Laptop slower

[rwrede]

Last Christmas I bought my wife an HP laptop and it works fine, except the
last few months it is very slow starting up. I have closed all background
programs (only essential programs) even tried in Safe Mode. I have optimised
with PC Pitstop, TweakNow RegCleaner Pro, Spybot S&D, AdAware, scanned for
viruses and set Virtual Memory optimum. It takes a good full 2 minutes to
fully open from the log-on screen and have no activity in Task Manager. (My
desktop optimised the same way opens in 15-20 seconds from the log-on
screen) I'm thinking more memory? I did that to my desktop, went from 256 to
720 and wow what a difference. Could it be the processor? how can I test or
tell if it is the processor and not just needing more memory.

 

[Lodash the combatant]

Last Christmas I bought my wife an HP laptop and it works fine,
except the last few months it is very slow starting up. I have closed
all background programs (only essential programs) even tried in Safe
Mode. I have optimised with PC Pitstop, TweakNow RegCleaner Pro,
Spybot S&D, AdAware, scanned for viruses and set Virtual Memory
optimum. It takes a good full 2 minutes to fully open from the log-on
screen and have no activity in Task Manager. (My desktop optimised
the same way opens in 15-20 seconds from the log-on screen) I'm
thinking more memory? I did that to my desktop, went from 256 to 720
and wow what a difference. Could it be the processor? how can I test
or tell if it is the processor and not just needing more memory.

You don't deserve PC help, only mental help.

How the **** would anyone know what the **** it needs, you haven't said what
it's got yet, twit. Or are you now going to accuse others that they should
know wtf you're going on about?

 

[deebs]

Last Christmas I bought my wife an HP laptop and it works fine, except the
last few months it is very slow starting up. I have closed all background
programs (only essential programs) even tried in Safe Mode. I have optimised
with PC Pitstop, TweakNow RegCleaner Pro, Spybot S&D, AdAware, scanned for
viruses and set Virtual Memory optimum. It takes a good full 2 minutes to
fully open from the log-on screen and have no activity in Task Manager. (My
desktop optimised the same way opens in 15-20 seconds from the log-on
screen) I'm thinking more memory? I did that to my desktop, went from 256 to
720 and wow what a difference. Could it be the processor? how can I test or
tell if it is the processor and not just needing more memory.

Is the laptop hard disk about 70% full or more?

If so think about clearing some space by archiving to CD/DVD

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "rwrede" <[email protected]>

| Last Christmas I bought my wife an HP laptop and it works fine, except the
| last few months it is very slow starting up. I have closed all background
| programs (only essential programs) even tried in Safe Mode. I have optimised
| with PC Pitstop, TweakNow RegCleaner Pro, Spybot S&D, AdAware, scanned for
| viruses and set Virtual Memory optimum. It takes a good full 2 minutes to
| fully open from the log-on screen and have no activity in Task Manager. (My
| desktop optimised the same way opens in 15-20 seconds from the log-on
| screen) I'm thinking more memory? I did that to my desktop, went from 256 to
| 720 and wow what a difference. Could it be the processor? how can I test or
| tell if it is the processor and not just needing more memory.
|

PC Pitstop is crap ! please use well known and recomended software not junk that is in
"commercials".

Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *

 

[Gerry Cornell]

How much RAM memory do you have? Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring Task
Manager and select the Performance Tab. What is the Total, the Commit Charge
and the Peak?

How large is your hard drive? Is it partitioned? How much free space on
each drive / partition. How is the drive formatted -FAT32 or NTFS. To
get this information whilst in Windows Explorer place the cursor on each
drive in turn, right click and select Properties.

What is the CPU?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[doodle]

Last Christmas I bought my wife an HP laptop and it works fine, except
the
last few months it is very slow starting up. I have closed all
background
programs (only essential programs) even tried in Safe Mode. I have
optimised
with PC Pitstop, TweakNow RegCleaner Pro, Spybot S&D, AdAware, scanned
for
viruses and set Virtual Memory optimum. It takes a good full 2 minutes
to
fully open from the log-on screen and have no activity in Task Manager.
(My
desktop optimised the same way opens in 15-20 seconds from the log-on
screen) I'm thinking more memory? I did that to my desktop, went from
256 to
720 and wow what a difference. Could it be the processor? how can I
test or
tell if it is the processor and not just needing more memory.

