access database; excessive disk access

[dg.smith]

Help with an access database problem: Authorware application uses Access
database. It slows down my laptop a lot, and takes forever to move through
app.

Funny thing, it only does this on my laptop! My desktop systems it runs fine
on.

Does anyone have an idea on what I should look for? Configuration tweaking
on laptop? Permissions?

Signed, DESPERATE FOR AN ANSWER.

Thanks!

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

You are leaving out a lot of details here.

is a network involved, or are you just running this application stand alone
on the notebook?

The fact of the matter is that database applications like ms-access tend to
REALLY stress machines to their limit. And, it is important to note that
notebooks tend to have disk drives that are 2-10 times slower. So, something
on a desktop machine that takes 4 seconds can take 40 seconds on your
notebook. Further, notebooks tend to have MUCH less ram also, and thus
again, you get a slow down. And, further, notebooks tend to have a lot less
processing, but these days, ms-access do not benefit much from more
processing.

All in all, notebooks have a lot less power.

However, if a network is involved, then I would check the speed of the
network (a wiress card really can't be used for example).

And, if a network is involved, then I would make a persistent connection.
That means your front end application opens a table in the back end, and
KEEPS THE connection open.

You can find the above tip..and a few more things that fix performance here:

http://www.granite.ab.ca/access/performancefaq.htm

 

[Todd P]

try defragging your HD and then optimizing your virtual cache by making it a
fixed size (usually the max size of the defaulted variable).

 

[dg.smith]

Been there, done that already, no effect.

try defragging your HD and then optimizing your virtual cache by making it
a fixed size (usually the max size of the defaulted variable).

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

Been there, done that already, no effect.

Ok, then the thing to answer here is a network involved, or a split
database?

 

[dg.smith]

No network involved. No split database. Size is 7,152 KB.

I've tried everything to optimize this laptop. It's better than my two
desktop systems, yet this thing hits the hard drive excessively and slows
the whole system down. The people who created this CBT are of NO help.

 

[Todd P]

ok...no network links and still slow...more simple things to
verify/question:

is the database size the same on both the laptop and desktop? did you
compact the database? do you have dynamic links to any local data source?
Have you tried to compile the database in debug??? Have you verified the
Reference Libraries between on the laptop and Desktop??? do you have a lot
of public variables?

One approach in troubleshooting this would be make a copy of the database
and begin disabling or eliminating modules/forms until the problem is gone.

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

Hum, that is strange.

If your database have very small tables, only of 150,000 recodes, then
response times should be near instant.

As I mentioned, ms-access (or any database) really does stress machines to
their max. You need as much available resources as possible.

however, having said the above, performance of the application should be
fast. In fact, on a stand alone machine, JET tends to perform FASTER then
sql server does.

I've tried everything to optimize this laptop.

Well, as mentioned, optimizing the laptop might not help much. Are you
telling me the SAME application runs on a desktop, and does not thrash the
disk drive as much? (or, likely you can't tell, since often you can't see
the desktop's drive light etc.) And, as I mentioned, the data transfer rates
and disk controllers on laptops are VERY MUCH slower then desktop machines.

It is possible some virus software is interfering......

 

[dg.smith]

Can't do any of that. NOT my database. It's running as part of an Authorware
created CBT. The people created the app are of NO help whatsoever. They say
it works fine, and that would be true for every machine I've tried it on,
sans my laptop, which is much more powerful than the desktops I've tried it
on.

I'm just wondering if there is a missing plug-in on my machine. Authorware
discussion group has been of no help, and neither has the macromedia web
site.

Very frustrating.

 

[david epsom dot com dot au]

Settings, Control Panel, System, Advanced, Performance, Settings, Advanced,
Memory Usage, "System Cache". On older versions of windows, set as 'network
server'. This assigns more memory to the file cache. Alternatively, you
could try increasing the size of the Jet cache (by changing the registry
entry. look in help for dbEngine.SetOption)

If the application has been configured to flush transactions to disk, you
may be looking at the effect of the hardware cache on the drive - in which
case there is no solution short of replacing the drive with one with a
larger cache.

(david)

 

[Albert D.Kallal]

The only other thing I would check is to disable all virus software for a
test...

 

[aaron.kempf]

so uh

what VERSION of access are you talking about?

how have 97 everywhere?

2003 everywhere?

give us a lot more information and we can help you thru this

-aaron

 

[dg.smith]

Access 2002. This is NOT my Access application. I cannot change tables, or
anything to the database this Authorware program is using.

I appreciate everyone attempting to help, but I've given up no this because
I cannot effectively do anything with the program other than run it.

 

[aaron.kempf]

maybe your laptop is just hosed?

what kindof antivirus do you use?

do you run anti-spyware?