General answer to a common question - WHAT TO STOP ON SYSTEM

[arcorob]

Here is an answer to a frequent question here.

People ask , how do you shut down all other processes so you have better captures and what should you leave.

answer is - EVERYTHING EXCEPT EXPLORER (not IEXPLORE)
Just plain EXPLORER

All other tasks are non-essential. They are essential to the regular workings and maintenance of your machine but not to RUNNING your machine. Only EXPLORER has to run because it runs your desktop and if you stop it, your hosed.

SYSTRAY is a convienance. Monitors, spool, etc. are there for if you need them faster. SO for example, if you say PRINT, it will restart itself and is only there for performance of a print process .

Experiment. Do your ALT CNTL DEL and one by one end all tasks. LEave EXPLORER alone. When you are done. try any task you like. U will see it still works , it will just most likely restart some function you have ended.

The only ones in XP that I questioned were SYSTEM and SYSTEM idle and will test those today. SVCHOST is network only so if your not planning on running the internet while you capture, shut it down. It would be a good idea also to disconnect your cable modem if you have one as your always getting PINGs and such from the internet service supplier.

Hope this helps.

[Bstansbury]

Thanks for you info. and the testing work. I must have had 20 people ask that question. Hope they all see your post.

[ApacheWraith]

Good work arcorob!! I have Xp and 98SE, 98SE I only leave Explorer, Xp I mess with but I keep getting errors, plus there is 2 sections now Applications, and something else.. So which ones in Xp have to be open?

Thanks.

Wraith

[jtor]

Guys,

...found this, on videoguys, covering Win2K. I don't think it'll have that big difference for WinXP. It gives some slight explanation of the modules, and some 'recommendations' (on what to do with them).

http://www.videoguys.com/Win2K_Tweaks.html

Hope this helps, as it has helped me a lot.

[arcorob]

I have not done 100% testing YET but on XP, the SVCHOST for Network can go. SVCHOST LOCAL and SYSTEM might have to stay.

Microsoft has implemented what was formerly a Mainframe and midrange arch , namely SVC (supervisor call) technology for their system code. It allows the programs to use this function for I/O calls handled by system.

Another is the system, and system idle. Tonight, i will try each and post under a new topic
WHAT TO SHUTDOWN for XP.

I do notice that shutting everything else off works great though..but to be honest, thus far I don't have to. My machine doesn't really drop frames (or at least it is negligible).

I have been working on a MOVIE production all day on my day off (family films) thus I have not had time to do the test. I use Myflix to cut my clips, Ulead to put the whole thing together.