what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???

"elietabet" wrote:

> what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???

<quote>
Svchost.exe is a process on your computer that hosts, or contains, other
individual services that Windows uses to perform various functions. For
example, Windows Defender uses a service that is hosted by a svchost.exe
process.

There can be multiple instances of svchost.exe running on your computer,
with each instance containing different services. One instance of svchost.exe
might host a single service for a program, and another instance might host
several services related to Windows. You can use Task Manager to view which
services are running under each instance of svchost.exe.
</quote>

A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056

An antivirus scan may increase the number of open handles for the
svchost.exe process on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892489

FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use Windows
Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach 100 percent
for prolonged periods
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089

Virus alert about the Nachi worm
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826234

Slow system performance or your computer stops responding when you use
Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838884

What Anti-virus and anti-spyware applications/software are you using?.
HTH.
Let us know.
Regards,
nass
-----------
www.nasstec.co.uk

Download Process Explorer.

For further information about Process Explorer see here:
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/fr.../procexp.shtml


To ascertain which service is causing the problem select the svchost
producing the high CPU usage, right click,
select Properties, Services. Note there are the full names and
some explanation of what each service does.


You will find further information on Services here:
http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12


To trace the particular Service involved you need to turn off each
service in turn and then restore it noting what effect it has on CPU
usage. However, you need to take care and watch what other Services
are
dependent on that service. When you click on the Dependencies tab
allow
it a little time to display the information.



--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"elietabet" <elietabet@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D2B0E5BA-5C5F-4F8C-B0B4-17C4C3E469C2@microsoft.com...
> what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???

Thanks guys for the explanation.
I currently have XP home SP2 and recently upgraded to 1GB RAM and i thought
i might see some improvement, i do have a brand new laptop, but i didnt see
any significant speed. as a matter of fact, i noticed that on startup, the
desktop appears and it is taking couple more seconds then before for the
icons and taskbar to appear. Not sure why this is happening. when i do press
alt+ctrl+del i see svchost.exe is using he most mem usage.

i also have the latest mcafee virusscan.

any more advice?
thanks.


"nass" wrote:

>
>
> "elietabet" wrote:
>
> > what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???
>
> <quote>
> Svchost.exe is a process on your computer that hosts, or contains, other
> individual services that Windows uses to perform various functions. For
> example, Windows Defender uses a service that is hosted by a svchost.exe
> process.
>
> There can be multiple instances of svchost.exe running on your computer,
> with each instance containing different services. One instance of svchost.exe
> might host a single service for a program, and another instance might host
> several services related to Windows. You can use Task Manager to view which
> services are running under each instance of svchost.exe.
> </quote>
>
> A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056
>
> An antivirus scan may increase the number of open handles for the
> svchost.exe process on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892489
>
> FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use Windows
> Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach 100 percent
> for prolonged periods
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089
>
> Virus alert about the Nachi worm
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826234
>
> Slow system performance or your computer stops responding when you use
> Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838884
>
> What Anti-virus and anti-spyware applications/software are you using?.
> HTH.
> Let us know.
> Regards,
> nass
> -----------
> www.nasstec.co.uk

Try Process Explorer as I suggested!


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"elietabet" <elietabet@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6090E699-FF6F-4863-A203-FF9D6AD0CE41@microsoft.com...
> Thanks guys for the explanation.
> I currently have XP home SP2 and recently upgraded to 1GB RAM and i
> thought
> i might see some improvement, i do have a brand new laptop, but i
> didnt see
> any significant speed. as a matter of fact, i noticed that on
> startup, the
> desktop appears and it is taking couple more seconds then before for
> the
> icons and taskbar to appear. Not sure why this is happening. when i
> do press
> alt+ctrl+del i see svchost.exe is using he most mem usage.
>
> i also have the latest mcafee virusscan.
>
> any more advice?
> thanks.
>
>
> "nass" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "elietabet" wrote:
>>
>> > what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???
>>
>> <quote>
>> Svchost.exe is a process on your computer that hosts, or contains,
>> other
>> individual services that Windows uses to perform various functions.
>> For
>> example, Windows Defender uses a service that is hosted by a
>> svchost.exe
>> process.
>>
>> There can be multiple instances of svchost.exe running on your
>> computer,
>> with each instance containing different services. One instance of
>> svchost.exe
>> might host a single service for a program, and another instance
>> might host
>> several services related to Windows. You can use Task Manager to
>> view which
>> services are running under each instance of svchost.exe.
>> </quote>
>>
>> A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056
>>
>> An antivirus scan may increase the number of open handles for the
>> svchost.exe process on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892489
>>
>> FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use
>> Windows
>> Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach 100
>> percent
>> for prolonged periods
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089
>>
>> Virus alert about the Nachi worm
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826234
>>
>> Slow system performance or your computer stops responding when you
>> use
>> Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838884
>>
>> What Anti-virus and anti-spyware applications/software are you
>> using?.
>> HTH.
>> Let us know.
>> Regards,
>> nass
>> -----------
>> www.nasstec.co.uk

Gerry,
the link is not working.


