what's taking up room and resources?

Saudades · External Since: Sep 21, 2005 Posts: 10

Hi

Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:

1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
what's using them?

and

2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
drive?

Thanks!
s.
----------------------------------------------------
"We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with them.
---Sonny Rollins, 2005

Sharon F · External Since: Feb 20, 2004 Posts: 4852

On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 05:29:48 -0400, Saudades wrote:

> Hi
>
> Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>
> 1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
> what's using them?
>
> and
>
> 2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
> drive?
>
> Thanks!
> s.
> ----------------------------------------------------
> "We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
> But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with them.
> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005

Not sure what kind of resources you're looking to track as XP is very
generous with resource heaps. However, task manager can show a wide variety
of detail about loaded processes. With Task Manager open, click on View>
Select Columns... and choose from a long list of measures.

When a program installs, the main portion of the program will reside in the
program's folder. Some portions will be shuttled off to the Common Files
folder and perhaps a bit in Windows or one of the Windows folders. User
data might be stored in any number of locations including, but not limited
to, one of the Application Data folder under \Document and
Settings\<username>\. Because of the multiple possible locations, getting
an accurate tally is difficult. However, by right clicking the program's
folder and selecting "Properties" you can get a report of the total size
and total size on disk for the main portion of the program.

Windows reports numbers only. If you want something a little more visual -
pie charts and graphs - there are third party tools that can illustrate
disk usage. An example is Disk Recon found here:
http://www.blacksunsoftware.com/

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

Phillips · External Since: Mar 11, 2004 Posts: 273

1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
Michael

"Saudades" <kozure.okami.RemoveThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
> Hi
>
> Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>
> 1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
> what's using them?
>
> and
>
> 2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
> drive?
>
> Thanks!
> s.
> ----------------------------------------------------
> "We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
> But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
> them.
> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>
>

New Guy · External Since: Oct 13, 2005 Posts: 2

Phillips wrote:
> 1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes

But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs
are shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
greater than 50%.

> 2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
> http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
> Michael
>
> "Saudades" <kozure.okami.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
>
>>Hi
>>
>>Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>>
>>1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
>>what's using them?
>>
>>and
>>
>>2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
>>drive?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>s.
>>----------------------------------------------------
>>"We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
>>But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
>>them.
>> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>>
>>
>
>
>

gls8581 · External Since: Apr 05, 2004 Posts: 563

New Guy wrote:
> Phillips wrote:
>> 1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
>
> But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs
> are shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
> greater than 50%.
>
>> 2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
>> http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
>> Michael
>>
>> "Saudades" <kozure.okami RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>>>
>>> 1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
>>> what's using them?
>>>
>>> and
>>>
>>> 2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
>>> drive?
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> s.
>>> ----------------------------------------------------
>>> "We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
>>> But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
>>> them.
>>> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
Click on the CPU label. One click sort ascending click again sorts
descending. It should show the process taking up the CPU cycles.
Google that process name and you should get the program using it.
If not post the name here.

gls858

Phillips · External Since: Mar 11, 2004 Posts: 273

C'mon, read the Help files in WTM, wtf.
Michael

"New Guy" <newguy.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:mTy3f.7539$vD4.395450@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Phillips wrote:
>> 1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
>
> But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs are
> shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
> greater than 50%.
>
>> 2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
>> http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
>> Michael
>>
>> "Saudades" <kozure.okami.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>>>
>>>1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
>>>what's using them?
>>>
>>>and
>>>
>>>2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
>>>drive?
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>s.
>>>----------------------------------------------------
>>>"We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
>>>But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
>>>them.
>>> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>>>
>>>
>>
>>

Phillips · External Since: Mar 11, 2004 Posts: 273

Did you check ShowProcessesFromAllUsers in WTM/Processes?
If you have HyperThreading, one locked process can lock (use) one thread -
hence 50% one thread plus a few percents on the other thread.
If it does not show in processes (SysIdle=99% or a little less), look after
some app set to run on start up; that app (might be a driver as well)
wouldn't actually open and loops waiting for whatever input. You should get
a message at shutdown that WhateverApp is still running or such.
Use msconfig/Startup (disable/reenable one at a time and see which one's the
culprit) or Hijakthis to isolate the faulty app.
Michael

"New Guy" <newguy.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:mTy3f.7539$vD4.395450@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Phillips wrote:
>> 1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
>
> But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs are
> shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
> greater than 50%.
>
>> 2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
>> http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
>> Michael
>>
>> "Saudades" <kozure.okami.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
>>
>>>Hi
>>>
>>>Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>>>
>>>1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
>>>what's using them?
>>>
>>>and
>>>
>>>2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
>>>drive?
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>s.
>>>----------------------------------------------------
>>>"We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
>>>But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
>>>them.
>>> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>>>
>>>
>>
>>

