Doug
papillon123,
The adjustments that will make the most difference in your experience of "speed of performance" include:
1. "Disabling" unnecessary processes and applications from loading at StartUp.
2. Setting Power Management Scheme (minimal power management) for best performance
3. Setting Visual Display properties to "best performance"
4. Create more (free space) on C:\
5. Remove "junk files" and temporaries from C:\Temp, C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\
6. Keep Hard Drives Defragged
7. Remove faulty Registry entries
8. (Maybe) Select a Permanent Size for SwapFile/Paging
What to do now?
1.
You've already taken good steps in #1., but there continue to be unnecessary items active from StartUp.
Please return to Start - Run - (type)MSCONFIG - Enter - StartUp(tab)
There you will see the list of applications and processes starting at Boot.
You've already removed the checkmark/tick from many of those items.
Please "write down on paper" the name of the "Startup Item(s)" that remain with a checkmark/tick
Include this list of names of "StartUp Items" in your next reply. (we'll probably be able to "disable" a few more) The only ones that "shouldn't" be removed are those referring to AVG AntiVirus and your Firewall.
2.
Set your Power Management Scheme to "Minimal Power Management" as described above.
3.
Change "Visual Display properties to "best performance" (sometimes referred to as removing "eye candy"
Right-Click on My Computer - Select - Properties - Visual Effects(tab)
Put a "mark" (with your cursor) in front of "Custom"
Remove the checkmark/tick from in front of all the listed items - Except the last three.
The three that you will "leave with checkmark/tick" include"
–Use common tasks in folders
–Use drop shadows for Icon labels on the destop
–Use visual styles in windows and buttons
Your "preferences" come into play here. You may want more "visual effects" in some of your applications and games. It's up to you, but the more that you "turn off" in this section, the better your performance.
(I have been running my laptop with these recommended settings for a year or more with no problem)
4.
Creating more (free space) in your C:\ Drive is what we're trying to do (piece-by-piece) with these other procedures. If you were able to "start from scratch in creating your system"…
–I would recommend making the C:\ Drive Partition larger (maybe 20gb)
–Installing all (as many as possible) applications to your D:\ Drive (leaving C:\ exclusively for Windows XP)
–Move My Documents: to a location on D:\
–At it's simplest, this would require a Repartitioning of your Hard Drive (risks losing data)
–At it's most, this would involve reformating, Partitioning, and Reinstalling your OS and all drives, applications
5.
There is a thorough "manual cleaning" protocol that I've previously recommended in these Forums.
(Ask if you want me to print it for you)
Or you can Download and Run a good file cleaner like CleanUp! 4.51 (free)
http://www.stevengould.org
6.
You've already Defragged, and should do so on a routine basis
7.
Cleaning the Registry is a procedure often recommended, frequently disputed, and subject to a wide variety of opinions, favorite utilities, and heated squabbles.
My own experience has found machines with large numbers of errors, invalid, and incorrect entries.
This condition can occure as a result of actual processing errors, and more frequently when application software is installed and then uninstalled. The Registry references to components of uninstalled applications are not always removed during uninstallation of the application product. Remaining in the Registry these now invalid entries do little but clutter things up. There may or may not be a reduction in system performance as a result. Still, many folks strongly advocate to clean up the Registry and swear that a performance boost will result. Others argue that cleaning the Registry reduces the likelihood of system "hangs" and allows for better machine functioning with fewer instances of the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death". Others argue to leave the Registry alone, reasoning that inexperienced users are likely to remove too much. One thing is for sure. Removing and changing items in the Registry incorrectly can result in making the machine non-functional, requiring a restoration of the Registry and even Reinstallation of the Operating System.
If you decide to pursue Registry Cleaning, you should have already completed the other steps recommended here, and probably should open a new topic to gather as much information as possible, about the Registry, cleaning the Registry, and automated tools that perform this service.
As for me, I do perform Registry maintenance, both manually and with automated tools, and have yet to cause any problems to systems that I've worked on. But it remains easy to make mistakes in Registry, and the consequences of such mistakes can be high.
8. SwapFile/Paging refers to Windows use of Hard Drive space when physically installed RAM has been exhausted by application demands. Again, there are many opinions, some based on actual considerations.
Ideally it is best to have a large amount of physical RAM. I imagine that you've seen machines with as much as 4gb of installed RAM. This can be ideal for gamers and graphic editors whose applications are very demanding. However, in the case of ordinary users of office applications and internet browsing, less RAM is demanded. But even with Office type applications, the demand for RAM may exceed the installed amounts. In such cases, Windows uses a default ability to "borrow" some space on the Hard Drive to emulate RAM resources. The way Windows handles this procedure is just fine, in most cases. However, some users find that creating a "fixed amount" of SwapFile space on their Hard Drive makes the process smoother and more effective for their uses. If you decide to make changes in your SwapFile/Paging settings, you may experience improved performance. I use a "fixed" or custom set SwapFile set at either 1.5 or 3 times the amount of my physically installed RAM. Works well for me and many others. If you want to try this….. Ask how, in a reply in this thread.
Hope this helps you on your way to better performance.
