Slow Vista

[katmagic]

I just bought a new laptop a Dell XPS 1330, with Vista. And it is slow in
launching everything. Once I'm in a program, it's usually okay, but it
takes 5-10 seconds just to open the start menu, or switch between programs,
or open a program is more like 20-30 seconds. It's even slower if I'm
coming out of sleep mode, it never gets faster, I always have to boot even
though I see nothing in the task manager. Is this the way it is supposed
to be, and if not, how can I tell if this is a Vista problem or the laptop?
My cpu runs at about 3% capacity and my ram is around 50 when no
applications are open.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Try the following performance tips:

Open Power Options (its in the Control Panel) and then
place a dot next to High Performance.

Next:

Open Device Manager (its in the Control Panel) and then
right-click on your hard drive (under Disk Drives). Click
on "Policies" and make sure there are check marks next to
"Optimize for Performance", "Enable write caching on
the disk", and "Enable advanced performance", then click OK.

Next, perform a Disk Cleanup:

Click on the blue Vista start button and then on the Computer
entry in the Start Menu. Right-click on your hard drive and
select Properties > Disk Cleanup > Files from all users.....
More Options > Clean Up (System Restore and Shadow Copies).

Consider installing addition RAM up to 2GB. Having a total of
2GB RAM installed will significantly improve overall performance.
Visit: http://www.crucial.com/ and run the Crucial System Scanner Tool.


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

I just bought a new laptop a Dell XPS 1330, with Vista. And it is slow in
launching everything. Once I'm in a program, it's usually okay, but it
takes 5-10 seconds just to open the start menu, or switch between programs,
or open a program is more like 20-30 seconds. It's even slower if I'm
coming out of sleep mode, it never gets faster, I always have to boot even
though I see nothing in the task manager. Is this the way it is supposed
to be, and if not, how can I tell if this is a Vista problem or the laptop?
My cpu runs at about 3% capacity and my ram is around 50 when no
applications are open.

 

[Steve Thackery]

Is this the way it is supposed

to be,

No, that isn't acceptable or normal.

My cpu runs at about 3% capacity and my ram is around 50 when no
applications are open.

Those figures seem fine. Laptops always seem sluggish compared with
similarly-priced desktops, but the performance you describe is hopeless. I
strongly suggest you get it back to Dell for a refund.

There are various things you could do, such as removing the mountain of
crapware that Dell install. Also, just waiting a few days for the indexing
to finish might help a bit. There are various other things you could try.

But really, the more you mess with it, the less likely they to take it back.
At the moment you can say "This is how you delivered it, and it's useless."

SteveT

 

[anonymous]

What are the specification of the laptop? The reason I am asking is because
you might have purchased an underpowered system for Vista. For instance, my
school recently bought 25 new laptops for the computer lab. These computers
have Windows Vista Home Basic with an Intel Celeron Processor, 1GB of RAM,
and integrated graphics. With these components, the computers run very slow
and often crash. Therefore, I recommend a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM or
more, and a dedicated graphics card.

 

[anonymous]

Make sure all your drivers are updated (I know your laptop is brand new, but
when I bought my desktop last year, many of its drivers were outdated.

 

[Hiren]

I have not yet had a look at the specifications but the note-book surely is stated to be `Certified for Windows Vista` as per http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductDetails.aspx?m=v&g=s&cid=800&sv=&f=&pn=XPS M1330&oid=70 .
And therefore,I don't think it's under-powered.

What are the specification of the laptop? The reason I am asking is because
you might have purchased an underpowered system for Vista. For instance, my
school recently bought 25 new laptops for the computer lab. These computers
have Windows Vista Home Basic with an Intel Celeron Processor, 1GB of RAM,
and integrated graphics. With these components, the computers run very slow
and often crash. Therefore, I recommend a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM or
more, and a dedicated graphics card.

 

[Hiren]

Driver updates are typically listed as `Optional` updates in the Windows
Update's `Available updates for installation` list.

Make sure all your drivers are updated (I know your laptop is brand new, but
when I bought my desktop last year, many of its drivers were outdated.

 

[katmagic]

Thanks, everyone for your help, if Carey's ideas show no improvement, will
head back to Dell. Thanks!

 

[anonymous]

In the future, it is a very good idea to look at the specifications of a
computer before you buy it. The "Certified for Windows Vista" label just
means that the computer meets the system requirements for Vista. If a
computer just barely meets the system requirements, it will still run very
slowly.

I have not yet had a look at the specifications but the note-book surely is
stated to be `Certified for Windows Vista` as per
http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductDetails.aspx?m=v&g=s&cid=800&sv=&f=&pn=XPS M1330&oid=70 .
And therefore,I don't think it's under-powered.

What are the specification of the laptop? The reason I am asking is because
you might have purchased an underpowered system for Vista. For instance, my
school recently bought 25 new laptops for the computer lab. These computers
have Windows Vista Home Basic with an Intel Celeron Processor, 1GB of RAM,
and integrated graphics. With these components, the computers run very slow
and often crash. Therefore, I recommend a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM or
more, and a dedicated graphics card.

 

[anonymous]

Optional means that the updates are not as important as Windows security
updates. However, it is still important that you download them for maximum
compatibility with your hardware.

 

[Hiren]

No.`Certified for Windows Vista` is when the system is powerful enough to
take advantage of all the features that Windows Vista offers.If the system
only meets the bare minimum requirements and is just functionally
compatible,it earns the `Works with Windows Vista` logo instead.

In the future, it is a very good idea to look at the specifications of a
computer before you buy it. The "Certified for Windows Vista" label just
means that the computer meets the system requirements for Vista. If a
computer just barely meets the system requirements, it will still run very
slowly.

I have not yet had a look at the specifications but the note-book surely is
stated to be `Certified for Windows Vista` as per
http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductDetails.aspx?m=v&g=s&cid=800&sv=&f=&pn=XPS M1330&oid=70 .
And therefore,I don't think it's under-powered.

What are the specification of the laptop? The reason I am asking is because
you might have purchased an underpowered system for Vista. For instance, my
school recently bought 25 new laptops for the computer lab. These computers
have Windows Vista Home Basic with an Intel Celeron Processor, 1GB of RAM,
and integrated graphics. With these components, the computers run very slow
and often crash. Therefore, I recommend a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM or
more, and a dedicated graphics card.