Task Manager - Processes

Windows XP

I hear the computer constantly running something. When I open Task Manager I find that Processes are running over and over. Basically, this brings my computer to a standstill.

For example:

CCleaner takes 7 minutes to run, 2 minutes to close.
Task Manager takes 4 minutes to close.
Firefox takes 5 minutes to open.
Takes 2 or 3 minutes to switch from one screen to another within a site.
I'm typing this message too fast (huh?) and have to wait for the words to catch up.

Other problems:

I haven't been able to log out of sites.
Last night, I couldn't turn off the computer. Had to switch off power.
Tried a soft boot to close and reopen this morning. No dice. Had to switch off power.

I read on another thread about a slow computer so I deleted Adobe Reader and installed Foxit. This isn't what caused the problem. My computer has been getting slower and slower, all because Processes are running constantly. I'm too scared to switch them off.

I read on another thread about certain processes to stop running, but those don't show on my list.

16 minutes to type this message? C'mon.

What do you suggest as an alternative to chucking this thing out of the nearest window?

 

Wow! I started my computer at 8:10 and processes have just stopped at 11:03.

 

Can you copy/paste up some screenshots of the processes list please? Same for the Startups list, you can get that from CCleaner.

Have you checked that your PC and all fans/heatsinks are clean and free from dust, spiders, dead mice, etc?

How much free space do you have on your C drive ?

Which Service Pack are you running on XP and how much RAM?

 

Hi Satrow. Meet Dunce Extraordinaire.

I have no idea how to make a screen shot. Is there a simple way a dunce could do it?

I regularly air dust my computer and it scares the mice away. (Cat doesn't like it either.)

C Drive has 33% free space, 6.21GB
D Drive has 84% free space, 16.06GB

Not sure how to find RAM.

CCleaner run often, sometimes two or three times a day depending on how long I've been on line. I tend to stick to visiting the same sites and don't travel anywhere that might be dangerous.

Outlook Express is also kept clean so there is little to delete.

I also defrag regularly but there are many fragments in C that I can't get rid of.

 

Oops, forgot . . .

I thought I had SP3 but when I look at Control Panel it doesn't have a number on the far right of the screen. So it's SP2 I guess.

 

Start Up (hope I don't make a typo)

Windows System 32/ctfmon.exe
" " /jgfxtray.exe
" " hkcmp.exe
Conime %windir%/system32/conime.exe
EKJ5000 Status Monitor
Avira
PowerRegScheduler/start programs

 

To find the Service Pack details (if any) and the amount of RAM, press the Windows key and Pause/Break.

 

Um . . . Windows key?

 

Yes, there's usually a Windows key on PC keyboards, looks like the old Windows logo, a waving flag in 4 sections, often between the left Ctrl and Alt. On laptops, it could be elsewhere or even absent.

Right-click My Computer and select Properties - it's the same effect .

 

Thank you both. Hah! didn't even pay attention to that key. see howmuch I'm learning?

Did Computer, Properties -- XP Pro, SP3, 248MB RAM

 

Ouch! Windows XP SP3 really needs 1GB of RAM to operate at a decent speed, it's much heavier on background Services than the earlier versions.

What make and model is your PC?

 

Compaq EVO Intel Inside.

It's an oldie but I didn't have any problems until recently. I try to put what I can on D Drive to spare C.

Not enough GB might be why, when I installed SP3, it didn't give a number in Control Panel. Should I delete and drop back to SP2?

 

Need more info than that to find the right type of RAM, should be a model code on a sticker or printed on the bottom of the laptop.

No, not if it's your main or only PC, SP3 has many security additions and will continue to be patched for about 4 years, SP2 patching has finished.

 

A metal tag on the side has the following:

6Y2-9-KN/82-K07g

D51C/P1 84/20/p/256C US

There is a paper sticker as well. Do you need that?

