slow+computer

Troubleshooting a slow computer


 * 1) Open the **Taskmanager** (start -> run -> taskmgr)
 * 2) Go to the **Performance** tab and note if it seems to be the processor or the memory that is maxed out.
 * 3) Go to the **Processes** tab. In the bottom left corner check the **Show processes from all users** box.
 * 4) If the memory was maxed out in step 2 look at the **Mem Usage** column and see what seems to be taking up a lot of memory. Sometimes the memory usage can fluctuate a lot in a short period of time. In that case you may want to display the **Peak Memory Usage** column. To do that go View menu -> Select Columns -> check the Peak Memory Usage -> click OK.
 * 5) If the processor was maxed out in step 2, look at the **CPU column** to see what process is taking up a lot of processor time. Sometimes this is very difficult because a process will be taking up 90% one second and 1% the next. In that case click the CPU column header and it will order the processes from lowest usage to highest. Click a second time to order highest to lowest.
 * 6) If you are remoted in the **Zenrem32.exe** (zen works remote management) process will be taking up as much as 30% of the processor at times. This is normal.
 * 7) You wil notice multiple instances of **svchost.exe**. These processes actually represent multiple Windows OS services. To see what processes are running under each instance of **svchost.exe** run the following line at the command prompt: **tasklist /svc** . To run this command remotely on another users computer use this command: **tasklist /S /U administrator /svc** . When you run that command you will be prompted for the administrator password, then you'll get the output. In many cases these services can be set from loading Automatically to Manually in **Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services**. For more information see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056

> Note the problem processes and report to the technician. Screenshots can also be helpful. > Below is a list of normal processes in our environment you'll see in task manager when nothing else is running. These are listed in alphabetical order. You can display processes in Task Manger in alphabetical order by clicking on the **Image Name column**. On some systems there will be other necessary and normal processes that have to do with hardware or software on that computer. > You can often get information about other processes not listed here by googling the name of it. The processes can also show up with a .exe at the end. All process actually do end with .exe, but it's not always displayed in Task Manager. > **alg** - Windows System process "Application Layer Gateway Service" > **cagent32** - Schooldude Assent Management component. AKA Centennial Discovery > **ctfmon** - MS Office Alternative User Input Service > **csrss** - Microsoft Client/Server Runtime Server Subsystem > **explorer** - Windows Explorer. needed to browse files on computer. > **iprntctl** - iPrint Tray icon > **iprntlgn** - Novell iPrint command line installer > **lsass** - Windows Local Security Authority Service > **NalAgent** - Zenworks Application Engine > **NALNTSRV** - Novell Client Module > **nwtray** - Novell Netware tray application > **SAAlert** - Lightspeed Security Agent Alert component > **SATray** - Lightspeed Security Agent System Tray icon > **SecurityAgent** - Light Speed Security Agent > **services** - Windows Service Controller > **smss** - Windows Session Manager Subsystem > **spoolsv** - Windows print & fax spooler > **svchost** - a blanket listing for services that are running in the back ground. See Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services. There will usually be at least 3 instances of svchost showing in task manager. If any of these are taking up an inordinate amount of memory see the following MS KB article about traking it down: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314056 > **system** - Windows system. > **System Idle Process** - A process that shows how much of CPU capacity is free. > **taskmgr** - the task manager > **Update** - Lightspeed. Only runs when getting latest virus/threat updates. > **winlogon** - Windows logon service, this does need to run even after you've logged in. > **WM** - Novell Workstation Manager > **wmrundll** - ZENworks Desktop Management component > **xferwan** - Schooldude Assent Management component. AKA Centennial Discovery > **xtagent** - Novell NetIdentity Service > **ZenRem32** - Novell Zenworks Remote. Let's helpdesk and Facilitators remote into computers