Archive for April, 2009:
Using the TaskList Utility (2)
NOTE
The list of modules TaskList provides are the modules the application has loaded. Some applications load modules optionally when they need them to save system resources. For example, a word processor might load a spelling module only when a user has requested a spelling check. Consequently, you can view this list as the modules the application must access to run, not the list required to enable all application features.
/SVC Task Manager won’t tell you which services each of the
SVCHOST.EXE entries hosts. Use this command line switch to display that information. You’ll find that each SVCHOST.EXE entry supports
one or more services. Figure 7.4 shows typical output with this switch. Now compare this output with Figure 7.1 and you’ll discover why one of the SVCHOST.EXE entries is so much larger than the other entries.
/V This switch adds information to the display shown in Figure 7.3, including the application status, name of the user running the process, the amount of processor time the application is using,
and the name of the application window. You might be surprised at how many of the applications listed are run by the system on your behalf or to maintain Windows. One of the most useful columns for optimization purposes is Window Title, which tells you the human readable name of the application. The connection between the executable and window names can help you locate viruses, adware, and spyware on your system.
/FI Filter It’s possible to filter the information TaskList provides so you see just the entries you want. The filters can become complex, so read the text that appears after this list for additional information. Table 7.2 describes the filter criteria.
Figure 7.4
The /SVC command line switch tells you how the services are loaded.
/FO Format You don’t have to display the TaskList output as a formatted table (TABLE format), as shown in Figures 7.3 and 7.4. In fact, you can use the LIST format to display the entries as single
entries and the CSV format to display the entries in Comma Separated Value (CSV) as input for a database. Combine the /FO CSV
and the /NH switches to create output that you can place in a file and output to a database. For example, to create a complete view of the current tasks, type TaskList /V /NH /FO CSV > InputData.CSV
and press Enter.
TIP
You’ll be able to import the CSV file that TaskList creates directly into databases such as Access and SQL Server, or an application such as Excel without any problem. These applications can help you maintain a history of task lists and perform comparisons of various application loads on your system. Keeping track of the task list also makes it easier to detect when another application has “magically” appeared on the list.
/NH Tells TaskList to display the output without any header information. This switch only works for the TABLE and CSV formats.
TaskList also supports a number of filters. A filter helps reduce the number of outputs by comparing the entry against criteria you provide. The filters can use comparisons such as equal (eq), not
equal (ne), greater than (gt), less than (lt), greater than or equal to (ge), and less than or equal to (le). You just use the two-letter comparison when working with TaskList. Table 7.2 lists all of the filters, describes them for you, provides a list of comparison operators for that filter, and tells you which values are valid.
Taken From : Microsoft Windows XP Power Optimization
Running Applications Automatically (1)
You might have noticed that Windows runs some applications automatically whenever you start the system. The ability to run applications automatically makes Windows convenient because you don’t have to set it up every time you use it. However, automation is also a source of problems. Even when someone isn’t trying to run adware, spyware, or a virus on your system, the accumulation of automated applications can slow your system to a crawl, reduce reliability, and generally make it difficult to use your computer.
The only problem is that it isn’t easy to find all of those automated programs. In many cases, it’s a matter of knowing where to look for the required entries. For example, most people know to look in the Start Programs Startup folder for application entries. Windows automatically starts any applications found in this folder. When the application is located in the All Users Startup folder, rather than your personal Startup folder, Windows starts that application for veryone who logs into the machine. You can determine whether an application affects all users by right-clicking Start and choosing Explore All Users from the context menu. Windows will open a copy of Windows Explorer that displays the settings shared by all users on the machine.
TIP
You don’t have to look all over the system for most startup settings. Microsoft includes the MSCONFIG utility to make it easier to locate startup settings. The “Using MSCONFIG” section of Chapter 7 describes this utility in detail.
Another source of automatic startups is services. Although a service doesn’t usually support any kind of user interface other than the one that Microsoft provides, vendors often couple services with applications. For example, when you install support for an uninterruptible Power Supply, you see an application, but the application relies on an underlying service. Without the service, the application won’t start. You can learn more about getting rid of annoying services in the “Clearing Unnecessary Services” section of Chapter 7.
Device drivers can also cause applications to run automatically. For example, when you install a new display adapter, the associated software disk includes a combination of applications and device
drivers that help you make better use of the new display adapter. Unfortunately, especially in the case of display adapters, the new software can actually decrease system performance. The “Locating
Unnecessary Drivers” section of Chapter 7 describes how to manage this source of performance killing software.
At this point, you might wonder where the registry connection is in all this. For one thing, the registry normally holds all of the settings for the previously mentioned sources of irritation. Unfortunately,
uninstalling the software might not clean up the settings. Forever afterward, your system takes on the appearance of a punchy boxer on the ropes, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The “Relying on Registry Cleaning Products” of this chapter tells you how to rid yourself of these nasty remainders
Taken From : Microsoft Windows XP Power Optimization
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Memory Hogs and Other Vicious Beasts
You might not know it, but vicious beasts roam your computer devouring resources that kindly applications require. These evil manifestations from gizmo hell disrupt system operations and make it impossible for you to complete your work in a timely manner. If you didn’t know better, you might think there was a conspiracy to make you look bad. However, the problem is more subtle than you think—the source of the problem is the perceived need for something that ultimately doesn’t deliver anything at all and is ultimately forgotten—left to forage on its own.
