How to find running processes

**EricG** · 05-09-2007, 01:22 AM

Hi

My colleague is having problems with his PC running Windows Me - it is consuming almost all of the 528 Mb of RAM without any applications running.

I have Windows XP and would know where to look for problems but I am not familiar with the facilities of Me.

In Windows XP one can view the running processes and resources used using Task Manager. Is there a similar facility with Windows Me?

Furthermore, has anyone any suggestions what I should be checking apart from the obvious virus scans etc.?

**Go The Power** · 05-09-2007, 01:40 AM

Hello

To open up Task Manger.
You can either press Ctrl + ALT + Del, or you can go in Run
Click Start then on Run then type in taskmgr

To free up some RAM on your friends PC try FreeRAM XP Pro. It is a free ware program that will free up ram on your PC

**EricG** · 05-09-2007, 01:59 AM

Hi

I have tried Ctrl + ALT + Del but that doesn't show the resources being used; also some of the processes listed do not mean anything (again, in XP one can view these in Computer Manager with explanations, dependancies etc).

I will try the Freeware Program you suggested but would like to view the running processes with resources being used by each, if that is possible in Windows Me.

**Go The Power** · 05-09-2007, 02:55 AM

FreeRAM XP Pro, works wiht Windows ME, i checked

**EricG** · 05-16-2007, 04:20 AM

The FreeRAM XP Pro works fine but still cannot find a way to view the resources being used by the running processes to see which are hogging the RAM.

**OldGrayGary** · 05-17-2007, 12:40 AM

Hi all

You can try WinMe's "Resource Meter" and "System Monitor" tools to see if they provide any clues --- http://www.smartcomputing.com/editor...7l02.asp&guid=

Are you fairly sure that it's a memory usage problem and not the Windows 9x/Me "system resource" problem? [for a good article explaining "system heaps" and other Win9x/Me "resource" issues, see --- http://www.aumha.org/win4/a/resource.htm --- and for checking in on the startup and background processes, see Paul Collin's article --- http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php --- ]

The Paul Collin's article mentions using the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) to help troubleshoot background processes. That has a good chance of helping you, if one of your friend's background processes has a bad "memory leak".

Best of luck
. . . Gary

**EricG** · 05-17-2007, 02:28 AM

Smartcomputing.com only seems to be available on subscription to North America customers so I cannot read the article (I am in the UK).

Thanks for the other links and the information on adding the Resource Meter and System Monitor - I shall investigate these next time I visit.

**OldGrayGary** · 05-17-2007, 12:27 PM

Hi again

Sorry about the SmartComputing articles: I wasn't aware they'd be unavailable elsewhere.

Here are a few other links for the WinMe "System Tools" (found in the "Accessories" folder in your Start Menu) =
Resource Meter --- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3000...=1139&sid=1406
System Monitor --- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/arc....mspx?mfr=true --- (scroll down to the section "Tracking Performance with System Monitor")

Best of luck
. . . Gary

05-09-2007, 01:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 207 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	How to find running processes Hi My colleague is having problems with his PC running Windows Me - it is consuming almost all of the 528 Mb of RAM without any applications running. I have Windows XP and would know where to look for problems but I am not familiar with the facilities of Me. In Windows XP one can view the running processes and resources used using Task Manager. Is there a similar facility with Windows Me? Furthermore, has anyone any suggestions what I should be checking apart from the obvious virus scans etc.? __________________ Eric G

05-09-2007, 01:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,971 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: How to find running processes Hello To open up Task Manger. You can either press Ctrl + ALT + Del, or you can go in Run Click Start then on Run then type in taskmgr To free up some RAM on your friends PC try FreeRAM XP Pro. It is a free ware program that will free up ram on your PC __________________

05-09-2007, 01:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 207 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Re: How to find running processes Hi I have tried Ctrl + ALT + Del but that doesn't show the resources being used; also some of the processes listed do not mean anything (again, in XP one can view these in Computer Manager with explanations, dependancies etc). I will try the Freeware Program you suggested but would like to view the running processes with resources being used by each, if that is possible in Windows Me. __________________ Eric G

05-09-2007, 02:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
Go The Power Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 10,971 OS: Windows XP Home SP2 Blog Entries: 1	Re: How to find running processes FreeRAM XP Pro, works wiht Windows ME, i checked __________________

05-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 207 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Re: How to find running processes The FreeRAM XP Pro works fine but still cannot find a way to view the resources being used by the running processes to see which are hogging the RAM. __________________ Eric G

05-17-2007, 12:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: How to find running processes Hi all You can try WinMe's "Resource Meter" and "System Monitor" tools to see if they provide any clues --- http://www.smartcomputing.com/editor...7l02.asp&guid= Are you fairly sure that it's a memory usage problem and not the Windows 9x/Me "system resource" problem? [for a good article explaining "system heaps" and other Win9x/Me "resource" issues, see --- http://www.aumha.org/win4/a/resource.htm --- and for checking in on the startup and background processes, see Paul Collin's article --- http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php --- ] The Paul Collin's article mentions using the System Configuration Utility (msconfig) to help troubleshoot background processes. That has a good chance of helping you, if one of your friend's background processes has a bad "memory leak". Best of luck . . . Gary __________________

05-17-2007, 02:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 207 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Re: How to find running processes Smartcomputing.com only seems to be available on subscription to North America customers so I cannot read the article (I am in the UK). Thanks for the other links and the information on adding the Resource Meter and System Monitor - I shall investigate these next time I visit. __________________ Eric G

05-17-2007, 12:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: How to find running processes Hi again Sorry about the SmartComputing articles: I wasn't aware they'd be unavailable elsewhere. Here are a few other links for the WinMe "System Tools" (found in the "Accessories" folder in your Start Menu) = Resource Meter --- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3000...=1139&sid=1406 System Monitor --- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/arc....mspx?mfr=true --- (scroll down to the section "Tracking Performance with System Monitor") Best of luck . . . Gary __________________