Is ur HDD clean of temoorary files, junk etc, defragged?

 

[rwrede]

Here are the specs:
Product Name; ze4901us, Microprocessor; 1.3GHz Intel Celeron M Processor
320 Microprocessor Cache; 512KB L2 Cache Memory; 256MB DDR SDRAM (1 x 256MB)
at 266MHz Memory Max; 1024MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 512MB) Video Graphics; Intel
Extreme Graphics 2 (shared) Hard Drive; 40GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive Multimedia
Drive; 24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive Display; 15.0-inch XGA TFT (1024 x 768)
Display Network Card; Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45
connector) Sound; 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio; internal Altec
Lansing speakers; AC audio link; volume control button and mute button
Keyboard; 101-key compatible Pointing Device; Touch Pad with On/Off button
and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad PC Card Slots; One Type I/II
32-bit card bus (also supports 16-bit)

I have cleaned all junk, only have VScan and Firewall going, hard drive is
only 1/4 full. Main problem is startup, very slow from log-on. Once it's
started it seems ok. Tried in Safe Mode (only system processes running) and
was slow then too, maybe not as bad.

 

[Guest]

Here are the specs:
Product Name; ze4901us,
Microprocessor; 1.3GHz Intel Celeron M Processor 320
Microprocessor Cache; 512KB L2 Cache
Memory; 256MB DDR SDRAM (1 x 256MB) at 266MHz
Memory Max; 1024MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 512MB)
Video Graphics; Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (shared)
Hard Drive; 40GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive
Multimedia Drive; 24X DVD/CD-RW
Combo Drive Display; 15.0-inch XGA TFT (1024 x 768) Display
Network Card; Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector) Sound;
16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio; internal Altec Lansing speakers;
AC audio link; volume control button and mute button
Keyboard; 101-key compatible Pointing Device; Touch Pad with On/Off button
and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad
PC Card Slots; One Type I/II 32-bit card bus (also supports 16-bit)

I have cleaned all junk, only have VScan and Firewall going, hard drive is
only 1/4 full. Main problem is startup, very slow from log-on. Once it's
started it seems ok. Tried in Safe Mode (only system processes running) and
was slow then too, maybe not as bad.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring Task Manager and select the Performance Tab.
What is the Total, the Commit Charge and the Peak?

How is the drive formatted -FAT32 or NTFS. To get this information whilst
in Windows Explorer place the cursor on each drive in turn, right click and
select Properties.

What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements?

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties. Hardware,
Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

Look in Event Viewer at the System and Application logs for Warning or
Error report and post a copy here You can access Event Viewer by
selecting Start, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;enus;308427&Product=winxp

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Double click the button and close Event
Viewer. Now start your message(email) and do a paste into the body of the
message. This will paste the info from the Event Viewer Error Report
complete with links into the message. Make sure this is the first paste
after exiting from Event Viewer.


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[deebs]

Here are the specs:
Product Name; ze4901us, Microprocessor; 1.3GHz Intel Celeron M Processor
320 Microprocessor Cache; 512KB L2 Cache Memory; 256MB DDR SDRAM (1 x 256MB)
at 266MHz Memory Max; 1024MB DDR SDRAM (2 x 512MB) Video Graphics; Intel
Extreme Graphics 2 (shared) Hard Drive; 40GB (4200RPM) Hard Drive Multimedia
Drive; 24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive Display; 15.0-inch XGA TFT (1024 x 768)
Display Network Card; Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45
connector) Sound; 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio; internal Altec
Lansing speakers; AC audio link; volume control button and mute button
Keyboard; 101-key compatible Pointing Device; Touch Pad with On/Off button
and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad PC Card Slots; One Type I/II
32-bit card bus (also supports 16-bit)

I have cleaned all junk, only have VScan and Firewall going, hard drive is
only 1/4 full. Main problem is startup, very slow from log-on. Once it's
started it seems ok. Tried in Safe Mode (only system processes running) and
was slow then too, maybe not as bad.

Before follwoing Gerry's advice see if a good defrag helps.

