Task Manager Processes - Too Many?

Discussion in 'Software' started by TinkBelle, Jul 4, 2013.

  1. TinkBelle

    TinkBelle Private E-2

    Hey Guys,

    When I open Task Manager, I have 47 processes opened (including Firefox), and then about 5 more of just Google Chrome when I open Google Chrome. The icon in the lower-right corner says CPU usage, 39% but varies up to 81%. Is this normal?

    Also when I shut down my computer asks me if I'm sure I want to shut down because other people are logged into my computer and they might lose work. But there is nobody logged into my computer. Is this a sign of spyware or software or hardware problem?

    Thanks,
    Tink
     
  2. pwillener

    pwillener MajorGeek

    I have about 100 processes running, so 47 is not unusual. However, 39% to 81% CPU is unusual; what process is using that much CPU?
     
  3. brownizs

    brownizs MajorGeek

    First off what Operating system are you using (XP, Vista, 7, 8). Second can you show a list of the processes, either from Task manager, or SysInternals Process Explorer.
     
  4. mjnc

    mjnc MajorGeek

    I think you have Windows XP, so look at Control Panel > User Accounts and tell us what accounts are there.

    In Task Manager > View menu > Select Columns, check both CPU Usage and CPU Time.

    You can click on those column headings to sort them numerically.
    That will give you an idea of where most of the activity is.

    There are several free programs that can manage startup processes.
    Startup Control Panel Standalone Version

    Microsoft Autoruns

    When checking running processes, you should look right after a fresh start or reboot.
     
  5. TinkBelle

    TinkBelle Private E-2

    Hi Guys,

    Thanks for your responses. Control Panel > User Accounts, brings me to another "User Accounts", I see 3 accounts: mine, my kid's, and "Guest" and it says "Guest account is off".

    I never saw "Guest" account before; I saw "Administrator" but it's not there.

    What do you think?

    Thanks,
    Tink

    PS- This is prob TMI, but here are the numbers:

    I checked CPU time and usage. This isn't after a fresh start, but Firefox ( I just have this website opened on FF) is using 155,600 K.

    The next highest is
    mshta.exe, 23,200 K
    explorer.exe 21,308 K (I don't have IE open)
    svchost.exe 18,800
    CarboniteService 15,132
    svchost.exe again, 11,304
    CarboniteUI.exe 7,768
    SDFSSvc.exe, 7,364
    vssvc.exe 6,940.exe
    dllhost.exe, 6,484
    taskmgr.exe, 5,692
    soffice.bin, 4,036.
    Then about 30 more running from 28K to 3,720K.

    Now I'm gonna open Google Chrome and see what happens....
    OK, now I also got
    Chrome 68,680K
    Chrome 34,988K
    Chrome 28, 872 K

    That was just opening Chrome with one window and not going to any websites (it opens to google.com)

    Now I just opened Facebook, my email without signing in, and another website which I did sign into, and it looks like this:

    Chrome 141,948
    Chrome 94,428
    Chrome 78,916
    Chrome 74,952
    Chrome 38,204
    Chrome 30,980

    OK, now I signed into Facebook and my email, and it looks like this:

    Chrome 109,036
    Chrome 108,312
    Firefox 101,584
    Chrome 85,388
    Chrome 81,652
    Chrome 60,924
    Chrome 16,504

    And all of them keep fluctuating except the last one.

     
  6. theefool

    theefool Geekified

    If you have the ram, to support the processes, why worry about it. How much ram do you have?
     
  7. sexyandy81

    sexyandy81 MajorGeek

    Some processes are broken down like chrome does but some browsers just listed as one process and usually is a lot bigger. But if you have got the memory for it I shouldn't worry too much but the cpu spike I would check that for sure as this will slow the computer down.
     
  8. TinkBelle

    TinkBelle Private E-2

    Hey Guys,

    Thanks. I don't think my computer has the memory because when I play Netflix, everything freezes and I have to bring up Task Manager, remove Chrome, and then reopen Chrome to pull up and start watching Netflix again--until next time it happens. Weird, right?

    Tink
     
  9. mjnc

    mjnc MajorGeek

    Google Chrome runs each tab and each extension as a separate process as a way to increase stability.
    Since each is a separate process, if one crashes or locks up, it does not affect any of the others or the browser as a whole.

    There is agood explanatory article here:
    Google Chrome Running Too Many Processes?

    Never used Netflix, but if you are running that in Google Chrome, try closing that tab only.
    Force browser processes to close


    FreeRAM XP Pro is a great little program to monitor your RAM usage.
    It can be configured to sit in the system tray and display the current amount of Free RAM in real time.
    I will not recommend using it to "free up" more RAM. It does work if used properly, but probably not such a good idea to do that.
    You can run it on demand or have it start with Windows startup.
    It uses about 1,400 KB when running in the tray.
     
  10. TinkBelle

    TinkBelle Private E-2

    Hey, thanks MJNC! I started following the instructions on the link for Force Browser processes to close, but realized I don't even know how to open the toolbar on Google Chrome...(I've just been right-clicking for things I needed)?
     
  11. TinkBelle

    TinkBelle Private E-2

    Uh oh. Now I can't access a Microsoft Works file that I write in. It says, "Windows cannot access the specific device path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access this item."

    Last night I removed Comodo and installed Privatefirewall and AVG Antivirus. That should have nothing to do with it, right?
     
  12. satrow

    satrow Major Geek Extraordinaire

  13. TinkBelle

    TinkBelle Private E-2

    Oh, it's OK. I restarted my computer, and now the file opens! :D

     
  14. theefool

    theefool Geekified

    Awesome to hear that all is well.

    I'll just say this, I fold 24x7 and I can play netflix fine, and youtube, even with my cpu and ram being used. Here is an example.

    Thought, when I play World Of Tanks, I have to turn off the folding, otherwise the lag gets quite bad.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. pwillener

    pwillener MajorGeek

    Is your CPU usage still high? You have posted a list of processes and the memory they use, but not CPU.
     

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