PCMService.exe

PCMService.exe Memory Leak

PCMService.exe is a system process that's part of the Dell Media Experience which comes pre-installed on many laptops (mine included), which is Dell's implementation of software from Cyberlink for playing or recording media on DVD or CD drives.

The problem is that PCMService.exe starts at about 16kb to 24kb and increases at 1 kilobyte per second, so that after just a couple days without a restart the computer may grind to a halt, even on a system with 1GB RAM.

I've been trying to find an answer to how to keep it from loading at system startup for months, but to no avail.  I've just left messages on the Cyberlink support site and on the Dell User Forum.  I'm not optimistic, though.  While it's running it's no problem, but when it gets up around 200 MB on a 1GB sytem, it begins to get worrisome.  It doesn't appear in "Startup" so I can't kill it there.  Of course I could kill it in Task Manager, but that's pretty inelegant and I'm not sure what adverse effects that might have.

The first person who can give me a good solution to the problem that I both like and implement will qualify for a real gift in the mail that will include more than just a Sponge Bob calculator or pocket remote control.

Walk-On Role On Stargate Atlantis

You'd think I'd keep this to myself, wouldn't you, but the people behind Stargate Atlantis are sponsoring a very minor sweepstakes with the prize a walk-on role.  The prize includes airfare for two to Vancouver, and hotel accommodations for 2 days & 3 nights (or is it 3 days & 2 nights?)  That's it, and according to the contest details, the value of the prize is ~$2,000.  Of course they don't guarantee that they'll use the footage with you in it, but hey, if you'd like a quick trip to Vancouver and back, plus a chance to be on screen for a second in a Sci-Fi Network show, it's worth checking out.  You can find out more by going to the Sci-Fi Network website and navigating to Stargate.