background programs slowing computer

[rikit]

I have a new external dvd burner I want to run form my computer. My computer is slow as it is and it seems to be a problem with burning. I want to eliminate the chances of to many background programs running. Can anyone help me with identifing what should be running and what should not? This way I can eliminate the background programs theory.

[normcar]

Which OS do you use?

[JerryB]

Hi,
I am assuming your using winxp but even if your using win9x , you can go to the msconfig.exe>startup tab and disable what you don't need....

now here a few links that will give guidelines on what to disable....

http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

now there another group of startup programs in windows xp that known as SERVICES...
becarefull on which one you want to disable... here a couple of more links that will be usefull..
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm
http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12

I have a new external dvd burner I want to run form my computer. My computer is slow as it is and it seems to be a problem with burning. I want to eliminate the chances of to many background programs running. Can anyone help me with identifing what should be running and what should not? This way I can eliminate the background programs theory.

[normcar]

Win 2000 is different, it does not have msconfig. There is a freeware startup program to monitor and change your startup programs.

[JerryB]

hi,
I didn't notice that you had win2k my apologies... there several programs avail that you can use check out download.com however you can use the msconfig that in winxp.... if yo desire this one... go to this link..... to download... simple install.....
http://www.techadvice.com/win2000/m/msconfig_w2k.htm

I have a new external dvd burner I want to run form my computer. My computer is slow as it is and it seems to be a problem with burning. I want to eliminate the chances of to many background programs running. Can anyone help me with identifing what should be running and what should not? This way I can eliminate the background programs theory.

[rikit]

I have xp. I looked at those links and they were real helpful. Wow services is huge. I did eliminate a few in startup. Thanks

[redwudz]

You didn't mention what your external interface is, but I'll assume USB 2.0. You do have to watch for other USB peripherals. Not so much a keyboard or a mouse, but other drives and such. USB can also suffer interrupts from the OS. But that often depends on the motherboard chipset and it's configuration if they cause problems.

Having your system keep 'quiet' during burning can help. Make sure your antivirus isn't set to check every file as they are accessed. See what programs need occasional access to your drives to operate properly. Keep unnecessary processes from running in the background. You don't have to disable your system to burn, but be aware of which programs are normally running all the time in the computer. If you have no problems, then that's good. If you do, trace them down and do what you can to minimize their effects.

[rikit]

I am not sure what you mean by interface? Just to add to my info, I have a 2.0 external dvd/cd drive plugged into a usb 1.0 port. I just bought a 2.0 card to install if needed. Do you think that may be the whole problem in a nut shell?

[redwudz]

You definitely need USB 2.0. USB 1.1 will cause you all kinds of problems. It might work with a CD burner but 1.1 is way too slow for DVD. USB is one type of interface between your computer and your external drive. Others are FireWire and even SATA.

That USB 2.0 card should just be a 'plug and play' operation. XP doesn't need any drivers for it. SP1 should recognize it. After you install it and reboot, check your Device Manager under 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' and you should see a new entry, 'Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Controller', or similar. You are looking for the 'Enhanced' part. That tells you there is a USB 2.0 controller running.

[rikit]

Thanks so much. problem solved so far. I burnt a cd with success. Next I will try dvd. All in all a big difference.

[ahhaa]

one last & perhaps obvious thing- if you aren't online, you don't need the AV & firewall running (assuming your files have been scanned).

I once had Trend 'turn on' for some reason while burning a data CD- it took nearly forever to complete.

and, adding even a small amount of RAM can make quite a difference to throughput operations.