"Gerry Cornell" wrote:

> Try Process Explorer as I suggested!
>
>
> --
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> "elietabet" <elietabet@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6090E699-FF6F-4863-A203-FF9D6AD0CE41@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks guys for the explanation.
> > I currently have XP home SP2 and recently upgraded to 1GB RAM and i
> > thought
> > i might see some improvement, i do have a brand new laptop, but i
> > didnt see
> > any significant speed. as a matter of fact, i noticed that on
> > startup, the
> > desktop appears and it is taking couple more seconds then before for
> > the
> > icons and taskbar to appear. Not sure why this is happening. when i
> > do press
> > alt+ctrl+del i see svchost.exe is using he most mem usage.
> >
> > i also have the latest mcafee virusscan.
> >
> > any more advice?
> > thanks.
> >
> >
> > "nass" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> "elietabet" wrote:
> >>
> >> > what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???
> >>
> >> <quote>
> >> Svchost.exe is a process on your computer that hosts, or contains,
> >> other
> >> individual services that Windows uses to perform various functions.
> >> For
> >> example, Windows Defender uses a service that is hosted by a
> >> svchost.exe
> >> process.
> >>
> >> There can be multiple instances of svchost.exe running on your
> >> computer,
> >> with each instance containing different services. One instance of
> >> svchost.exe
> >> might host a single service for a program, and another instance
> >> might host
> >> several services related to Windows. You can use Task Manager to
> >> view which
> >> services are running under each instance of svchost.exe.
> >> </quote>
> >>
> >> A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056
> >>
> >> An antivirus scan may increase the number of open handles for the
> >> svchost.exe process on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892489
> >>
> >> FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use
> >> Windows
> >> Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach 100
> >> percent
> >> for prolonged periods
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089
> >>
> >> Virus alert about the Nachi worm
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826234
> >>
> >> Slow system performance or your computer stops responding when you
> >> use
> >> Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838884
> >>
> >> What Anti-virus and anti-spyware applications/software are you
> >> using?.
> >> HTH.
> >> Let us know.
> >> Regards,
> >> nass
> >> -----------
> >> www.nasstec.co.uk
>
>

I found and installed it. and to be honest with you, i'm not sure what to
keep or what to remove in that list.



"Gerry Cornell" wrote:

> Try Process Explorer as I suggested!
>
>
> --
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> "elietabet" <elietabet@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6090E699-FF6F-4863-A203-FF9D6AD0CE41@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks guys for the explanation.
> > I currently have XP home SP2 and recently upgraded to 1GB RAM and i
> > thought
> > i might see some improvement, i do have a brand new laptop, but i
> > didnt see
> > any significant speed. as a matter of fact, i noticed that on
> > startup, the
> > desktop appears and it is taking couple more seconds then before for
> > the
> > icons and taskbar to appear. Not sure why this is happening. when i
> > do press
> > alt+ctrl+del i see svchost.exe is using he most mem usage.
> >
> > i also have the latest mcafee virusscan.
> >
> > any more advice?
> > thanks.
> >
> >
> > "nass" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> "elietabet" wrote:
> >>
> >> > what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???
> >>
> >> <quote>
> >> Svchost.exe is a process on your computer that hosts, or contains,
> >> other
> >> individual services that Windows uses to perform various functions.
> >> For
> >> example, Windows Defender uses a service that is hosted by a
> >> svchost.exe
> >> process.
> >>
> >> There can be multiple instances of svchost.exe running on your
> >> computer,
> >> with each instance containing different services. One instance of
> >> svchost.exe
> >> might host a single service for a program, and another instance
> >> might host
> >> several services related to Windows. You can use Task Manager to
> >> view which
> >> services are running under each instance of svchost.exe.
> >> </quote>
> >>
> >> A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056
> >>
> >> An antivirus scan may increase the number of open handles for the
> >> svchost.exe process on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892489
> >>
> >> FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use
> >> Windows
> >> Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach 100
> >> percent
> >> for prolonged periods
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089
> >>
> >> Virus alert about the Nachi worm
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826234
> >>
> >> Slow system performance or your computer stops responding when you
> >> use
> >> Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838884
> >>
> >> What Anti-virus and anti-spyware applications/software are you
> >> using?.
> >> HTH.
> >> Let us know.
> >> Regards,
> >> nass
> >> -----------
> >> www.nasstec.co.uk
>
>

"elietabet" wrote

> Thanks guys for the explanation.
> I currently have XP home SP2 and recently upgraded to 1GB RAM and i
> thought
> i might see some improvement, i do have a brand new laptop, but i didnt
> see
> any significant speed. as a matter of fact, i noticed that on startup, the
> desktop appears and it is taking couple more seconds then before for the
> icons and taskbar to appear. Not sure why this is happening. when i do
> press
> alt+ctrl+del i see svchost.exe is using he most mem usage.
>
> i also have the latest mcafee virusscan.

