High RAM usage in Windows by ????

[lololohahaha008]

Hi!

 

First post here! 

 

So, recently (for the past 3 to 6 months), my computer RAM usage has been skyrocketing but I can't tell why. In idle state/startup, half of my RAM is used (4-5GB of 8GB). I did deactivate apps in the "Startup" section of task manager and only kept the important stuffs (Steam, Uplay, printer status...).

Then, for example, when I download a game, the "Performance" tab in task manager tells me that there's over 90% of my RAM used and system becomes barely usable (mouse pointer going at 3fps). But when I go to the "Processes" tab, the highest RAM usage app uses only 5-10MB (which is Steam or Uplay because I'm downloading a game). Plus, if I do some quick calculation, the RAM usage of the first 10 apps doesn't even add up to 1GB. You can see it in the picture attached (taken on cellphone because can't even take a snapshot).

When I play games, it is fine only when I have my game running (In this case, I can see that my game takes 1-2GB of RAM in task manager). If I open up Chrome for example, system goes chaos and mouse pointer moves at 3 fps. 

Searched online but most of them says the same thing (uncheck startup apps, end apps that you don't use, product placement of RAM management software...). It doesn't help me...

I hope someone can sort this out for me, as I don't understand what's going on why my computer.

 

Thank you!!

 

NHL.

 

 

*Edit:

 

Now my computer won't shut off when I click on "Shut down". The only way I can turn it off is to force shut down by holding the power button.

 

 

[Stu_Bear]

Time to reinstall windows my friend.  

[Fasauceome]

You should try booting into safe mode. Usually you do this by holding shift then selecting restart.

 

Also, maybe run Malwarebytes to scan for anything nasty.

[lololohahaha008]

41 minutes ago, Stu_Bear said:

Time to reinstall windows my friend.  

[lololohahaha008]

26 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

You should try booting into safe mode. Usually you do this by holding shift then selecting restart.

 

Also, maybe run Malwarebytes to scan for anything nasty.

Oh ok. What does safe mode do? Is it any different than "normal" mode?

[Fasauceome]

Just now, lololohahaha008 said:

Oh ok. What does safe mode do? Is it any different than "normal" mode?

safe mode disables all software on bootup except for windows. that includes things like graphics drivers too.

[lololohahaha008]

Just now, Fasauceome said:

safe mode disables all software on bootup except for windows. that includes things like graphics drivers too.

But then what do I do next in safe mode? (All software are disabled)

[Gremlin_FLG]

Safe mode basically loads into windows with no drivers and some services .. Basically to test. Install MalWare Bytes.. and do a scan..

[Gremlin_FLG]

Just now, lololohahaha008 said:

But then what do I do next in safe mode? (All software are disabled)

Basically see run task manager to see what the memory is like .. Whats using the most. If nothing, reboot back into OS, install Malware Bytes. You get 15 days trial of premium. Run a thorough scan.. 

 

If nothing is found, uninstall any software that you installed recently.

[lololohahaha008]

1 minute ago, Gremlin_FLG said:

Safe mode basically loads into windows with no drivers and some services .. Basically to test. Install MalWare Bytes.. and do a scan..

Ok will try! Thx @Gremlin_FLG and @Fasauceome ! And if MalWare Bytes doesn't work, reinstall windows (as in @Stu_Bear first reply here)?

[Gremlin_FLG]

Well uninstall latest software you installed. If that does not help, reinstall WIndows

[lololohahaha008]

Just now, Gremlin_FLG said:

Well uninstall latest software you installed. If that does not help, reinstall WIndows

Okay! Hope I can install MalWare Bytes without having the system eating all the RAM again...

[GoodBytes]

Can you show us Task Manager Detail tab with memory sorted. And please, a normal screenshot, not a phone picture.

Also a screenshot of the Performance tab with Memory selected

Thanks

 

Having Windows using half your RAM at startup is normal.

The more RAM you have, the more Windows wants to use more, the more it uses RAM, the less it gets to use your SSD/HDD, which either of them are miles slower than your RAM, which affects your experience with your OS. In addition, is also pre-loads applications before you do, based on your usage, to accelerate startup speed of programs. (this space is not reserved, if you need it, the OS will free it automatically).

[lololohahaha008]

On 2/13/2020 at 10:00 PM, GoodBytes said:

Can you show us Task Manager Detail tab with memory sorted. And please, a normal screenshot, not a phone picture.

Also a screenshot of the Performance tab with Memory selected

Thanks

 [...]

Yes!

 

- So this is when starting up:

(Process Tab)

 

 

(Performance Tab)

 

 

 

- Then, this is when I do some files transfer:

(Process Tab)

 

 

 

 

 

- This is when I download a game on Uplay (note: the computer is starting to be unusable, frames drops, slow response...):

(Process Tab)

 

 

(Performance Tab)

 

 

 

 

- This is about 2 minute after stopping downloading and quitting Uplay (and Steam):

(Process Tab)

 

 

 

(Performance Tab)

 

 

Hope this is want you needed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you need anything else, please says so!

 

I have already backup everything I need, so reinstalling Windows won't be a problem.

 

Thx!

 

NHL

 

 

 

 

 

[GoodBytes]

Did you disable, move, or resize the pagefile? Assuming not:

 

I see no problem with your system. You have a long list of programs running. Either close them, or get more RAM that fits your needs. You probably need 16GB of RAM. I sadly cannot tell you what to remove, it is your system, your needs, all of which I know nothing about.

