[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.

Quote:

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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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Who needs a life, I have Internet!
Jim & Sue's Free Files | Jim's Modems

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..?

Good ideas to increase performance in Win95/98/ME is to

#1 (first make sure you don't need any dos mode drivers), get rid of all files in the c:\ root except msdos.sys, io.sys, and command.com

#2 Get rid of stuff that puts itself in the start menu that you never use, or you only load occassionally (C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

#3 Run Regedit, and go into HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and then travel to \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, RunOnce, RunOnceEx, RunServices, RunServicesOnce and in each of those, remove everything except things that you want to run every time (it is a good idea to leave systray and tweakui, but loadpowerprofile, scanreg, taskmon, etc are just useless. Also the webcheck key is useless garbage, kill it https://forums.windrivers.com/

After doing those things, windows should boot MUCH faster (specially if you have a major-OEM-loaded Windows with 10 million useless things loading every boot)

Some things are also useful not to have loading every time, like ICQ's little taskbar thing, the realplayer icon, etc .. you can still use the programs when you need to, but they're not dragging your system down when you don't https://forums.windrivers.com/

-Memnoch[GT-MaD]

[email protected]

I like to use Norton Util 2K. It is a great program for optimizing your system. There is a disk optimization util that benchmarks your drives, then specifies the size of the swap file, and also defragments the drive with the swap file at the front of the drive. It also checks the disks for errors, Fixes registry keys and optimizes the registry. There is even a util to see what is running in memory and how much memory it consumes.

Hey wgbjr,if you are using 98se,I use "system file checker" that does alot of good regular maintenance(finds problems that no other app can find or repair ),and I use norton utilities,instead of win scandisk or win defrag,norton speed disk and norton disk doctor work way better, and norton windoctor has saved my butt many times.well thats my 2 cents worth.

I generally clean all the temp files, and internet explorer temp stuff. I also clean the autoexec.bat and Also the Startup menu, and the registry stuff noted above. Never tried a permanent swap file. Does this make a difference...

Another good idea is to set internet explorer <tools> <advanced> <empty temporary internet files when browser is closed>. This means that your internet temp folder is always clear.!
:~)

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Don't know what happened there!

Anyway, in Internet explorer options, advanced, set Empty Temporary internet files when browser closed. This solves the problem of internet temp files everywhere!

bye for now!

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In an earlier post I gave a link to a short article on Maximum PC's website. You can find a more comprehensive version of this article with many more tips on making a Win-based system run better and faster in a special one-shot issue of Max PC called "PowerUser Handbook". It should be on newstands now until mid-January 2001.

Warning to long-time readers of Max PC: this "special issue" is mostly reprints of articles that have appeared in past issues.

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Did somebody step on a duck?

stick it in a fridge and try to straighten the modem lead. That way the 1's wont get stuck going around the corner's!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Schui:
Don't know what happened there!

Anyway, in Internet explorer options, advanced, set Empty Temporary internet files when browser closed. This solves the problem of internet temp files everywhere!

bye for now!

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That used to be a lovely option....until IE 5.5 hit the streets. They still offer that option under the advanced tab but darned if it eliminates the files. https://forums.windrivers.com/

"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."

This is utter bollocks...

VMM32.VXD is a collection of a bunch of smaller files all relating to core OS functions, bundled together into one compressed file. It saves space, and also saves load time since until Windows is actually running, you are in real mode with no disk cache, and the file must be read block by block. If you extract them individually, they are read in uncompressed form as opposed to being read out of the VMM32.VXD library. There is NO DIFFERENCE in the functionality of the files, they are simply loaded from two different sources and the only difference happens at boot time.

I don't know where these "makes your OS run better" came from, but I wish this rubbish would stop propagating.

Uh, what? Oh yeah, I'm done ranting...

Make sure the PC is well ventilated. Keep it cool.. I have an AMD K6 II 450 with an ASUS P5AB and my pc kept rebooting when it got hot..Took the case off and it runs awesome..
Using as a server for Urban Ops .. Had 10 people on it without crashing..
Norton and Windows.. bad mix. over 30 hits ..in the MS pouch in problem references
Only run your Anti-virus program when you have to. Linux is very very very nice.. Have a friend using as a server.. He has'nt rebooted in over a year! It's running fine..

Format, install linux, problems solved. no realy though, I have seen everything I do to optimize a windows machine, and some i haven't tried, but i will be trying soon. I apreciated this post, there were alot of good ideas, things i never thought of, but make sence to do. thanks everyone!

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We may be through with the past, but the past is not through with us.

Something that I haven't seen mentioned thus far is something I do to tweak my system. Turn off virtual memory and reboot. After the system comes back up, do a defrag, then turn virtual memory back on. This hits some sections of the hard drive that don't normally get defragged.

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Perseverance in all matters.

After a clean install I usually go through the machine and delete several things:

1) All system sounds
2) All unnecessary .txt files
3) All midi files
4) Uninstall unneeded windows setup programs
5) Set a black background with no wallpaper.

This is just a few things. Most everything else I've done is already posted previous to this post. You wanted to know how to help so that's how I do it. I use my machines to their peak performance by trashing stupid creature comforts. Who cares if the systems makes a cute little sound with an error? Isn't that why we have a monitor?


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H asan yon efo u ndm yspa ceb a r?

