Chienworks:
Thanks for your quick response. I have 64 items listed in Processes.
I have one "process" for System Idel Process with 95% cpu usage.
Two processes show 2% cpu usage, and the rest show 0% usage. However, several processes show a high Mem Usae. I don't know what all this means. I don't know which ones I can delete...what is the purpose of this listing???? If I delete a process, does it affect the applications?

Also, I don see a VidCap listed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
lcdrdan

Well, Vidcap won't be listed unless it's actually running. I have my windows installation trimmed down pretty tightly. Here's what my list says:

avgamsvr.exe
avgcc.exe
avgemc.exe
avgupsvc.exe (these four are AVG Antivirus. it plays well with others)
csrss.exe
explorer.exe (the windows desktop program, not internet explorer)
lsass.exe
mozilla.exe (i browse with mozilla
services.exe
smss.exe
spoolsv.exe
svchost.exe (7 times)
System
System Idle Process
taskmgr.exe (the program that shows this listing)
winlogin.exe

If you have items that aren't in this list then it's quite likely that they don't need to be running. Of course, if you have Vegas and VidCap open you'll see them listed there too, and you probably want them. Generally, as long as you have all your data & projects saved, it's save to try killing off any of them. If windows *absolutely* needs it to run, it won't let you kill it. If something you wanted to have you computer doing stops, then you probably want to start that thing up again and not kill it. If there are no bad effects from killing something off, then leave it off.

There are several places where these things can get started up. Check out Start -> Programs -> Startup. Usually this menu should be empty. Start -> Run -> msconfig [Enter]. This has a couple of useful tabs, Services and Startup. I wouldn't play around with Services unless you have some expert guidance sitting next to you. However, i'm sure there are some folks in here who can give you some excellent advice about which items are necessary and which are better left off. Under the Startup tab probably the only item that should be checked is your antivirus scanner. Turn everything else off.

These should get you started. I'm sure we can help narrow down more options as you go along.

Chienworks, thanks again for your detailed and quick response to my problem.
I hate to be a pest...but here goes....
I deleted 39 of the 64 processes and now have a total of 25 listed.
Many ...but not all.. match the same processes that you have listed.
I also changed VidCap to "above normal." When I tried to capture the video again...I did notice a slight improvement in the capture (i.e. fewer dropped frames). However, there are still too many dropped frames.
I also remember that someone stated (I believe it was actually in the "Help" screen in VMS 6) that stated that the hard drive that the videos are stored on should be 7200 rpm. (How do I tell the speed of my hard drives?....it doesn't show under "properties."

How are you capturing your videos?
Do you capture via a Canopus capture device or feed directly to the computer via a firewire cable? I've been trying both.

Thanks again for all your help...I really do appreciate it.

lcdrdan

I connect my digital camcorder with firewire, and I have never, I repeat, never had dropped frames. I often have other application running at the same time, and they don't interfere with capture. I have only one diskdrive, and only 512mb. Your system is far superior to my low spec portable.
You MUST be able to capture using firewire and a camcorder effortlessly... If not, you must have some settings wrong, not in Vegas, but elsewhere. Have you considered your antivirus software and anti malware setting? I would start with checking those and perhaps turn them off temorarily.

I've got two primary capture methods. I capture digital from my DV camcorder direct firewire to the computer. I also capture analog through an external A/V -> DV converter box made by Sony, which is functionally identical to the Canopus unit and connects to the computer via firewire. Both methods work.

My laptop drive is only 5400RPM.

Thanks to both of you for offering the suggestions and possible solutions. As you can tell, I'm not exactly a computer guru...but I'm trying. I will continue trying different options, but will probably be away from my computer for the weeked....going out of town. I may be back on line for more suggestions later....

Thanks again.....

lcdrdan