43 replies to this topic

[manicd]

Hi Doug sorry to bother you I was able to carry out a couple of your recommendations but i still have a problem with carrying out the rest.

1)
Remove Ad-Aware 2007 from starting at boot time
Start - Run - (type)MSCONFIG - Enter - Select the StartUp (tab)
Remove the checkmark/tick from in front of Ad-Aware - 2007

Ad-Aware wasn't listed in the "system configuration utility" under the "startup tab" only in the "services tab"-should I uncheck it from here??


2)
Disable Indexing Service on C:\
right-click on C:\ - then select - Properties
at the bottom of the properties Panel you will see a box followed by a line that reads "index files on this drive for fast search" <-- remove the checkmark and then reply affirmatively to any prompts (some files may alert that they cannot remove Indexing and you will be given the option to "Ignore" < That's OK, Ignore

I can do this for the D: drive (the back up drive) but not for the C: drive. Is it ok to perform the above on D: ?

3)
Disable Hiberfil.sys

Right-Click on any empty spot on your desktop to bring up Display Properties
Select the ScreenSaver(tab)
Click - Power(settings)
Select the Hibernate(tab)
Remove the checkmark/tick from in front of the item "Enable Hibernate"

When I get up to this bit:

Right-Click on any empty spot on your desktop to bring up Display Properties
Select the ScreenSaver(tab)
Click - Power(settings)


it brings up Acer's own power settings table.

Next to the Hibernate option there is only a slider which allows me to slide from 2mins-6hours through to never.
Should I select never????


Thank You.

[Doug]

Whoa! I forgot how proprietary Acer is. Forget about disabling Hiberfil and Hibernate for now. Sure it's just fine to remove Indexing from D:\ What message to you get that's preventing removing it from C:\ (again, it could be proprietary and associated with Hiberfil and power settings) Go into the AdAware 2007 console to disable "background or real-time" scanning. I'm not presently using AdAware 2007, though I'm a longtime user of Ad Aware SE Personal. I'll install the 2007 on a machine in the next few days and see what options are available. But maybe by then you can post back to inform me.

[manicd]

Hi Doug

I'm back again with my C Drive still under performing.
Its really bugging me.

Ive disabled most of my startup programs but its still under performing.
There is no tick box for indexing on the C drive only on the D drive, plus I only have the standard Adaware2007 which doesn't have the realtime protection so I don't think its that causing the program.

Could it be my Commodo Firewall thats hogging all of the C drives power?????????

Any further help or advice would be much appreciated to finally put this problem to bed.

[Doug]

Hi Manicd,

Sorry about my delay in responding.
I've actualy been around, but lost track of your thread.
Ken545 kindly brought it to my attention.

Please run and post a fresh PCPitstop Full Tests.

Best Regards

Edit:
Take a look at this Page from the Pit Test Recommendations for ideas about your C:\ Drive:
http://www.pcpitstop...top/DskSlow.asp

Edit Again: Looks like you have Run two fresh PCPitstop Full Tests today (August 12thand that your C:\ drive is now upt to 20mp/s
which is close to being in Normal range for that machine. Good work.
However Fragmentation may still be the issue.

I cannot "see" the full version of your Pit Test until you post a new TechExpress Link.
I can only "see" the summary version in Test History
Will you please still post the link?

Edited by Doug, 12 August 2007 - 12:56 PM.

[manicd]

Hi Doug

Ive copied and pasted my results here :
http://www.pcpitstop...NP7HWFRT1VSQ0UW

I'm not sure if this provides a link to my results though.

cheers Doug


Ive just noticed that when I clicked on the link above I can see my e-mail address and password.
Are you also able to see this or is it just me who can see this from my computer?

p.s

my laptop is only a few months.

Edited by manicd, 12 August 2007 - 01:24 PM.

[Doug]

Hi Manicd,

No. Only the owner can view the IP, and then only when they log in using their password.
What I see looks like the following: 80.42.xxx.xxx.

Anything you can do to free up some space on that C:\ Drive?
23% is near critical level..... OK, maybe beyond critical.

Try to SAVE various Media files to CD/DVD if you can.
Hopefully you can get the Free Space up to near 40=50%

Adjust your Receive Buffer Size:

To change your TCP Receive Window size:
You may not get faster max download/upload, but you'll get better overall Internet performance.
http://www.pcpitstop...p/IntBuffer.asp <-- here's the reference page, or use the printed instructions below.