 

It looks like it should be D51C/P1 84/20/p/256C US but Google's not being helpful, seems to link it to desktops/towers/minitowers.

Can you go to www.crucial.com and get it to scan your PC? It should come up with the correct data, Compaqs are pretty common .

 

It is a desktop/tower.

I'll have a shot at getting to the other site and come back and let you know what happened.

 

Okay, got there and scanned.

I'm advised I can add memory at different sizes and costs in US$.

How does this work? Is it downloaded onto my computer once I've paid or do they ship it to me?

Can I buy it locally in Calgary, Canada? My server usually does things like that free of labour charges. Should I contact them?

Will it help if I boot out more programs or move them to my D drive?

Sorry about all the questions but I did warn you you're dealing with a Grace A Dunce.

 

Oops, for some reason, I thought it was a laptop ...

If you buy from Crucial, they'll send you a small package with reasonably clear instructions that would enable most people to install the RAM sticks themselves. The most difficult part may be opening the tower case to begin with.

You could possibly buy it locally, or via somewhere like Newegg, you'll need to get the full specifications from the Crucial page and your exact model details to take with you.

As you have 33% free space on your C drive now, I'd not worry too much about that until it decreases to close to 25% free, when it will begin to slow down.

Fitting extra RAM will make the PC much faster than it is now.

 

Thanks for all your help. Now that Processes has stopped, my computer runs fast enough for me. I guess I'll have to sit it out while they're running.

I was down to something like 14% free space on C and couldn't even defrag. I booted out a lot of things I never used, and getting rid of Adobe Reader helped a lot.

I have other Adobe things showing in my Control Panel, like Adobe Air and Flash Player. Are there smaller programs I could install?

 

Basically, uninstall anything you don't use , do it from Control Panel > add/remove Programs and most will uninstall cleanly provided you have no other programs open.

One fairly simple method that may free some more space on C drive is to move the My Documents folder

 

Terrific idea! Most of what I have on C are .exe files and some wouldn't allow me to save to D but insisted on going to C. There are photos I can move to D so I'll give that a try.

Many thanks for all your help and for sticking with this Dunce. I truly appreciate it.

 

No problem, pleased to help out - and don't put yourself down - you've been good to work with

Now get out of the corner and take that stupid pointy hat off.

 

LOL I'll try to un-stick it but that pointy hat is rammed down a lot.

 

Many people like Foxit PDF Viewer

About Adobe Air:

I also recommend that you downlaod and install Speccy
which is from the same developers as CCleaner.
Speccy will tell you want to know about your computer hardware, including the type of RAM
that is currently installed, how many memory slots are filled and how many are open.

Another great little utility is Startup CPL
which will help you identify and manage start-up (boot time) processes and programs.
You may not know what to do with it right away, but get it installed so someone can help
you with this.

The discussion in this thread may be useful to you.
My post includes some screen shots to help you navigate through specific dialogs to turn
Off some so called 'eye candy'. This will free up a little OS (operating system) overhead
which may improve system responsiveness.

P.S.
Can I borrow your hat?

 

Another utility for monitoring Processes is Process Explorer from Sysinternals.

Process Explorer at Windows Sysinternals

(would have put this in my previous post, but my edit time expired) :wave

 

Thanks MJNC.

Can I delete all the Adobe things appearing in Control Panel? Foxit is installed.

Anything in Java I can replace with a smaller program?

Startup CPL installed, files extracted. I installed on D so I hope it works as if it was installed on C. StartUp folder is on D. When I click on it, it gives me the install runaround and goes nowhere.

Speccy and Process Explorer - do I need them? I know how much RAM I have, and I know I have two memory slots open if I choose to upgrade. I'm leery of adding programs I don't need because my C drive is at only 33%.

I looked at the other thread but not much there that I haven't already done. When I click on Memory in Task Master, it tells me how much is taken up. I think I've already deleted things mentioned on another thread about slowdown.

