How to decrease processes running and eating up resources?

[Alvis]

For instance, when I do video editing and the like, I want to make sure as few processes as possible are running because I've had issues before when my computer would freeze up when I was processing video with TMPG. How can I run only the processes that are essential and free up the most system resources? Are there any programs or downloads that would help me with this?

I have a 1.3 Athlon with 512meg ram and I am running Windows XP.

Thanks,

Alvis

[liquid217]

well you really don't need to. Windows 2000 and xp automatically lower the other processes to 0% when another process is given a higher priority. Tmpg and virtualdub can do this automatically (higher priority), or you can do it. While you are looking at the running processes, right click on the thread, and raise the priority. be careful not to raise it to realtime. It can be dangerous to the system because it ecentually stops all other processes and focuses only on that particular thread, at that point, you would have little control over your computer till that process is complete.