Launch window registry editor by clicking on Start | Run .
Click in the Open dropdown box and type in regedit.exe then click OK .
Back up your registry by selecting File | Export type in a meaningful file name, in the export range section select All and save to your hard drive. To restore your old registry you simply import this file.

Next you need to create a new registry key.
On the left side you need to go to the directory HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
Select Edit | New | DWORD Value . Rename the new registry key to TcpWindowSize.
Modify the registry setting for TcpWindowSize by double clicking on the key.
Change the Base Setting to Decimal.
Enter the value 64240 and click OK, then exit RegEdit.
For these settings to take effect you need to close all your open applications and reboot your system.

[manicd]

Hi Doug

"Anything you can do to free up some space on that C:\ Drive?"

I'm not sure really I have some heavy programs running on my computer in terms of memory usage e.g AutoCAD
Ive deleted some unnecessary media files but it hasn't made much of a difference to freeing up some of the space on the C:\ Drive

As for freeing Space up to near 40=50% I don't think I've ever come close to having that much free space on the C:\ Drive

Can you advise me on how to achieve this (if you have any more advise to offer that is lol) it would be amazing if I could do this.

What difference/improvements can I expect to see from adding that registry entry?
can I now delete the registry backup I made or leave it a couple of days to see if anything goes wrong.

P.s
If you have any more extra time could you help us with slow booting up ????????????????????????


You've been a legend so far with the help youve provided me.



Thank you

Edited by manicd, 12 August 2007 - 03:04 PM.

[Doug]

If you're running an AutoCad from that Hard Drive, then you "need" more Free Space.
What is that? A 60GB Hard Drive?
Bummer that they split it into two equal partitions and then only use a tiny portion for the Backup files on D:\
You really shouldn't use D:\ partition for anything but the Backup. <-- Another Bummer.
Can you contact Acer to see if they have any solutions for utilizing space on D:\?

If this was a DeskTop machine, I'd be recommending that you buy a bigger Hard Drive and migrate your present Hard Drive contents onto it, with a much smaller partition allocation for D:\
Maybe Acer has an idea about that.

Otherwise use CD or DVD to Save your large Media files, and maybe get an External Hard Drive for Storage of Data, Media, files and documents.

Maybe Acer will know if it is safe to run Applications from your D:\ drive and can recommend which of your applications you could install over there, and uninstall from C:\

Even when running an Application from D:\ you need the FREE SPACE on C:\ because that is where your Operating System will spread it out when it is actively running.
____________

What difference/improvements can I expect to see from adding that registry entry?

As stated before: "You may not get faster max download/upload, but you'll get better overall Internet performance."
I've seen download/upload speeds increase significantly.
Meaning much faster downloads and somewhat faster uploads.

I've seen downloading stay about the same (afterall, much of the bottleneck for downloading is the Website feed and current Internet Traffic, and your ISP traffic.
But though specific Downloading may remain the same, loading of websites would likely improve and browsing will improve.

The Registry Back up is a very small file ---- keep it, and don't worry about deleting it.
Eventually your System Restore Points will be a better/fresher backup, but still no need to delete the Exported Registry file.
_________________

Slow StartUp????
Define Slow.

Your machine has 512mb RAM and a 1730 MHz CPU when running on A/C.
When you are running on Battery, the CPU probably throttles back to less than 1/2 of that.
You should run on A/C most of the time.
I also wish that Acer was more forgiving about taking out the Battery. (ask them about it)
I recommend for most Laptop users to Remove their Battery at all times except when charging it up to be used Remotely.
Batteries get HOT. Heat is the enemy of Laptops. and Heat is the enemy of Batteries.
You get the picture.

So with that machine as it is presently configured, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that it takes 3 - 5 minutes to Boot.

What can you do.
You've got (or did have) a ton of unnecessary applications and processes Starting at Boot time.
All of the items with Purple background in your Pit Test, should be safe to disable via MSCONFIG.
That should speed up your Boot time and overall performance significantly.

Run and Post a fresh Pit Test TechExpress, so we can have a look at what's running presently.

Best Regards

[manicd]

Thats really interesting I have always wondered if you could transfer some of the free space from the D:\ Drive to the C:\Drive
Although when I asked the company who sold me the computer about this before they said it could be done but didn't recommend it?????

I will get in contact with both Acer and the company again see what they can advise me.

Slow StartUp????
Define Slow.

Like you said with all the programs I have disabled so far it still takes 3mins or so for everything to load.
Also another interesting point you made was how leaving the battery in the laptop while running A\C power would damage the computer.
I didn't know that, however I noticed it had a tendency to heat up rapidly

Your machine has 512mb RAM

In system properties it only shows up as 504MB of RAM?