Doug
The adjustments that will make the most difference in your experience of "speed of performance" include:
1. "Disabling" unnecessary processes and applications from loading at StartUp.
2. Setting Power Management Scheme (minimal power management) for best performance
3. Setting Visual Display properties to "best performance"
4. Create more (free space) on C:\
5. Remove "junk files" and temporaries from C:\Temp, C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\
6. Keep Hard Drives Defragged
7. Remove faulty Registry entries
8. (Maybe) Select a Permanent Size for SwapFile/Paging
What to do now?
1.
You've already taken good steps in #1., but there continue to be unnecessary items active from StartUp.
Please return to Start - Run - (type)MSCONFIG - Enter - StartUp(tab)
There you will see the list of applications and processes starting at Boot.
You've already removed the checkmark/tick from many of those items.
Please "write down on paper" the name of the "Startup Item(s)" that remain with a checkmark/tick
Include this list of names of "StartUp Items" in your next reply. (we'll probably be able to "disable" a few more) The only ones that "shouldn't" be removed are those referring to AVG AntiVirus and your Firewall.
2.
Set your Power Management Scheme to "Minimal Power Management" as described above.
3.
Change "Visual Display properties to "best performance" (sometimes referred to as removing "eye candy"
Right-Click on My Computer - Select - Properties - Visual Effects(tab)
Put a "mark" (with your cursor) in front of "Custom"
Remove the checkmark/tick from in front of all the listed items - Except the last three.
The three that you will "leave with checkmark/tick" include"
–Use common tasks in folders
–Use drop shadows for Icon labels on the destop
–Use visual styles in windows and buttons
Your "preferences" come into play here. You may want more "visual effects" in some of your applications and games. It's up to you, but the more that you "turn off" in this section, the better your performance.
(I have been running my laptop with these recommended settings for a year or more with no problem)
4.
Creating more (free space) in your C:\ Drive is what we're trying to do (piece-by-piece) with these other procedures. If you were able to "start from scratch in creating your system"…
–I would recommend making the C:\ Drive Partition larger (maybe 20gb)
–Installing all (as many as possible) applications to your D:\ Drive (leaving C:\ exclusively for Windows XP)
–Move My Documents: to a location on D:\
–At it's simplest, this would require a Repartitioning of your Hard Drive (risks losing data)
–At it's most, this would involve reformating, Partitioning, and Reinstalling your OS and all drives, applications
5.
There is a thorough "manual cleaning" protocol that I've previously recommended in these Forums.
(Ask if you want me to print it for you)
Or you can Download and Run a good file cleaner like CleanUp! 4.51 (free)
http://www.stevengould.org
6.
You've already Defragged, and should do so on a routine basis
7.
Cleaning the Registry is a procedure often recommended, frequently disputed, and subject to a wide variety of opinions, favorite utilities, and heated squabbles.
My own experience has found machines with large numbers of errors, invalid, and incorrect entries.
This condition can occure as a result of actual processing errors, and more frequently when application software is installed and then uninstalled. The Registry references to components of uninstalled applications are not always removed during uninstallation of the application product. Remaining in the Registry these now invalid entries do little but clutter things up. There may or may not be a reduction in system performance as a result. Still, many folks strongly advocate to clean up the Registry and swear that a performance boost will result. Others argue that cleaning the Registry reduces the likelihood of system "hangs" and allows for better machine functioning with fewer instances of the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death". Others argue to leave the Registry alone, reasoning that inexperienced users are likely to remove too much. One thing is for sure. Removing and changing items in the Registry incorrectly can result in making the machine non-functional, requiring a restoration of the Registry and even Reinstallation of the Operating System.
If you decide to pursue Registry Cleaning, you should have already completed the other steps recommended here, and probably should open a new topic to gather as much information as possible, about the Registry, cleaning the Registry, and automated tools that perform this service.
As for me, I do perform Registry maintenance, both manually and with automated tools, and have yet to cause any problems to systems that I've worked on. But it remains easy to make mistakes in Registry, and the consequences of such mistakes can be high.
8. SwapFile/Paging refers to Windows use of Hard Drive space when physically installed RAM has been exhausted by application demands. Again, there are many opinions, some based on actual considerations.
Ideally it is best to have a large amount of physical RAM. I imagine that you've seen machines with as much as 4gb of installed RAM. This can be ideal for gamers and graphic editors whose applications are very demanding. However, in the case of ordinary users of office applications and internet browsing, less RAM is demanded. But even with Office type applications, the demand for RAM may exceed the installed amounts. In such cases, Windows uses a default ability to "borrow" some space on the Hard Drive to emulate RAM resources. The way Windows handles this procedure is just fine, in most cases. However, some users find that creating a "fixed amount" of SwapFile space on their Hard Drive makes the process smoother and more effective for their uses. If you decide to make changes in your SwapFile/Paging settings, you may experience improved performance. I use a "fixed" or custom set SwapFile set at either 1.5 or 3 times the amount of my physically installed RAM. Works well for me and many others. If you want to try this….. Ask how, in a reply in this thread.
Hope this helps you on your way to better performance.
Doug
