Constantly decreasing system resources

[pvdfan]

Hello:
I've got this nagging problem where I have constantly decreasing system resources. It started right after I switched ISP's. I have cable internet access and I've had it all along, but now it just seems to be lower in system resources all the time. Even after I close everything out in the system tray and even after quitting everything by hitting ctrl-alt-delete. In addition, now, even when Explorer restarts without the computer restarting, the resources stay the same, but before it went up to 50+% usually. Any ideas?
I am running a Dell Dimension L, Pentium 3 - 667 mhz, w/ 384 MB RAM (which counts fully when the computer is started), Win 98SE.
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot.
Mehul P.

 

[SwampsterFL]

When first booted, you should have about 90% free resources.

Many programs install every bell and whistle they have without asking you and you end up with a string of icons in the System Tray a mile long. Some of them even install things that don't even give you this much warning.

Go to Start / Run and type in MSCONFIG and click OK.

Go to the autoexec.bat tab and see what is there . . . nothing, with the possible exception of pre-boot virus checking should be loading from there. If it is, unselect by removing the check mark.

Go into config.sys and anything there is almost certainly able to be unselected.

Go into Startup and at this point you will probably want to maximize the window as there you will find everything that is loading from the Registry and from the Startup folder. There are a few things in there, like your virus protection, and power settings (two entries) and system checks and systray that are OK. The rest of it is optional and can be unselected at your pleasure. Don't forget the APPLY button when you are done unselecting things. Still Image Monitor, for example, is installed by the OS by default, but if you don't have a scanning device then it isn't doing anything but taking up resources. Quicked, as a further example, turns on many features by this method and you probably aren't using them either.

Please note that in each case, you are not uninstalling anything by unselecting its command line . . . you are merely disabling its load. Should you disable something that shuts off something you want, then just go back in and reselect it.

The system will want to be rebooted after you exit this utility so that your changes can be put into effect.