Heres the link, I think, to my most recent test:


http://www.pcpitstop...NP7HWFRT1VSQ0UW




Thanks again

Edited by manicd, 12 August 2007 - 04:56 PM.

[Doug]

The difference between your Physical 512mb RAM and the available RAM of 503, is being used by Windows to power your onboard Graphics. You may benefit from updating that Graphics Chipset Driver. <--don't know for sure, but I'd check for a newer driver. You will still benefit from disabling all of the following from StartUp. Office speech Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe Launch Manager Dritek System Inc. C:\PROGRA~1\LAUNCH~1\LManager.exe LightScribe Hewlett-Packard Company C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe Windows Live Logon Microsoft Corporation C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Share ... \WLLoginProxy.exe Google Update Service Google C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater ... \GoogleUpdaterService.exe GoogleToolbarNotifier Google Inc. C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier ... \GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe Microsoft IntelliType Microsoft Corporation C:\Program Files\Microsoft IntelliType Pro\itype.exe Alcatel tray icon THOMSON Telecom Belgium C:\Program Files\Thomson\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe Realtek HD Audio Realtek Semiconductor Corp. C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE PSIService C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe User Interface Intel Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe Turn off all System Restore Free Space in Drive D:\ Any chance of getting another stick of RAM? How's the machine running after disabling the above?

[manicd]

Hi Doug and thanks again for the continued support


"You may benefit from updating that Graphics Chipset Driver".
How do I go about doing that?
What should I update it to??
Is it free to update and is it an Intel one???

Ive managed to disable most of the Items in startup and boot up speed is considerably faster Thank you but
how do I stop the system configuration window ( "You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts" ) from appearing every time I turn my computer on

"Turn off all System Restore Free Space in Drive D:\"
Do I turn it of completely i.e put a tick in the check box marked Turn off System Restore on this drive (D:\ Drive)
or use the disk space usage slider and set it to min ( 0%)??????????



Kind Regards

p.s what is a "stick of RAM" is it like a card that slots into the computer like a USB stick.

P.p.s cheers

Edited by manicd, 14 August 2007 - 03:12 PM.

[Doug]

Hi Doug and thanks again for the continued support


"You may benefit from updating that Graphics Chipset Driver".
How do I go about doing that?
What should I update it to??
Is it free to update and is it an Intel one???

Yes, it's free. Acer lists any available Chipset Drivers and other Drivers that they are presently offering, here:
http://www.nodevice....Video_Card.html
You would "click" on Video Card Driver.
In your case, it doesn't look like they have an update for you.
There "may" be updates from your Video Card manufacturer, but Acer is so darn proprietary, I would hesitate to update without contacting and consulting with ACER first. Acer has a help forum where you could inquire, if you are interested.
http://www.nodevice.com/forum/

At this point, I suppose that I wouldn't bother.
You've pretty much got your machine back to good running order.
Quote: "If it ain't broke, don't be fixin' on it."

Ive managed to disable most of the Items in startup and boot up speed is considerably faster Thank you but
how do I stop the system configuration window ( "You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the way Windows starts" ) from appearing every time I turn my computer on

That Alert will occur "every time" you make a change via MSCONFIG. <-- that's a good thing since you'd want to know if somebody else, or something else, made such changes. But once "you' have made a change, you don't want to keep seeing the Alert. --- so just put a checkmark/tick in the little box in front of "Never show this message again". The Alerts will Stop ---- UNTIL the next time you make any changes via MSCONFIG, then it will alert you again, and you can again turn it off by checkmarking/ticking the little box again. It really isn't much of a hassle for the valuable alert that something has changed in Systems Configuration. Just checkmark it to make it go away until next time.

"Turn off all System Restore Free Space in Drive D:\"
Do I turn it of completely i.e put a tick in the check box marked Turn off System Restore on this drive (D:\ Drive)
or use the disk space usage slider and set it to min ( 0%)??????????