I'm not saying that's the problem you have but, it takes more than one
anti-malware app to deal with malware. Particularly with respect to non
viral malware, you need to run a couple of the anti-malware programs in safe
mode. Good programs for this are Adaware SE Personal, Spybot S&D, and
Windows Defender. All are free.

One cause for the slowness you're seeing could be the McAfee products. The
large security suites like McAfee and Norton are resource hogs, and can
cause problems at some point.

There are some good free or low cost alternatives that are much less
resource heavy.
AV programs: AVG, Avast, CA eTrust, Anti-Vir, Nod32
Firewall: Sunbelt Software's Kerio Personal Firewall, Zone Alarm, Comodo
Personal Firewall.

Whether adding more ram will speed up the computer depends on what apps you
run and how much the page file is used. If it is used extensively then
adding RAM will help because this reduces page file size. For many 512 MB
is plenty and going to 1GB won't improve things, but for others running
certain apps they see better performance with 1 or 2 GB.

Here is an article on Virtual Memory in XP and setting the page file. There
is a link to a small utility you can run to monitor page file usage.

Virtual Memory in Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Malware Removal
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Richard Harper’s Guide to Cleaning Pests
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

Slow Computer
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

In Process Explorer select View, Select Columns and check the boxes
before PID, Description,Company Name, Version, Image Path, Windows
Status and Command Line.
Also select View, Fractional CPU and Show Lower Pane.

What is the Description, Path and Command Line of the Process using
the CPU?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

elietabet wrote:
> I found and installed it. and to be honest with you, i'm not sure
> what to keep or what to remove in that list.
>
>
>
> "Gerry Cornell" wrote:
>
>> Try Process Explorer as I suggested!
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>> "elietabet" <elietabet@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6090E699-FF6F-4863-A203-FF9D6AD0CE41@microsoft.com...
>>> Thanks guys for the explanation.
>>> I currently have XP home SP2 and recently upgraded to 1GB RAM and
>>> i
>>> thought
>>> i might see some improvement, i do have a brand new laptop, but i
>>> didnt see
>>> any significant speed. as a matter of fact, i noticed that on
>>> startup, the
>>> desktop appears and it is taking couple more seconds then before
>>> for
>>> the
>>> icons and taskbar to appear. Not sure why this is happening. when
>>> i
>>> do press
>>> alt+ctrl+del i see svchost.exe is using he most mem usage.
>>>
>>> i also have the latest mcafee virusscan.
>>>
>>> any more advice?
>>> thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>> "nass" wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "elietabet" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> what is svchost.exe?? and why does it use so much memory???
>>>>
>>>> <quote>
>>>> Svchost.exe is a process on your computer that hosts, or
>>>> contains,
>>>> other
>>>> individual services that Windows uses to perform various
>>>> functions.
>>>> For
>>>> example, Windows Defender uses a service that is hosted by a
>>>> svchost.exe
>>>> process.
>>>>
>>>> There can be multiple instances of svchost.exe running on your
>>>> computer,
>>>> with each instance containing different services. One instance of
>>>> svchost.exe
>>>> might host a single service for a program, and another instance
>>>> might host
>>>> several services related to Windows. You can use Task Manager to
>>>> view which
>>>> services are running under each instance of svchost.exe.
>>>> </quote>
>>>>
>>>> A description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP Pro
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056
>>>>
>>>> An antivirus scan may increase the number of open handles for the
>>>> svchost.exe process on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892489
>>>>
>>>> FIX: When you run Windows Update to scan for updates that use
>>>> Windows
>>>> Installer, including Office updates, CPU utilization may reach
>>>> 100
>>>> percent
>>>> for prolonged periods
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089
>>>>
>>>> Virus alert about the Nachi worm
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826234
>>>>
>>>> Slow system performance or your computer stops responding when
>>>> you
>>>> use
>>>> Windows Management Instrumentation in Windows XP
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838884
>>>>
>>>> What Anti-virus and anti-spyware applications/software are you
>>>> using?.
>>>> HTH.
>>>> Let us know.
>>>> Regards,
>>>> nass
>>>> -----------
>>>> www.nasstec.co.uk