When you start getting unusual errors and system stops, turn off your PC open up the case and turn the PC back on. Make sure the fan is working and that the CPU is not to hot to touch. This sounds dumb, but in many cases I spent two hours trying to find the fualt with the software when it could have taken me five minutes to change the fan.

https://forums.windrivers.com/

When all else fails... REBOOT!

One thing I've noticed that helps alot is a fat hard drive. If you need 20 gigs of space, buy a 60 gig drive.

There's an exponential curve to the performance hit a drive takes as it gets full. ..something about the head being close to the center of the platter and not moving much when it's empty is better for speed, and something about seeking for empty space.. just try it. Just look at how good a clean install runs and listen to the hard drive. It's the biggest bottleneck in the system.

256meg of ram is nice too.


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=-iateyourcat-=

[This message has been edited by iateyourcat (edited December 29, 2000).]

Nope. I'm with Reboot an Ibennetch.
Linux, Or... Dos & win3.1 runs like sh1t off the proverbial. Seriously. No Really! https://forums.windrivers.com/


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No girl deserves my tears, and the one who does will never make me cry.

how do you make the swap file permanent?
https://forums.windrivers.com/

Without question, the best way to get things running better is to reduce the number of programs loading up when Windows boots (both launched through the registry, and StartUp group.)

When Windows is booting, it's busy enough: then try launching 10 other programs simultaneously while that is going on. I love launching a clean install of Windows and having a quick bootup. I try to keep my home PC away from Startup programs and it boots in under 50 seconds (from power switch to finished loading Win95b)

The other is to use the
system.ini
[vcache]
minfilecache=x
maxfilecache=x

So the disk cache doesn't hoard all your precious (literally!) RAM and force your apps to swap to disk. I've thought this is the most counterproductive OS operation ever devised.

"Yeah! Let's create a disk cache in memory so the hard disk will be accessed less and then use a swap file on the hard disk for more memory!" https://forums.windrivers.com/

This is a good point, especially with the K6-2's. I have a 500Mhz, and it would constantly blue screen in Win98SE. Afterward, the CPU alarm would go off saying that the temp was too high. I put in a bigger power supply, and a case cooling fan and the alarm has not sounded since. Along the same lines, make sure to take a can of compressed air and blow all of the dust out of the case. Dust built up on the board causes a temperature problem. It also could ruin your drive(s) and your power supply.

Quote:

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Geneva, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Medianox:
Make sure the PC is well ventilated. Keep it cool.. I have an AMD K6 II 450 with an ASUS P5AB and my pc kept rebooting when it got hot..Took the case off and it runs awesome..
Using as a server for Urban Ops .. Had 10 people on it without crashing..
Norton and Windows.. bad mix. over 30 hits ..in the MS pouch in problem references
Only run your Anti-virus program when you have to. Linux is very very very nice.. Have a friend using as a server.. He has'nt rebooted in over a year! It's running fine..</font>

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I wish they had Doom for OS/400...that would be some treat!

Don't listen to him!

Quote:

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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, Geneva, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GilStuart:
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).]</font>

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You realize that by spliting all of this information up on the same drive is just going to jack up your hd access time. Even though Windows is going to show 3 drives (c,d, and e) you still have the SAME number of cylinders, sectors, and heads between them. You're just making the heads go farther to find the info they need.

As a side note, GilStuart's suggestion might be valid if it were spread across seperate physical hard drives.

Quote:

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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">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.</font>

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A general rule of thumb is to create a permanant swap file that is 1.5x the amount of RAM the system has.


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Net Appliances: The Next Generation... The USB Toaster.

Quote:

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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Hippie_Techs:
Don't listen to him!


You realize that by spliting all of this information up on the same drive is just going to jack up your hd access time. Even though Windows is going to show 3 drives (c,d, and e) you still have the SAME number of cylinders, sectors, and heads between them. You're just making the heads go farther to find the info they need.

As a side note, GilStuart's suggestion might be valid if it were spread across seperate physical hard drives.</font>

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Umm...I suggest this might be being a bit hard on GilStuart. For one thing, modern drives have translating architecture and lie like crazy to the outside world about what they actually look like inside. Where the data actually goes on the platter/s is up to the internal circuitry. It would be hard to be sure what effect any particular partitioning may have on the performance.
It is reasonable to assume that smaller partitions will reduce access times during critical operations like page swapping, because the FAT for that partition will be close to the data. With one large partition, the heads will have to be swinging from where the swapfile is, back to the FAT at the start of the disk. (The reason to move the swapfile to the start of the disk, but I guess not everyone does that.)
The greatest potential should be for a nice fast drive dedicated to the swapfile, on the secondary IDE channel maybe, but some M/Bs the IDE2 is a little slower.

https://forums.windrivers.com/

If anyone very familiar with the internals of Hard Drives can confirm or deny I'd find it interesting.

Everything I've always heard about swap files says that the best size is 1.5x - 3x the amount of RAM you have. The smaller end is for those of us who are low on HD space, and the upper end is for people with big hungry graphics apps, with the central range of 2x - 2.5x being the general optimum.
My other favorites are to set the role to 'network server' and the same min/maxfilecache stuff as everyone else.

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BUY IT A PIAR OF NIKES' or wax it YEA WAX THAT SHOULD HELP

ok...question...
i see alot you all setting the swap file to 2.5 to 3 X the system ram....
my question is if i have 256 megs of ram do I need a swap file that is 768 megs???? I think not.

I know we've discussed this swap file thing before at some point but i don't remember when.

http://windrivers.com/tech/swap.htm