Fortunately, you can hunt the beast down, assess its threat, and remove it from your system. This chapter discusses a number of unruly beasts that attack computer systems—everything from device
drivers to gizmos that you installed, at some point, because they looked interesting. In fact, many useful applications turn into beasts through neglect. Often, someone thought they would use the application, found out later that the application really didn’t do the job, and then failed to remove the application from the system.
Understanding How Much an Application Costs
Every application you start costs something in system resources. You can’t start an application without using memory and processing cycles at a minimum. Applications also require hard drive space, network bandwidth, and access to various connections (such as the serial or parallel ports). Without resources, applications can’t run and perform useful work. Unfortunately, this simple principle eludes many people and they stare in horror at the message that’s bound to appear—the one that tells you that Windows has run low on a particular resource, usually memory. In fact, memory is one of the most used resources on your system, so managing it is especially important. However, before you can manage something, you need to know how much it costs and this information is surprisingly difficult
to track down.
NOTE
Many application packages tell you how much memory the vendor recommends for a particular application. Unfortunately, these numbers rarely reflect reality. You really don’t know how much memory an application requires based on these recommendations. The only way to understand how much memory an application requires is to measure the memory in some way and then write the value down for future use.
Taken From : Microsoft Windows XP Power Optimization
Setting Internet Explorer Automatic and Optional Searches
When you type an incomplete URL in the Internet Explorer Address field, Internet Explorer uses the automatic search site on the Internet to locate the missing information, the protocol for example, or at least provide a list of possible sites based on the value you type. Unfortunately, Microsoft makes it very difficult to change this value to something you like and many ISPs distribute software that
change this entry. Although you can use products such as TweakUI (see the “Using TweakUI” section of Chapter 8 for details) to add extra searches, you must use the Registry Editor to modify the automatic search URL.
To make this change, locate the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\
SearchUrl branch of the registry. You’ll see a display similar to the one shown in Figure 6.21. What you’re seeing are the automatic and optional searches for Internet Explorer. The automatic search relies on the values in the SearchUrl key and the subkeys hold optional searches. To use an optional search, type the key for that search in Internet Explorer, followed by the search value. For example, af in Figure 6.21 is associated with Acronym Finder. When I want to search Acronym Finder for an acronym, I type af Acronym in the Internet Explorer Address field and press Enter.
Figure 6.21
Adjust your Internet searches to meet specific needs.
Constructing a search requires two kinds of values in most cases. The (Default) value for the key is the URL of a search engine. You provide the URL and a special %s entry that Internet Explorer
substitutes with the search term you provide. For example, for Acronym Finder, you would use http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-query.asp?String=exact&Acronym=%s as the (Default) value.
Beneath this value are several character replacement values. For example, you’ll normally need to replace a space with a plus sign (+). Figure 6.21 shows the most common replacements you need to make. However, some search engines could require other replacement
Taken From : Microsoft Windows XP Power Optimization
Tolerance and Withdrawal: Signs of Addiction
Tolerance means taking larger and larger amounts to produce the same pleasurable effects. Mary O’Brien was tolerant to the effects of four shots of whiskey every evening. However, this amount hadn’t changed for decades, and she wasn’t trying to increase her intake to get the same effect.
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Reassigning File Associations
The most common application tidbit problem is the file association. Most applications leave their file associations in place. Personally, I think it’s a secret plot by vendors to remind you of their missing
application, but none of the vendors I talked with would admit to this subtle advertising scheme. No matter the reason for the leftover file associations, they can cause a number of problems for you, most
of which are convenience-oriented.
You can reassign file associations in many ways. Using the registry is the most precise and fastest technique, but you could make a mistake. To change a file association using the registry, simply
modify the (Default) value of the file extension key (see Figure 6.12) to point to a different file type. Double-click the (Default) entry and you’ll see the Edit String dialog box. Type a new file type name in the Value Data field and click OK. When you don’t have a new file type to assign to the extension, clear the Value Data field and click OK. The registry will display (value not set) as the value. Make sure you clear any subkeys from the file extension key to ensure Windows Explorer handles the file extension properly.
An easier way to perform this task, in many cases, is to choose the Tools Folder Options command in Windows Explorer. When you see the Folder Options dialog box, select the File Types tab. Windows Explorer will display the hourglass for several seconds (up to a minute) as it searches the registry for file types to display—be patient. When Windows Explorer displays the file type list, you can select the file extension you want to change as shown in Figure 6.18.
To modify the application used to work with the file extension, click Change. You’ll see an Open With dialog box where you can choose a new application to service the file extension. When you don’t have a new application to service the file extension, click Delete in the Folder Options dialog box. This act removes the file extension completely from the registry. The only way to set a file extension to a null (no application support) setting is to use the Registry Editor.
Figure 6.18
Use Windows Explorer whenever possible to modify old file associations.
Taken From : Microsoft Windows XP Power Optimization
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Social Isolation Leads to Stress and Memory Loss
Loss of loved ones, loneliness, lack of things to do after retirement, and health problems can be major sources of stress, particularly in older people, who may lose hope. As we all know, severe depression is common following the profound trauma of bereavement. What is less well known is that memory loss occurs during the grieving process. In my own experience, I had poor concentration with memory lapses for several weeks after my father’s death. I lost track of what people told me at work and in my personal life, and I was functioning below par for quite a while. It was as if my brain was a sieve, with information not being registered properly for later recall because my mind was preoccupied with thoughts and emotions and scenes that involved my father and the rest of my family.
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