My XP Pro system?

Question

My XP Pro system has 512M memory ( all the old Dell will take), and it runs ok, Photoshop CS, a little slow, but it runs.
When I look at Task Manager, Processes, the big users I see are below, and that is while I run no programs, and no internet.

'cc App.exe, Default, using 32800 K,

Explorer.exe, System, using 13000 K,

svchost, system, using 27000 K .

My question is: Do these all have to run, at 'normal' usage priority while I use Photoshop? Can any be temporarily turned 'off'.
Probably a dumb question, but just wondering if I could speed it up a bit while running Photoshop.
Thanks

Answer 1

ccApp.exe is norton auto protection, which i don't think is important if you are offline.

explorer.exe is the windows exporer, you definetely need it.
svchost checks your system registery and services, you also need it. you are not allowed to terminate processes owned by system. if i were you, i wouldn't do anything to them

Answer 2

The others answers are correct. But also make sure you are not running anything else.
Go to Start>Run and type in msconfig
Then go to the startup tab
See what is in there, only antivirus stuff should be loading, not AOL or Printers, or Office....uncheck them if they are,

A way to boost your memory a bit is to borrow from the hard drive. So, right click My Computer>properties and then Advanced tab.
Click on Performance. Then Visual effects, make sure this is set to Adjust for Best performance.
Then click the other Advanced tab and Then Virtual memory.
On the bottom you can change the setting for page files. I dont know what size your hard drive is, but you can look at the recommend they have a go from there. Say you make it 1000 smallest and 1500 largest. I would have to know the hard drive for that, but you can experiment, if it acts whacky, lower it.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Tofu gave you a great answer. Windows uses many many many applications that are required to give you instant (whatever you want to do). For ex, internet communications applications, fax, and on and on. There are many others that are just required to drive your printers, your video, your audio, etc.

So don't fret over what's loaded unless you intend to research each one to see if it's a Windows application or some other junkware that's loading.

Answer 4

They are core files, meant they are needed, is like driving a car, while its moving and you ask yourself now the car is moving, do I still need the engine ?

ccApp sound like Norton.