alone will solve 90% of your problems (assuming you reinstall XP from scratch to clean it up).
 
soundchaser59 said:
The easiest thing to do is use the computer for sound and nothing else. No internet, no email, no tv, no antivirus, etc.... just that step alone will solve 90% of your problems (assuming you reinstall XP from scratch to clean it up).
Click to expand...
That's generally the best way unless the software you use requires that you get online updates for it from the same computer you use said software. That's my main complaint with Sony (formerly Sonic Foundry). If it weren't for that I'd NEVER use my audio computer to go online.
 
MadAudio said:
That's generally the best way unless the software you use requires that you get online updates for it from the same computer you use said software. That's my main complaint with Sony (formerly Sonic Foundry). If it weren't for that I'd NEVER use my audio computer to go online.
Click to expand...

My suspicion is that your chances of getting any corruption from downloading updates for your audio gear is pretty slim. Besides, you can always use AV software just for internet stuff, then disable when you are done. It only hurts the studio performance if it is running, not just if it is installed but never runs.

But I agree, at least they could send registered users the updates on a cd. It's not like that would kill all their profits!
 
My system is a complete cemetery. "I THINK" ... that's how it should be.



-----
I'm a graphic designer. But i took this route.
And sometimes, i let my friends surf in the net when they come home.

Always ask me: DUDEEE, what the hell do you do with this computer ?
3 seconds later is full of garbage.

Toolbars all over the desktop, advertising everywhere, messenger full of emoticons, tons of zip files everywhere, porn stuff.... HUHHH !!!


If they only knew, i left COREL, Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere, for a simple WAV recorder. :D


Thank god i have Restore Points.
 
underp said:
My system is a complete cemetery. "I THINK" ... that's how it should be.



-----
I'm a graphic designer. But i took this route.
And sometimes, i let my friends surf in the net when they come home.

Always ask me: DUDEEE, what the hell do you do with this computer ?
3 seconds later is full of garbage.

Toolbars all over the desktop, advertising everywhere, messenger full of emoticons, tons of zip files everywhere, porn stuff.... HUHHH !!!


If they only knew, i left COREL, Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere, for a simple WAV recorder. :D


Thank god i have Restore Points.
Click to expand...



you're a nice guy, I would slap the silly out of their asskrak.
 
what the fukkkkkkkk arE

SERVICES AND WHAT THE FUK IS A BIOS IS THAT UNDER PREFERENCES AND WHAT'S IRQ'S UNDER??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
 
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