Webcam image slow when window is minimized

[dodol]

Hi, when I'm having video conversation with my friend the other day, my friend noticed that the video started to get really choppy whenever I minimize my window. His video would start getting choppy and soon after that the video session would end itself. But the video will run smoothly if I maximize the windows. The video is smoother and the video session won't disconnect itself on its own.

We're both using MSN 6. My friend is using Windows 98 and I'm using Windows ME. I just updated my display drivers but it was still no use. We're both using cable connection, so the video should run pretty smoothly. In fact, everything's fine until these few days... I don't mind the video being a little slow, but the way it keeps disconnecting itself overtime is getting on our nerves. The strange thing is, his video is the one getting disconnected while mine remains connected.

Anyone has any ideas what I should do?

[DJHyperbyte]

quote:Originally posted by dodol

Hi, when I'm having video conversation with my friend the other day, my friend noticed that the video started to get really choppy whenever I minimize my window. His video would start getting choppy and soon after that the video session would end itself. But the video will run smoothly if I maximize the windows. The video is smoother and the video session won't disconnect itself on its own.

Okay, here goes...

Each task/program that Windows runs is called a 'thread.' For example, MSN Messenger is the thread 'msmsgs.exe' and Messenger Plus! is 'MsgPlus.exe.' Each thread uses it's own number of system resources and has it's own priority. This priority controls what Windows will do if an application is requesting system resources that other programs use.

Let's say you have a lot of applications running and nearly all system resources are in use. Then you go to the Trillian window and you click 'Sort alphabetically' on the contact list. This will require a lot of resources, so Trillian asks Windows for more resources. Windows can't give more, since all resources are in use, so it looks at all the other threads. If it finds a thread that is using a lot of resources and that has a lower priority than 'Trillian.exe', it will give some of the resources that the thread uses to Trillian.

Now the big question. How does Windows determine the priority? Generally, the program itself does. Computer games will generally set a high priority for itself, while MSN Messenger (for example) doesn't need so much resources so it runs with the standard priority. But, there are also other things that determine the priority. If the window is currently active (selected), Windows will give it a higher priority too, so the application you are using won't be slowed down by things in the background.

So, this is what happens exactly:

• You start a video conversation on MSN Messenger which uses up a lot of system resources
• You switch to another window so MSN Messenger loses it's priority
• Then, some thread with a higher priority than MSN Messenger needs a lot of resources. Since MSN Messenger (with a low priority) is using quite a bit, Windows will give the resources MSN Messenger uses to the other thread/program.
• MSN Messenger notices this and can't complete all the tasks it was doing, so the video quality gets bad. MSN Messenger tries a few more times, but really can't complete it's running tasks, so it cancels them. Byebye video conversation!

Very interesting and all... but what can I actually do about this?
Well... not too much. Either way, you have to make sure that MSN Messenger gets enough system resources. This can be done by:

• making sure there are enough free resources (by closing some programs down)
• giving MSN Messenger a higher priority over other threads (by selecting the window)
• getting more available system resources for Windows (by getting yourself a faster, more powerful PC)

Windows NT based systems (NT4, 2000, XP) also have a way of setting a custom priority for a process, but since you do not have this Windows version I will not explain this.

[dodol]

Hi DJHyperbyte,
First of all THANK YOU for a very thorough and helpful explanation, it's really helpful to know what's actually going on instead of banging my computer screen and screaming in frustration

You mentioned that there is a way of setting a custom priority for a process for Windows XP. I was using Windows ME but incidentally, I'm going to upgrade my computer from ME to XP today. So can I trouble you to explain again how I should prioritize the MSN video in Windows XP?

Thank you!

[DJHyperbyte]

quote:Originally posted by dodol

Hi DJHyperbyte,
First of all THANK YOU for a very thorough and helpful explanation, it's really helpful to know what's actually going on instead of banging my computer screen and screaming in frustration

You're very welcome!

quote:Originally posted by dodol

You mentioned that there is a way of setting a custom priority for a process for Windows XP. I was using Windows ME but incidentally, I'm going to upgrade my computer from ME to XP today. So can I trouble you to explain again how I should prioritize the MSN video in Windows XP?

You sure can, but I think that if you upgrade to Windows XP the problem will have solved itself, since you'll have a clean system and thus less things running the background.

If the problem persists, just post back here.

[dodol]

Hi, I've upgraded my ME to XP, but it seems that the problem still persists. Maybe it's not really a clean system like you mentioned because I'm just adding on my XP to the ME.

Can you show me how I can prioritize my windows? Thank you!

[DJHyperbyte]

quote:Originally posted by dodol

Hi, I've upgraded my ME to XP, but it seems that the problem still persists. Maybe it's not really a clean system like you mentioned because I'm just adding on my XP to the ME.

What kind of hardware is there in your computer? I'm looking for CPU speed, amount of RAM and Internet connection type.

quote:Originally posted by dodol

Can you show me how I can prioritize my windows? Thank you!

Sure. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and click on 'Task Manager'. Then click on the second tab 'Processes'. Then find the 'msmsgs.exe' process and right click on it to change the priority. Be careful when changing priorities though, they can result in system instability. You are advised to only take little steps at one time (e.g, from 'Normal' to 'AboveNormal' and not to 'High' at once.




Hope this helps.