 

Forgot to mention -- I still need the pointy hat. :cry

 

Don't know what Adobe entries would appear in Control Panel,
however if you are going to use Foxit, you can uninstall Adobe Reader.

If you are going to use Java, you should have Sun Java JRE 6 update 21 installed.
Uninstall any other Java versions before installing the update.

StartupCPL is a very small program.
All you need is the exexcutable Startup.exe.
Double click Startup.exe to run OR right click to 'Send to...' -> Desktop (create shortcut)

You don't Need Speccy or Process Explorer.
Just usefull programs to keep in mind.

 

Thank you. I really don't have room for programs I don't need.

In the meantime, Processing still taking two hours.

 

Adding RAM should help a lot, Windows must be constantly reading and writing data to the swapfile (hard drive) just to run itself!

 

Thanks, Satrow.

Adding the RAM I need would cost just below the price of a new desktop tower. I'm hanging on as long as I can but it's a pain in the you-know-where.

Installing CPL was supposed to help, but I have no idea how to run it. I booted it when I realized it was wasting space just sitting there.

 

Ah, so the RAM is RAMBUS400/800, I guess - good fast RAM but was side-stepped as the other makers went along a different route, very expensive .

StartupCPL was to list your startup applications and allow you to disable the unwanted ones after checking that they weren't highly desired each boot up.

 

I don't know about that, only that adding RAM is only slightly less expensive than a new tower. More than I'm willing to pay on an old computer.

Okay, if I download CPL again, how the heck do I run it? I tried last time but got nothing but "installing" repeatedly.

Looks like I need a program START.exe. I figured that was part of the package or the computer wouldn't start, would it? If not, where do I get that?

 

Been some time since I used StartupCPL, just installing it.

Ah yes, the 'CPL' part should have clued me in! It unstalls as a Control Panel item, when started from there, it shows you a tabbed interface with boxes checked. If you could list the apps from each tab, it'll give us something to work from.

 

Thanks, but nothing new. It shows the same programs I showed earlier:
Avast
Conime
EKIJ5000StatusMonitor
HotKeyCmds
If/xTray
Sunjava - I just unticked it
ctfmon.exe

I guess it's another program I don't need as it gives me nothing new.

 

Now I understand some of the confusion about Startup CPL.

There are two downloads for this application.

1. a .Zip file containing only the stand alone executable: Startup.exe
2. a .Zip file containing an Installation package: StartupCPL.exe

I thought the download at MG was the Stand Alone package, not the installer
for Control Panel.

Both packages are available at the Author's site:
Startup Control Panel

click "Standalone EXE version" for the Non-Installer.

The Stand Alone executable is quite small: only 76K (kilobytes).
You can put this anywhere you like.
Just right click it to create a desktop shortcut, as mentioned in previous post.

 

Thanks mjnc.

As the program didn't give me information I didn't already know via another link on CP, I've deleted it.

 

The only items in this list that are familiar to me are Avast and Sunjava.

Do you have Microsoft Office XP installed?

It appears that ctfmon.exe could be related to this:
ctfmon at bleepingcomputer.com
Microsoft Support: FAQ about ctfmon.exe

I'm having a little trouble finding any usable info on these:

• Conime
• EKIJ5000StatusMonitor - could be for a Kodak Printer?
• HotKeyCmds
• If/xTray

Do you have any information about what these items are or what they are used for?

 

Many thanks, mjnd, and thanks for the links.

I have to keep ctfmon because I do have XP Windows Office installed.

You're probably right about the EKIJ . . . because I have a Kodak all-in-one installed. It's been bugging me that it's usually the first one up on my systray even though I rarely use it. I have a feeling it causes a holdup because it is such a big program. If my memory serves me right, I think the problem with processes started when I installed the Kodak. Mind you, my memory isn't that trustworthy.

Is it safe to untick EKIJ . . . on the list? I have an icon on Desktop if I need to get to it.

