To many processes open on new fw

Hi,

On my new fw, task manager says that I have around 106 processes going at once. This number is huugggee!!! All i want to do on the laptop is surf the net, do microsoft office documents, watch films, listen to music on itunes that is basically it.

Do you know which processes I can safely close to reduce this number and increase the performance of the laptop, as that many processes is obviously going to slow it down.

Thanks

 

Two suggestions to start with:

1) Start > Control Panel > Programs & Features
Uninstall any bloatware that came with the computer; ex, trial software, promotional software, antivirus programs, etc

2) Start > type 'msconfig' in search box, enter > Startup tab
Uncheck any programs that you don't need when the computer boots up.

 

Or do a fresh re-installation of Windows. OEM installs include way too much bloat.

 

This is also another viable option, though it may take more time; the advantage is that you can then take an image of this fresh install and save it for future use.

 

Ok thanks I wil try a clean install.

By the way what are drivers? Do i need them to do a clean install, I dont understand what they do?

Thanks

 

Drivers are programs that allow the operating system to control and manage specific hardware.

Once you have Windows installed, the OS won't have all the drivers needed to recognize all of Sony's hardware. Fortunately, manufacturers provide users with drivers; you can download driver software from the manufacturer's website. Simply enter your model info, and you should be directed to a page with everything you need.

http://esupport.sony.com/perl/select-system.pl

 

Two programs you can use to ID programs that are both resource hogs and whether or not you can shut them down in the Startup Manager:

1. Memory Boost - it's a RAM resource manager that lets you ID RAM hogs, and its Detective Feature will allow you to determine which programs the process belongs to. It also allows you to reclaim RAM that's been used but not returned to the system.
2. System Mechanic - Its Startup Manager utility has a program / process ID feature that tells you if the process/program is critical to system operation or not and recommends whether or not you can shut it down without consequences.

106 isn't really that bad for a typical Vista system, though it depends on your overall system configuration. I average around a 100 - 110 give or take, but then I've got the resources to handle it so I don't have any issues. It's a bit much for a 32 bit system with low resources, but the Vista average around 90 if I remember right.

 

I reccomend getting the drivers before you do the clean install. I'm running Vista 32bit and I only have 60 processes running, so you can definately cut that down.

 

Sorry, but I am going to be brutally honest here. If you need to ask that question you should NOT, I repeat NOT, attempt to do a clean install or even start messing with what processes or services are running on your laptop. Not YET!

You need to first educate yourself a bit and THEN think about taking on these tasks.

There are several threads here about doing a clean install. Find the one specific to your model and read through it, ask questions, prepare a list of things you will need and make sure you have them all in place and THEN try a clean install.

Now back to your original question, why do you thing 106 processes are too many? Because someone told you so, or you read a thread here that make you think so? Look, the reality is the 106 may be just right. Remember Vista manages memory in a very different way than XP did. XP took a minimalist attitude and loaded as little into memory as possible. Vista on the other hand takes the approach that unused memory is wasted memory and loads as much into memory as it thinks will be needed, BUT (and this is the important part to understand) it is able to instantly free up memory should it be needed by something you do or some event that should occur.

If you do start uninstalling things or disabling things using msconfig as suggested, be absolutely positively certain you know what it is that you are uninstalling or disabling. This is especially true on Sony machines as there are various features of the machine controlled by applications or services with names that don't necessarily indicate what they do. You may find that disabling or uninstalling the wrong thing can cause the function keys to no longer function, or the power management to no longer work. So take it slow. Ask questions here. Make sure you understand each step you take BEFORE you take it. There are lots of folks here willing to help you out, if you ask FIRST. Don't fall into the trap that many others have and just start removing things because you THINK they aren't needed. Know they aren't before you do.

And one final thing, before you do ANYTHING else, if you haven't already done so, make sure you create the DVD recovery set as instructed when you first got the machine out of the box. It is your insurance policy for anything you might mess up on the machine and in it also will contain a set of drivers that you might need once you understand what they are and are ready to tackle a clean install!

Good luck!

Gary

 

How would you know that applies to the OP, unless you are running the same hardware and software configuration as they are. There is no magic number of processes that are a "target" for someone to try to achieve. I have 95 running on my machine right now and can assure you it is humming along just fine, with the system idle process running at about 94%. But that number is meaningless to anyone who is not running a Sony FZ190 with the same software configuration as me.

Gary

 

If only that were true. With a Sony you may not always find EVERYTHING you need on their support pages. In some cases the drivers are there, but Sony don't always implement all the functionality through just the drivers and you may find that there are auxiliary apps required. Some of which don't show up on the support pages or do so latter in the lifecycle of the machine. They have gotten better about this, but one needs to tread carefully and be sure you first know everything that is required (typically by way of one of the clean install guides that pop up here as new models are introduced). And then know where to locate everything you need. Sometimes relying on the DVD recovery set that Sony has you make. These for some models can serve two purposes. One as a way to get back to an "out of the box state" but also as a repository for all of the drivers and auxiliary apps required for a clean install.

Those of us who have owned Sony laptops for many years and models have learned this lesson the hard way. I'm in my 12th year now and third model and have the tire tracks on my back to prove it. ...big ol' grin...

Gary