 

I mean if you insist in a list:

• UPlay
• UPlay WebCore
• Steam
• Steam Client WebHelper
• NVIDIA Share
• Fast Boot (whatever that is)
• SQL Server Windows NT - 64-bit (assuming you are not doing SQL dev or hosting a website or something)
• SOLIDWORKS Visualize Queue  Server (Assuming you don't use it, or see in making it run when needed (Set Service startup to Manual.. and hope the service was not half ass coded t auto-start the service on its own))
• TriggerModeMonitor (don't know what that is)
• I see a printer junk software on your system tray. All you need is the driver to print. For scanning, then yes you need it, unless you can find a replacement program.

 

I can't see the rest of the running processes to continue

 

Also, to have the icons on your desktop for "This PC", "Control Panel", etc. Go to Start > Settings > Personalizations > Themes > "Desktop icon settings" on the side columns. Then you can check the boxes of the icons you want. No need to make shortcuts like that.

 

The only thing that I see that is strange, is that the Registry is consuming 24MB instead of 7-9MB.

 

[lololohahaha008]

13 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Did you disable, move, or resize the pagefile? Assuming not:

 

[...]

Hahaha I don't know what's that! 

 

13 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

I see no problem with your system. You have a long list of programs running. Either close them, or get more RAM that fits your needs. You probably need 16GB of RAM. I sadly cannot tell you what to remove, it is your system, your needs, all of which I know nothing about.

So I don't need to reinstall Windows?

 

But if I go on and do a full reinstall, would my performance be better?

 

13 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

The only thing that I see that is strange, is that the Registry is consuming 24MB instead of 7-9MB.

Should I be worried?

 

 

Thank you very much! You have been very helpfull!!

[lololohahaha008]

Oh and what about my system slowing down when I download a game? What's the cause of that?

 

And my other question (sorry), why does the addition of my RAM usage is not proportionnal to the percentage?

 

Thx!

[CreativeName6426]

That "Antimalware Executable" I've seen it before... do you have something called APC Pro on your computer? It's malware...

 

Of course it could be a completely legitimate antivirus software, but check just incase. I'm going to feel like an idiot if I'm wrong. It wouldn't be the first time today lol

[lololohahaha008]

42 minutes ago, J4C0B 4W3S0M3 said:

That "Antimalware Executable" I've seen it before... do you have something called APC Pro on your computer? It's malware...

How can I search for that?

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, lololohahaha008 said:

So I don't need to reinstall Windows?

 

But if I go on and do a full reinstall, would my performance be better?

I don't know about performance, depends on your system specs, your expectations, and what you have as an experience now.

 

1 hour ago, lololohahaha008 said:

Should I be worried?

Don't know. 

 

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, lololohahaha008 said:

Oh and what about my system slowing down when I download a game? What's the cause of that?

Depends... if you are using a USB to Ethernet or USB Wireless card, then those rely on the CPU to perform actions, and so, depending on your system specs, it could be normal.

 

If you are using Ethernet connectivity from your motherboard, then make sure that you have your chipset drivers installed of your motherboard and same Ethernet controller.

 

1 hour ago, lololohahaha008 said:

And my other question (sorry), why does the addition of my RAM usage is not proportionnal to the percentage?

Well just from the limited screen shots you provided, I see that just from the currently running program you are consuming over 1GB of RAM.

It's hard to say with what you are giving

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, J4C0B 4W3S0M3 said:

That "Antimalware Executable" I've seen it before... do you have something called APC Pro on your computer? It's malware...

Antimalware Executable is Windows Defender. Granted you can have any process name that can be a malware deco. That is up to him to validate all paths.

 

Quote

Of course it could be a completely legitimate antivirus software, but check just incase. I'm going to feel like an idiot if I'm wrong. It wouldn't be the first time today lol

True

[lololohahaha008]

Ok thank you! I'm buying some new RAM now and I'll perform a reinstall (to lazy to uninstall one by one + got nothing to lose) 

 

Thank you all for your help!

 

NHL.

[homeap5]

4 hours ago, lololohahaha008 said:

Ok thank you! I'm buying some new RAM now and I'll perform a reinstall (to lazy to uninstall one by one + got nothing to lose) 

 

Thank you all for your help!

 

NHL.

First of all - don't be surprised that if you buy more ram then ram usage increases and you'll end with the same question - "why is my ram used"?

Second - reinstalling system do not made your system less ram hungry. It will be the same system, you will be the same person so after a while you'll end with the same problem.

 

Your ram is fine as is. High usage doesn't mean that programs dont get ram they needed. System uses free ram for speed up your system by caching some operations and that is why ram usage is mostly higher. If you disable SysMain, prefetch etc. your ram usage will be smaller, but... why do you bought ram in the first place? Is waste of money if your ram is unused.

 

[lololohahaha008]

5 hours ago, homeap5 said:

First of all - don't be surprised that if you buy more ram then ram usage increases and you'll end with the same question - "why is my ram used"?

Second - reinstalling system do not made your system less ram hungry. It will be the same system, you will be the same person so after a while you'll end with the same problem.

 

Your ram is fine as is. High usage doesn't mean that programs dont get ram they needed. System uses free ram for speed up your system by caching some operations and that is why ram usage is mostly higher. If you disable SysMain, prefetch etc. your ram usage will be smaller, but... why do you bought ram in the first place? Is waste of money if your ram is unused.

 

Ah ok! I don't have high hope either but having a clean install of Windows will help me get rid of old apps that I don't use.

 

In the same time, I would like to have your opinion on one of my question posted up there: why does my system slow down when I download a game?

 

Thanks!