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    nvsvc32.exe (NVidia Driver Helper) takes 2.5 GB of RAM?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by lanwarrior, May 10, 2008.

  1. lanwarrior

    lanwarrior Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi all,

    I have the XPS M1530 notebook with NVIDIA 8600MGT. My system have 4GB with Windows XP (recognize only 3.5GB). I just noted that if I leave my system on for days, there is a process called nvsvc32.exe (Nvidia driver helper) that slowly eats up RAM.

    I tested this by turning on the laptop on Sunday, went for travel for a whole week and left the system on and when I came back, this process takes 2.5 GB of RAM!

    No background program running other than standard resident programs like Avast!, Spy Sweeper and Dell Quickset. The system was not used at all when I travel.

    With my other laptop, a Sony and Dell with NVIDIA 6200 and ATI X1400 respectively, no issue was found when left in the same state.

    Does anyone know why and if I can disable this process from the Services list?
     
  2. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I don't know why it does that, but here is how you can disable it,

    1. Click Start, click Run, type %SystemRoot%\system32\services.msc /s, and then click OK.
    2. Double-click on the nvidia service.
    3. In the Startup type list, click disable, and then click Apply.
    4. In the Service status area, you can even stop it right away.
     
  3. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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  4. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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  5. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Hi.

    I know that, I was just saying that Vista does not have this process :rolleyes:

    regards

    John.

     
  6. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I know that you know but I'm telling you that he works on XP :D
     
  7. Kocane

    Kocane Notebook Deity

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    it has just nvsvc.exe :) Take 800 K of ram.
     
  8. lanwarrior

    lanwarrior Notebook Evangelist

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    Is this Service needed for the video card to operate properly. If not, do u know why it's there in the 1st place?
     
  9. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I would personally leave it alone, the nvsvc32.exe belongs to the NVIDIA graphics card drivers and if you read its description it says that it provides system and desktop level support to the NVIDIA display driver. If you remove it it may cause unexpected things and have the driver to work improperly.

    If you disable it to see what happens, and nothing happens then it's fine if not you can do the same operation and enable it again, it's entirely up to you.
     
  10. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    First turn off /restart your laptop atleast once a week. Then talk about RAM utilization.
     
  11. lanwarrior

    lanwarrior Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks all. I will NOT disable the service but I'll leave my laptop for the next 3-4 days and monitor the service. I hope it's not going up again!

    But have any of you noticed that service eating up a lot of RAM even when leaving the laptop ON for 2 days straight? I am curious why it'll eat up 2.5 GB of RAM...
     
  12. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I'll monitor it next time and let you know.
     
  13. ScifiMike12

    ScifiMike12 Drinking the good stuff

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    It's fine if you disable it from your startup but don't disable it entirely (from the Services menu).

    For some more helpful information, I found this: