CPU usage

[Coldicote]

I was doing quite a lot printing (about 20 x A4 pages) and a notice came up on my screen that my CPU usage was high with MS Publisher. I have discovered that CPU means Central Processing Unit but how important is it that I should do something about it - and what? I have Windows XP professional. Is it to do with RAM and, if so, where do I find how much RAM I have? Advice appreciated.

[AlBags]

You use Norton 2010 or 2011? It watches processing resources for likely adware/viruses.
If so, nothing to worry about.

[Coldicote]

Thank you Albags. I have Norton 360 (2010) and have run 'registry clean up', 'disk optimisation' and 'diagnostic report', scan etc. It warns me that RAM is low but doesn't help with what I can do about it. There seem to be various things one can buy to increase memory, but I was wondering if there is a way of 'emptying' or reducing the contents of memory. I'm grateful to know there's nothing to worry about but hope I'll have a better understanding of it.

[AlBags]

One thing to do for a start is to have a look in system tray to see what's running all the time. Open those rograms and tell them not to start with Windows.
You can look at Task Manager and check/modify MSConfig file to prevent unnecessary stuff running.
R Click on My Computer and select properties.RAM is shown on that screen in OS details.

[Coldicote]

This is interesting. As far as I can tell the only items running all the time in the system tray are Norton, Ralink wireless card and local area connection; and of course the time. I found RAM 960 MB, but don't know how much of that is used up, or free as the case may be. It's getting late so I'll say ttfn and many thanks.

[AlBags]

Open Task Manager (Press Ctrl Alt Del together) See what's running in Processes tab by memory use. See memory being used/swapped in Performance tab.
Al

[Coldicote]

Thank you again Albags, I've done it and it showed "CPU usage in The Answerbank; Technology - ...running"; and also a draft document I was working on and had minimized. I'll watch points with this. The CPU usage that gave rise to the low RAM warning was probably because I had too many things minimized at the same time without realising the effect it could have. Live and learn!

[Coldicote]

Sorry I missed a point - the Processes Tab, which I have now seen and it showed quite a lot of items. I don't understand them all but will do a bit of homework and try to learn from it.