If a lot of stuff has been on the disk then most of it removed then data
could be spread around a bit.

I know with laptops that most hard drives run nice and quietly but are
there any indications of disk thrashing? If so, what programs start the
thrash?

There are some nice utilities to, for example, clean up the registry
CCLeaner is one such freeby. But be warned and make sure you
know/research/have an idea of what the options will do.

All Temporary Internet Files deleted? Cookies too? What space is
devoted to Temp Internet files? more that 512 MB? If so, reduce it pronto.

Maybe Microsoft Memory diagnostic (seems like there is a lot of RAM
there. Is some of it duff?)

 

[rwrede]

(deebs) I do that on a regular basis, cleaning, maintaining, defragging,
This slow starting happens even after a total maintenance, (2-3 minutes to
totally be ready from log-on)

Gerry, the numbers in the "Commit Charge" area are;
Total = 248184 (-~+)
Limit = 583116
Peak = 355436

Formatted NTFS
McAfee VirusScan and Firewall, set to come on at startup

no yellow question marks in Device mgr

nothing out of the ordinary in the Event Viewer

 

[deebs]

(deebs) I do that on a regular basis, cleaning, maintaining, defragging,
This slow starting happens even after a total maintenance, (2-3 minutes to
totally be ready from log-on)

Gerry, the numbers in the "Commit Charge" area are;
Total = 248184 (-~+)
Limit = 583116
Peak = 355436

Formatted NTFS
McAfee VirusScan and Firewall, set to come on at startup

no yellow question marks in Device mgr

nothing out of the ordinary in the Event Viewer

Maybe the hard drive is on it's way out?

 

[Gerry Cornell]

rwrede

I think you need to monitor your system usage of the pagefile. You may
check on pagefile (virtual memory) usage with Page File Monitor for XP:
http://www.dougknox.com/

If you get anything much more than 20 / 30 mb virtual memory usage you
need to add RAM memory. The system uses virtual memory for a
limited number of tasks rather than RAM memory.

Make sure you study the readme.txt file carefully to ensure you get the
utility to work as it should.

If I am interpreting your system specification properly you have only 256
mb RAM memory, which is minimal for running Windows XP. You also
seem to have set a modest maximum virtual memory size. You might
increase this, although it will not solve the problem of slow performance.

Have you installed any "memory boosters" which might be having an
adverse affect on system performance?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[rwrede]

Here are the results for her laptop:

12/21/2005 6:13:17 AM
Pagefile Physical Location: C:\pagefile.sys
Current Pagefile Usage: 65 MB
Session Peak Usage: 65 MB
Current Pagefile Size: 360 MB

Here are the results for my pc which seems very fast/normal to me:

12/20/2005 10:54:09 PM
Pagefile Physical Location: C:\pagefile.sys
Current Pagefile Usage: 10 MB
Session Peak Usage: 39 MB
Current Pagefile Size: 1140 MB

I changed the page file size, (now 680) defragged it and it started even
slower than usual, 230 seconds to fully load. Funny thing, in an attempt to
defrag the page file, I made the page file 4 with a peak of 70 and it loaded
faster than it has in months.

now it is:
usage; 85 mb
peak; 85mb
size; 680mb

 

[rwrede]

Following up on my last post, I now set the page file size to "System
Managed Size" and it loads faster, (190 seconds) it is at 333mb, and usage
is at 71mb, this is weird and doesn't make sense.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

I think the Laptop would benefit from more memory.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[deebs]

I think the Laptop would benefit from more memory.

Yeh - agreed.

The Utility I use suggests a page file larger than 50 MB indicates
insufficient RAM in place.

I don't know about buying new RAM for the laptopn though (how old is the
laptop?)

Depending upon age of the laptop, money may be best invested in a new
laptop IMO.

There are some great Christmas deals around and a standard laptop may be
a better option rather than new disk, new RAM, ... , IMO

 

[Gerry Cornell]

deebs

Did you read the first sentence in the first post starting this thread?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[deebs]

deebs

Did you read the first sentence in the first post starting this thread?

Nope - it's gone from my viewer

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Last Christmas I bought my wife an HP laptop and it works fine, except the
last few months it is very slow starting up.

If you post to long threads you should keep messages for a longer period.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~