What is it?

[Tom Brown]

I recently downgraded a Sony VAIO laptop from Vista to XP and could not be
happier with the results. It's made using my computer fun again!

But, in my System Tray, I now have a little icon that I don't remember
having before this latest install. It looks like a meter or gauge and the
red needle is tilted a little to the right of vertical. If I hover over it,
it just says "Performance" It has no left or right click options. At the
moment (but I don't remember seeing it before) it has another little icon in
front of the meter that shows "Adaptive" when I hover over it. I seem to
recall hearing about the term "adaptive" but can't place it. Any clues?
Anybody else have this icon?

TIA,

Tom

 

[Allan]

I recently downgraded a Sony VAIO laptop from Vista to XP and could not be
happier with the results. It's made using my computer fun again!

But, in my System Tray, I now have a little icon that I don't remember
having before this latest install. It looks like a meter or gauge and the
red needle is tilted a little to the right of vertical. If I hover over
it, it just says "Performance" It has no left or right click options. At
the moment (but I don't remember seeing it before) it has another little
icon in front of the meter that shows "Adaptive" when I hover over it. I
seem to recall hearing about the term "adaptive" but can't place it. Any
clues? Anybody else have this icon?

Try right-clicking on the icon to see if you can get more information about
it. It may have come from your XP installation disk. Is it an OEM version of
Windows XP?

 

[David B.]

This is likely part of Sony's power management software that you installed.

 

[Tom Brown]

Nope, as I said, it has no left or right click options.

Yes, it is an old XP Home disk from a Dell laptop I wore out. But, the icon
was not on the Dell when it had XP SP2 on it. Any clues what the "adaptive"
means?

Tom

 

[Tom Brown]

Thanks, I'll dig around on the Sony web site and see if I see any reference
to it.

Tom

 

[Claymore]

Nope, as I said, it has no left or right click options.

Yes, it is an old XP Home disk from a Dell laptop I wore out.  But, the icon
was not on the Dell when it had XP SP2 on it.  Any clues what the "adaptive"
means?

Tom








- Show quoted text -

Hello,

For the "Adaptive" thingy, it's not this, is it? May have come with
the OEM as a "free" trial:

http://www.adacute.com/help/types.htm

Click the 'Screenshots' link on the left for other views.

 

[Tom Brown]

Ok, I found it with the help of Sony Live Chat online tech support.

It's associated with the Sony VAIO Power Management Scheme. The computer
has a hardwire switch to allow you to operate in the Speed mode or the
Stamina mode. This is to extend battery life and reduce heat. But, the
Intel 7200 dual-core chip has the SpeedStep technology and this is part of
it. In the power settings, there is an option to show the icon in the
System Tray.

Here is a blurb from Wikipedia ..........

"Under Microsoft Windows XP, SpeedStep support is built into the power
management console under the control panel. In Windows XP a user can
regulate the processor's speed indirectly by changing power schemes. The
"Home/Office Desk" disables SpeedStep, the "Portable/Laptop" power scheme
enables SpeedStep, and the "Max Battery" uses SpeedStep to slow the
processor to minimal power levels as the battery weakens."

Question answered.

Tom