Turn it off using "Turn off System Restore on this drive (D:\)
As a side note, there is no reason to keep it turned on for any data drive either, just the system drive (C:\), as it doesn't back up general files, just system files and the registry. System Restore doesn't consume much in the way of operating system resources, so it is not a "resource hog" the way some Security Suited and PDF Readers can be. The goal of turning off unnecessary System Restore, is to conserve Hard Disk space (and in your case, to avoid any corruption of your System Backup files [unlikely anyway]) Leave System Restore on Drive C:\ active

Kind Regards

p.s what is a "stick of RAM" is it like a card that slots into the computer like a USB stick.
A "stick of RAM" is about 3" long and 3/4" wide piece of printed circuit board that is inserted into a RAM Module, just like a Video Card is inserted, but the RAM is much smaller physically.
Here's an actual picture of the SoDimm 5200 RAM that your Acer uses


P.p.s cheers

[manicd]

Hi Doug

This is going to be my final gripe (for now anyway lol)
Windows Live Logon Microsoft Corporation C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Share ... \WLLoginProxy.exe

&

Google Update Service Google C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater ... \GoogleUpdaterService.exe

seem to be still loading on start up despite disabling it in msconfig.

Its not a big problem I know but I just wanted to know why it is doing this?

Cheers


Regards

[Doug]

To disable Google Updater from running active, you will have to disable its Service.

Open MSCONFIG and Select the Services(tab)
At the bottom of that Panel, put a checkmark in the box that says "Hide all Microsoft"

What's left will be various third-party software Services that start at boot time.

You can safely remove the checkmark/tick from in front of Google Updater Services, and you'll not see it again, until you intentionally reactivate that Service in the future.
I don't know why you would do that, but maybe Google will release some new feature that you want to include as an Update to your Google Browser Helper. At that time you will have to at least temporarily enable google updater Service, then get the update, then you can disable the Service again.
____________

as to Windows Live Logon Microsoft Corporation..... well that is another story.
I haven't been able to find much via searching the Internet on this item.
Lots of complaints, but not much definitive information or suggestions of how to handle it.
If you discover additional information, I hope you will post it here for benefit of our Members.

Windows Live Logon "may" be essential in some cases to allow your machine/operating system to access various update features of MS Updates / AutoUpdaters for your XP.
therefore you may need to regularly Enable it, to do your regular OS updates.

I suggest that you leave it as is for the time being, and continue your research.

It "can" be disabled, but not with the regular MS MSCONFIG.

here is a help post from an individual that I have found to be well-informed and reliable.

WLLoginProxy.exe The file WLLoginProxy.exe belongs to Microsoft® Windows Live Login Helper which is a legit service..........it's a browser helper object. it helps log you into the microsoft services (Live ID login) which connects most of the microsoft featues like livespace, MSDN, microsoft.com, hotmail.com ect.. by signing you in when your computer starts (same way that it connects to the .NET passport on windows login, which is why it says how many e-mails you have in your inbox on the login screen under your account name if you have it enabled).

try downloading and installing http://www.nirsoft.n...strun_setup.exe this is a program that lets you control your startup programs like MSCONFIG.exe does from the run command, only this program shows the active running background programs as the WLLoginProxy.exe doesnt appear in the startup on msconfig.exe, anyway if you install and run the program then go to the bottom of the screen you will see "Windows Live Sign-In Helper" right click on it and click on "Disable selected items" this will stop the file from running in the future, this shouldnt have any effect on the way windows runs as it can be disabled.

You decide if you want to follow that advice, or just leave it alone.
Some users find that WLLoginProxy.exe causes a "lag" when booting their machine, and/or when booting into Internet Explorer. Therefore they have chosen to disable WLLoginProxy.exe, and found that the "lag" goes away.

This might be important to you, or not. Again, you decide.

The potential "downside" is unknown to me, but could include needing to re-Enable this file in order to connect to MS Updates and other MS Sites.

You should browse around a bit to discover whether or not you "can" get to and use MS Updates.
Remember that it "is" important to keep your Operating System updated with all the Critical Updates and Patches.

Best Regards,
Doug

[manicd]

Hi Doug

Ive got a new problem but rather than starting a whole new Thread Ive decided to continue to post in this one so I you can remember history of my problems (how nice of me lol).

This problem seems to have cropped up recently while running a recent PcPitstop check:

http://www.pcpitstop...NP7HWFRT1VSTXXV

It seems that one of my drivers has decided to randomly disable its self.
Driver in question:

Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network Adapter [problem code 22]

Ive follwed the instructions as given by the test which states the driver error code 22 and its solution to re-enable the driver.

But by re-enabling the driver that seems to temporarily disable my anti virus's real time monitoring on startup. It usually automatically start ups but I have to manually enable it . This wasn't a problem until a couple days ago.

The other problem seems to be that I can no longer control the volume from the keyboard
The last "problem" is that ad-aware has all of a sudden decided to put an icon in my system tray and it isn't even usable?


Thanks in advance

Edited by manicd, 30 August 2007 - 02:49 PM.