all of my processes are using craploads of memory
 

I'm wondering wtf is going on. Scanning for viruses atm, spybot and ad-aware came up with nil.

http://www.tarantulaface.com/heywtf.jpg

first of all: You're running a shitlode of programs (41) at the same time, many of which should be consuming a ton of system resources. Programs like LiteStep, MSN messenger, stylexp, these are all resource-intensive programs. Also, running a that pop-up-stopper crap, yeah, I don't think that's entirely necessary. Me, I just stick with Google Toolbar. It doesn't clutter anything up, it just adds 4 or 5 icons, or less if you like.

However, programs like IE shouldn't be consuming 50mb of system resources, not unless you've got some serious shit going on in IE, I mean really rigorous pages, with some heavy scripting. I mean, running this page and 2 others jerks the system I'm running in here up to about 25mb, but not 50. I think one of the major consumers you've got running there may be Litestep and Style XP, those can bloat your system to some degree. The application of themes might be causing some system slowdown, and may be increasing the memory usage in some of the programs you're running, but I can't be exactly sure.

Edit: Also, I noticed that, of the 40 odd programs you've got running, 20 of them are generated by you, the current user. Of the other 20, I see at least 5 or 6 that you could safely end or disable.

In the bottom right of the screen there can be like 10-12 icons.
Close them. It made my older system much faster.
On my new system I only have the volume and the Java platform.
Sometimes I'll have Messenger, but thats it.

Oh god, there it is. I feared it. You guys think i'm retarded.
A) I've written my own LiteStep theme. And litestep is definitely NOT a resource intensive program.
B) I have 5 icons in my systray. Five. Norton, Seti (i know this is resource intensive, but not memory. RAM != Clock Cycles), MSN Messenger, and pop-up blocker. And don't tell me that it's not necessary nor uses up alot of memory. Please. Spare me.
C) Specs? Athlon 1700, 1 gig of RAM. PC2700. It's not the hardware.
Nevermind.


edit- I've been running without a hitch for quite some time. I know that I have 41 processes running. I know. This has never happened before. If anyone knows anything about computers, they know that programs like internet explorer do not take up 51 megabytes of RAM when they are displaying google. They don't. Litestep doesn't take 38 megabytes, regardless of if you have 100 modules loaded. It just doesn't. Something is fucked up.
Something beyond number of systray programs, beyond "make sure you have all things turned off you don't need". I know that. I've been a computer guy for 8 years.

I don't have a virus, as far as norton is concerned. There is no spyware, as far as spybot and adaware are concerned. This problem doesn't occur in safe mode, so it's gotta be something that's loading - I know. I can't figure out what. I've changed nothing, though, not to my knowledge. As far as I can tell, currentversion\run and runServices are exactly the same as they have been.

I'm thinking about a reformat. I just can't figure this shit out.

Explorer should not take up 50 meg.

and running 41 proceses is nothing. im running 58 and it only takes up 350 meg. i run folding at home (like seti but folds proteins)

can you get to teh task manager screen and go to view then select columns. select PID, CPU usage, CPU time, Memory usage, page faults, user objects, virtual memory size. take another screen shot and post it, this may help diagnose what is wrong.

last ditch:
when was the last time you re installed your OS, i know its a pain but but if you re do your system every month or so, it saves you a lot of trouble.

also, just simply goto start - run - msconfig

go thru that suckers start up list and you will find shit in there that can EASILY be disabled that runs in the background.

many of which can somtimes conflict with one another causing such issues.

also go throught your system services tab, click "hide all microsoft items" and generally there shouldnt be more then 2 or 3 that ever need to be started with startup.

It says all of those are using a ton of ram, but can you really notice the slowdown or could it just be a display error?

The simple rule...

When you have a lot of RAM to spend, then windows will spend it.

You have 1.5gb of RAM, so windows will allocate as much as it can to your processes so they can run as fast as possible. If you were to run a REAL RAM intensive program, then they will adjust accordingly.

Unless you notice a big slowdown, there is nothing bad going on here.

Windows does this automatically to run as much from ram as possible. Usually with less ram, windows will put some of the program info in the page file. There are also options in win to run the entire os off of ram for speed reasons. You are fine.

i still think its taking to much, i am running 512 of RAM with 4 gigs virtual, i have more open progams, more intense programs and it still uses 500 meg less then his, but if ther is no slow down dont worry bout it.

Format c:. Fixed. Seriously, go through the services settings and disable worthless crap you dont need, disable system restore if you dont use it. That should free up a bit. Also if you have 2 or more hard drives, try spreading the page file over each drive.

Run msconfig and kill any non-essentials