New Guy · External Since: Oct 13, 2005 Posts: 2

Phillips wrote:
> Did you check ShowProcessesFromAllUsers in WTM/Processes?
> If you have HyperThreading, one locked process can lock (use) one thread -
> hence 50% one thread plus a few percents on the other thread.
> If it does not show in processes (SysIdle=99% or a little less), look after
> some app set to run on start up; that app (might be a driver as well)
> wouldn't actually open and loops waiting for whatever input. You should get
> a message at shutdown that WhateverApp is still running or such.
> Use msconfig/Startup (disable/reenable one at a time and see which one's the
> culprit) or Hijakthis to isolate the faulty app.
> Michael

Yes, I have checked ShowProcessFromAllUsers.
Older Duron 700 CPU, 256 meg ram,no hyperthreading.
SysIdle=99% or just less.
Cold boot with all startups disabled, no errors on shutdown.
Still shows between 50% and 75% usage?
Will try Hijakthis later tonight.
Thanks.

> "New Guy" <newguy DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:mTy3f.7539$vD4.395450@news20.bellglobal.com...
>
>>Phillips wrote:
>>
>>>1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
>>
>>But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs are
>>shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
>>greater than 50%.
>>
>>
>>>2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
>>>http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
>>>Michael
>>>
>>>"Saudades" <kozure.okami DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
>>>news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi
>>>>
>>>>Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>>>>
>>>>1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
>>>>what's using them?
>>>>
>>>>and
>>>>
>>>>2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
>>>>drive?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>s.
>>>>----------------------------------------------------
>>>>"We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about that.
>>>>But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
>>>>them.
>>>> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>

Phillips · External Since: Mar 11, 2004 Posts: 273

I did not understand if the system has been slow since you installed XP or
just got slower with usage.
With that hardware you are running on, 50% is not a lot.
Add 256MB RAM - more would be better, that type of RAM's cheap, but the
hardware will be obsolete when Vista comes out.
Other things to try and see if your performance improves:
1. SystemProperties/Advanced/Performance -> uncheck whatever fancy graphics
you don't need. If you like the looks of XP GUI, keep the last setting: "Use
visual styles on windows and buttons"
2. Disable unnecessary services.
3. Disable System Restore - you need some backup, though.

Well, there could be many ways to improve system performance - I assume you
do recommended XP maintenance, check for malware etc.
Michael

"New Guy" <newguy DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:A3V3f.8175$vD4.477553@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Phillips wrote:
>> Did you check ShowProcessesFromAllUsers in WTM/Processes?
>> If you have HyperThreading, one locked process can lock (use) one
>> thread - hence 50% one thread plus a few percents on the other thread.
>> If it does not show in processes (SysIdle=99% or a little less), look
>> after some app set to run on start up; that app (might be a driver as
>> well) wouldn't actually open and loops waiting for whatever input. You
>> should get a message at shutdown that WhateverApp is still running or
>> such.
>> Use msconfig/Startup (disable/reenable one at a time and see which one's
>> the culprit) or Hijakthis to isolate the faulty app.
>> Michael
>
> Yes, I have checked ShowProcessFromAllUsers.
> Older Duron 700 CPU, 256 meg ram,no hyperthreading.
> SysIdle=99% or just less.
> Cold boot with all startups disabled, no errors on shutdown.
> Still shows between 50% and 75% usage?
> Will try Hijakthis later tonight.
> Thanks.
>
>
>> "New Guy" <newguy DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:mTy3f.7539$vD4.395450@news20.bellglobal.com...
>>
>>>Phillips wrote:
>>>
>>>>1. Ctrl-Alt-Del ->Windows Task Manager/Processes
>>>
>>>But how does one determine what is hogging resources when no programs are
>>>shown running, no processes other than system idle, but CPU showing
>>>greater than 50%.
>>>
>>>
>>>>2. Some file manager - a gazillion of them on the web; ex.
>>>>http://www.explorerxp.com/ - free
>>>>Michael
>>>>
>>>>"Saudades" <kozure.okami DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:-oqdnQuV18cTStHeRVn-rg@comcast.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi
>>>>>
>>>>>Can anyone tell me which utilities to use to determine:
>>>>>
>>>>>1) How much of my system's resources are in use at a given time, and
>>>>>what's using them?
>>>>>
>>>>>and
>>>>>
>>>>>2) How much room each of my programs/files are taking up on the hard
>>>>>drive?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>s.
>>>>>----------------------------------------------------
>>>>>"We never really know too much. We really need to be humble about
>>>>>that.
>>>>>But we do get to know certain things, and we have to do the best with
>>>>>them.
>>>>> ---Sonny Rollins, 2005
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>