I have no idea what the other things are. I bought the computer used a few years ago when Vista first came out. (I couldn't get a new one with XP on it and I'd heard bad things about Vista.)

Thanks again for all your help.

 

I googled conime. Oh, heck! No wonder I'm slowing down! Now to get rid of it!

Quote:
Conime.exe is a malware file that camouflages itself to look like a typical Windows file. But it isn't, and can cause damage to the computer and the user. Normally, it will just sit there and take up space on the hard drive, which will end up slowing down the system. But there are the rare occurrences where the file can save personal information and send it to another user over the Internet connection. This depends on the location of Conime.exe. Either way, the file will need to be removed to keep the system and the user's identity safe.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5171666_remove-conimeexe.html

 

Absolutely! Thanks chaslang.

Sometimes it's much easier to find things on the internet that cry 'wolf' rather than a legitimate evaluation / identification.

Here is another site with a page commenting on conime.exe, although not nearly as good as the link provided by chaslang.
File.net : conime.exe file info.

Don't assume that anything is a threat or malware until it has been verified.

Also, don't remove anything from your startup processes until you are certain
about it's identity, purpose and whether or not you can 're-install' it properly,
if necessary, once removed.

If you are not using any software that requires the Java runtime environment
and you do not regularly visit a Web site that has features that require Java,
then I think you should uninstall Java. That will free some disk space.

The If/xTray entry looks strange to me.
Are there any spaces in that string, such as, If /x Tray, or, If/x Tray?
It doesn't look like a filename.
To me, it looks like the beginning of a conditional expression (If), followed by
a parameter switch (/x) and an executable filename (Tray).
But that is just how it appears to me because I have no idea yet what it is.

 

The HotKeyCmds entry is most likely from a printer or video control panel installation - definitely not needed...

Everything I've read in this thread points to your machine's very low RAM reserves - you're probably going to have to flip that Upgrade vs. Buy New Computer coin...

 

Thank you Caliban and mjnc. A special thank you to chaslang.

First, let me assure you it's rare for me to go anywhere but to you guys when I have computer problems. I know I can trust you, and 99% of my downloads also come from this site rather than the author's site or somewhere else. I went on a hunt for conime when no one here recognized it.

Re: conime. I wil be going back to the link you provided, chaslang, and will run different scans.

Last night, I ran a Search of C and D for conime (Con I Me?). It came up with three entries dated sometime in June 2010, when this slowdown began, I think. I deleted them. This morning, before I came to this site, I ran a search of my computer and found a conime carrying the Windows logo. I placed it in my recycle bin. I have since restored it.

Weird thing though. After deleting the first three conimes found on C & D, my computer was up with access to email and the Net within 12 minutes. (Just enough time for me to make coffee, let the dog out, etc.) After I restored the Windows conime, everything slowed down for a while but it's up to speed now. I don't hear much noise from anything running in the background, except what I've always heard to prove my computer is running.

I don't use Asian languages. Should I still leave conime in place? I have removed it from Startup.

This looks like being a length post, so I'll deal with the other items in another.

 

conime on startup shows -- %windir%\system32\spool\DRIVER\W3...

Hotkey commands unticked in Startup.

IgfxTray -- c\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
I seem to remember that it accompanied Java. When I tried to delete Java yesterday, so I could upload the most recent update (21), it wouldn't uninstall because Igfx was running.

Java -- I would love to get rid of it because it's a huge program. Trouble is, I don't know if I need it or not. Which programs would be associated with it?

Trying to think what I have that might affect Java. . .

The only game installed is Shanghai Dragon (the only connection with anything Oriental). I run Scrabble from a CD in E drive. I have HP Photosmart. I download photos and videos from my HP camera to HP initially before transferring some to D and Photobucket. I also have a CD burner.

Would any of those need Java?

I think I've addressed the things brought up. If I missed something, please let me know.

 

Thanks chaslang. Going there right now.

I'll be back.