what processes can i shut down in task manager

[yellowjohn]

i ask this as my audio files are playing slowly and my pc takes a long time to load xp although there is almost nothing on the start programmes tab.
the desk top shortcuts load slowly as well but my games run ok.

[vehelpfulguy]

If you do not know what you are doing DONT shut down programs from the task bar. I DO know what I am doing and rarely shut down programs from the task bar.

If you give us the specs of your PC that would be a start.

Processor, memory, hard disk size and space left.

Also how long you have had the PC as the hard disk may need defragmenting.

[yellowjohn]

i have an 80 gig hard drive with 32 gig free ( recently defragged ) . about 3 yrs old.
amd 2.8 sempron cpu with asrock m/board i yr old.
1.5gb memory. i have no spyware or viruses.

[yellowjohn]

just noticed my cpu usage is at 100% output in the windows task manager when media player slows my songs down.

[fo3nix]

There's your problem.

When you get 100% CPU usage again, in the processes tab in task manager, click the 'CPU' column title so that the highest numbers appear at the top. Once you've done that, let us know the names of the programs appearing there that have high CPU numbers (one will probably be a lot higher than the others).

[yellowjohn]

windows media player using a lot obviously but system idle process using up to 85% ( i asume its % ) is this normal.
if i turn visualizations of it puts less strain on the cpu but still hits 100% now and again.

[fo3nix]

system idle processes are fine, yes. the windows media player is high though. it shouldn't really be that high.

can i suggest you try using a different media player, and see if that sorts it? my suggestion would be iTunes:

http://www.apple.com/itunes

[yellowjohn]

thanks fo3nix
i think it is asound card prob as it is the same on 4 different players and pacific assault gets a bit off stuttering sound.
made a few changes to the sound card properties and its quite a bit better. now going to update my driver.