[RESOLVED] Best Ways to Help a System Run Better (No Upgrading)

Just a general topic. Wanted to see if there were things I could be missing when optimizing a computer (you know, the one that someone has had for a year, and done nothing but use, no file maintenance, etc).

I will do a few things. Simple things really, like clear all the temp folders, find all backup files that aren't needed and get rid of them, uninstall useless programs, clear the startup folder, use msconfig to clean the system startup more, defrag, stuff like that. In Win9x systems, in the system configuration, I will change the role of the computer from desktop computer to network file server. I heard this worked, but really never noticed a difference. There are more, but these are the ones that come to mind, the main ones I start with. What do you all do? Any registry tweaks that anyone uses?

One of the first things I do when setting up a machine is make the swap file permanant. You can do this in Win9x buy specifying the same size for the largest and min swap file size. Saves a lot of resources when you don't let windows grow and shrink that file.
Anybody heard different? or know what the ideal size is? I usually just double the ram.

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Originally posted by gotbyk:
One of the first things I do when setting up a machine is make the swap file permanant. You can do this in Win9x buy specifying the same size for the largest and min swap file size. Saves a lot of resources when you don't let windows grow and shrink that file.
Anybody heard different? or know what the ideal size is? I usually just double the ram.

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I have mine set to 2.5 x the ram size (both min and max values), that's what a lot of people have said. check this out for a different way of doing it: http://www.windrivers.com/tech/swap.htm

On an end-user machine that's been running for awhile with no maintenence one thing I do is DEL all temp internet files. That way when you type an address in the machine doesn't work overtime searching through 8 megs of crap/PrOn for a match. It helps in other areas too, esp with 98 and all its html integration.

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Paint your old laptop!

That's what I do:
1. Change the System Type from Typical Computer into Network Server.
2. Make the Swap File permanent.
3. Cleanup any unnecessary files (e.g. *.chk, *.tmp etc.)
4. Cleanup Internet History and Temporary Internet Files.
5. Check the HDD for errors.
6. Perform a full Defragment.
7. Run Antivirus.


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"Matter is passive. In spite of its power, it can't be controlled without the human mind." Sokrates

My Hardware Info, Hardware Media and Computer History page

To deep clean your hard drive with scrubbing bubbles, take a look at Fred Langa's cleanup batch files at http://www.langa.com/cleanup_bat.htm

Also check out this link at MAXIMUM PC mag's website: http://www.maximumpc.com/reprint/christen/index.html

I like to use a program called evidence eliminator - www.evidence-eliminator.com/main.shtml

The program sells for US$74.95 but is available for a 30day free download.

The upside, it will automatically clean all temp files, cache, history, write zeros to all free space on hard drive and a lot more. I've seen a noticable improvement on most all machines after I've run it.

The downside, You have to install the program and uninstall (unless you wish to keep it on the machine). It also takes some time to run since it is a deep clean of the drive.

get rid of all of the junk in the start up folder

win.ini - remove anything not neccessary from the load= and run= lines

system.ini - based on a system w/128MB
[vcache]
MinFileCache=32768
MaxFileCache=32768
ChunkSize=512
(set min and max to 25% of your ram)

config.sys, autoexec.bat- get rid of the junk

in the registry get rid of the junk in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run (and runonce, runservices, etc)

get rid of all junk/temp files, etc, defrag or (norton) speed disk (speed disk is cool becuase it will not only defragment your swap file but it will put at the begining of the drive)- heck, back in the days of dos/win 3.1 who provided the original defragmenting program to begin with? Symantec!

device manager-performance virtual memory- set virtual to 2.5 or 3x your ram (min and max the same)

device manager-performance file system- cd-rom- if you do not use your CD-ROM to run apps, set it to no read ahead and turn the cache to the lowest setting (do not do this is you run programs off of CD or have a cd burner)

device manager-performance - file system -hard disk set to network server, make sure the read ahead is turned up.

get rid of that stupid 1MB wallpaper in the background...

turn off any wierd cursor/icon/desktop animations (IBM is famous for gobbling up all of the resources with this crap)

we also have a digital video equipment business and the hardware/software manufacturers even recommend getting rid of the clock on the task bar! (for digital video editing)

And I know I will get flamed for this, but Norton WinDoctor... to check the registry for errors. (do not choose "let windoctor fix the problem automatically" this will most likely screw everything up!!) - choose the option to "do it yourself", this feature is very useful but only if you know what your doing and understand the registry, this really should not be an end-user program. It would take days to scan through the registry manually, this program does in it a few minutes.

Try this: goto control panal, system, device manager, pick a device, click on properties, drivers, driver file details. You should come to a screen that looks something like this.

c:\Windows\system\vmm32.vxd(vdd.vxc)

Windows is looking for the vxd files in ( ). You can find these files in your Windows 9X cab files. When you find and extract the files add them to Windows\System.

Adding these file will make your Windows 9X OS run better. One note add one file at a time, if the added file behaves badly you will know witch one is causing the problem.

Best way to help a system run better?
Fdisk, Format, and install Linux. https://forums.windrivers.com/

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reboot, i like, very very much. Penguin Power all the way! (too bad I'm not in a position to do much with linux right now...gotta stick to winhose ;-(

Thanks for the comments everyone. ibennetch and reboot, I want to learn more about Linux/Unix, but I need to get another box first (been saving up). I know you can dual boot, and I did with Linux for a while, but I very rarely used it, cause all the programs I used most often were for Windows. I have a few 486's laying around here I could put it on, but most of them have pitifully small hard drives (250-500MB), and I have none to replace them with (college student = poor). https://forums.windrivers.com/

Boot to DOS and delete the swapfile, then go to windows, it will create a new one and set it to a fixed size. Defrag the hard disk. Go to reboot's website and download shopvac and use it. It is a wonderful utility.

Depending on your HW you may try overclocking a lil bit to see if it works.

Visit http://www.98lite.net if you are running win95 download and run IEradicator and reinstall IE from scratch if you chose to use it. If you are running 98 then upgrade to 98lite.

Good Luck
Bruce

Partition Your Drive!
Defrag often!

A sample setup:
Partition 1 (app 50%) - Drive C: - System & Programs
Partition 2 - Drive D:, E:, e.t.c.
Drive D: - Data (right click on My Documents|Properties and set the path to D:\)
Drive E: - Cache (setup follows)

to assure continued optimal performance - this is usually done at initial system setup (however may be done (with some difficulty)later).

When in FDISK create a partition or virtual disk of slightly less than 1Gb max but not less than 520Mb. After you format this 'drive', reserve it for the swap file.
This can be done by right clicking on My Computer - selecting Properties|Performance|Virtual Memory|Let me Specify my own virtual memory settings. At this point - select the reserved drive letter and set a minimum size of at least 150Mb with NO upper limit.

gil

[This message has been edited by GilStuart (edited October 29, 2000).]

This is how i'll do it..
Create a permanent swap on
1)FAT16 partition and move to front of disk.
2)Put the swap on another HDD on diffrent IDE channel than the boot HDD.
So what do you guys think..?