is there any software that shows where system resources are going?

Sorry, don't know if that is the correct way to put that, but I was just wondering if there were any programs that would show what was taking up bandwidth/system resources.

The reason I'm asking is cause I'm on a dial-up connection, and am trying to download a song off freesofree.net at the moment, and started off at 1.95 kb/sec... WHOO-HOO!

I then closed winamp and quicktime, which were in the system tray, not even on, and am now up to 2.72 and basically holding.

But when I wipe and reinstall xp, and before I reinstall the various programs I like and generally muck around on my computer, I can download at 4.95 +/-, which is like lightning compared to 1 or 2 kb/s.

It seems like some program is sucking up bandwidth or something gets changed around or something. I can't figger it out.

Any suggestions? thx.

 

This might help you out: http://www.processlibrary.com/ Good luck.

 

This is exactly why I love this forum! After reading the original post and reply, I linked to the site recommended. I've been researching svchost because of ZoneAlarm's prompts to Allow or Deny. It wasn't until I saw svchost(good) beside scvhost(bad), that I understood why I've been conflicting information. Also, nothing like ctrl/alt/delete (task manager) to give you a heads up on what is running.

P.S. I'm on dial-up too , and I average 3 kbs. with ZA, Avast, winpatrol, and a couple of other minor protection programs running.

 

While we're on that subject, perhaps someone could tell me (been lurking about trying to learn a thing or two....) how to find out what all the different things running in the task manager are and, if they are not necessary, how to turn them off. I'm sure some of my running processes at any given time are not necessary, but I don't know which ones or how to turn them off without going through ctrl/alt/del. Any suggestions?

 

Probably not unlike yourself and as the screen name suggests, I am still learning. Have you looked in the MajorGeeks download area (especially the Misc. section). I seem to recall seeing something like what you requested. I use Winpatrol to manage startup and unnecessary programs. Usually, I don't mess with things in Task Manager unless I'm absolutely sure what it is. If there is something in running I don't like, it is usually some form of Malware. At that point, I take measures to remove it permanantly. Like coming here for starters.

And usually finishers

 

I tried to edit the last post, but I took too long. That's okay I wanted to change my avatar anyway.

The only thing I wanted to add was: I usually browser search for questionable objects. Also, I have found PestPatrol's Pest Encyclopedia for "pest" questions to be almost "one stop shopping". I would give you the link, but the last thread I posted with that link was removed for suspected spam.

 

Check out this site.http://www.answersthatwork.com/reference.htm

 

Sounds like you may want to experiment with your modem settings.

First of all download and install Dr Tcp. Not in MG unfortunately so try

Dr Tcp http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp

Next write down EVERY current setting it displays so you go can back to your original settings. Don't skip this step.

An MG alternative to Dr Tcp. (Haven't used so can't comment).

TCPOptimizer.exe http://majorgeeks.com/download2104.html

TCP Optimizer Description: The TCP Optimizer is a free Windows program designed to help optimize your Internet connection. Just download and run, no installaion required. The program makes it easy to find the best MaxMTU value, test latency and tweak all the important broadband related registry parameters. The Optimizer can be helpful with tuning any Internet connection type, from dialup to Gigabit+ If you need help with the program, read our broadband tweaking articles, the Optimizer FAQ, and/or visit our Forums. As an alternative, you can try one of our generic Registry patches instead.
OS: Windows 9x/ME/2K/XP | version: 1.0 | date: 04/25/02 | filesize: 425 KB

A Modem tweak tutorial http://www.pengbo.dsl.pipex.com/ppages/tweaks.shtml that will help determine what settings to use.

2 google searches that will also help.

Modem settings http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=modem+settings&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

Dr Tcp http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=20&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=dr+tcp&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images

Lots of reading but worth it for us still on dialup. Bazza
================

 

thanks for the info, it'll be a while before I have the time to look all that up ... ive tweaked the modem settings, with some program or another, it works until I install all the stuff I want, (not much), then something sucks up my speed...

plus I share this computer, so there's no telling after what exact program my computer starts to suffer. could be the other guy did something to it...

lots of good info, though, thanks.

 

Here are 2 handy apps:

Codestuff Startter
http://members.lycos.co.uk/codestuff/

As a primary purpose, Starter allows one to view and manage all the programs that are starting automatically whenever operating system is loading. It enumerates all the hidden registry entries, startup folders' items and some of the initialization files, so that the user could choose to temporarily disable selected entries, edit them, create new, or delete them permanently.

Secondary purpose is to list all the running processes with possibility to view extended process' information (such as used DLLs, memory usage, thread count, priorities etc.), and to terminate selected process (even a Windows NT service, having enough access rights).

Process Explorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

Ever wondered which program has a particular file or directory open? Now you can find out. Process Explorer shows you information about which handles and DLLs processes have opened or loaded.

The Process Explorer display consists of two sub-windows. The top window always shows a list of the currently active processes, including the names of their owning accounts, whereas the information displayed in the bottom window depends on the mode that Process Explorer is in: if it is in handle mode you’ll see the handles that the process selected in the top window has opened; if Process Explorer is in DLL mode you’ll see the DLLs and memory-mapped files that the process has loaded. Process Explorer also has a powerful search capability that will quickly show you which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs loaded.

The unique capabilities of Process Explorer make it useful for tracking down DLL-version problems or handle leaks, and provide insight into the way Windows and applications work.

 

What about a program for bandwidth resources? That would be teh win. A visual display on what is using your pipe.

Like if I have a printer/scanner, igfx tray, hot key cmmd, Mcaffee virus scan, quick time and winamp running at startup, which I turn off QT and WinAmp, why does my download speed go from 4.95+/- when I start with a fresh install to 2.95 or something like that when I get the stuff on my computer that I want? Even if it's not running?

Me not understand... I'm running a dell 2400, 256 MB mem, I've amped the virtual mem to 4GB, 56k modem that connects at 46.6... What sucks up all that bandwidth?

 

Use a firewall which tells you which software is accessing the net and sucking up bandwidth

 

pcpitstop has a free bandwidth test.Try running it with minimum programs running and then redo test with maximum programs.

 

which one? any suggestions? How do I do it ?

 

Can anyone explain me this... Like what IS bandwidth exactly? How is it determined?

Let me explain: When I use Leechget, I can d/l at least two files, mabye more at a slightly slower speed, at like 5 or so kb/s. When I try to d/l without leechget, every d/l cuts into the others speed.

So leechget>5kb/s+5kb/s=10kb/s...give or take

Regular>5kb/s total, so 2 files at 2.5 kb/s= 5kb/s...right? Am I mistaken? Leechget doesn't really leech, like actively suck the info faster, right? It just opens more ports or whatever...Why can't you just make one BIG port? Make sense? No? OK.

+Active ports sounds like what I was thinking about, thanks.