[AT] OT computer slowdown

[pga2 at hot1.net]

Cecil,
I was pretty sure that you would have the tools I mentioned
installed on your system, I mentioned them mainly for the
benefit of those that might not.
I agree that you pay a performance price for everything
that runs in the SysTray when the system boots up. You
can either remove these, close them or modify them so
they don't start when the system does. I have a program
that runs my scanner that wants to "help me" by starting
up with the computer. I don't really need this unless I'm
going to scan stuff, so I've modified it's properties so
it doesen't "help" any more.
Since you are now on XP, you should also have at least
256Mb of RAM, 512Mb would be even better. That will help
some with the memory "caching" which is indicated by lots
of disk activity. This is caused by the memory being full
so the system uses the hard drive to store what is already
in memory so it can write something else to memory.
Another tip is to set your swap file size to double the
size of your memory.
Hopefully, your system is not already optimized and one
or more of these tips will help.

Phil




----- Original Message -----
>From    : Cecil E Monson <cmonson at hvc.rr.com>
Sent    : Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:08:53 -0500
To      : Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-
tractor.com>
Subject : Re: [AT] Just testing

	Phil, I've never been without a good anti virus program on any
of my computers. I also have AdAware and SpyBot and run them frequently.
There are no viruses on this computer that anything has ever been able
to find. But with all the programs and other stuff on here and something
like 28M files so far, according to the Fix-it program, there as still
275K fragmented files on here. The other thing that slows it down are
all the programs running in the Systray or whatever it is called down at
the bottom of the screen that start when the computer starts. I pay with
performance with every one of them. Then with the two hard drives, I have
a feeling having the two of them also affects performance although I can't
prove it. One thing I did was to keep all operating programs on one of the
drives and only file - mostly photos and scans of tractor manuals - in the
other. That way the OS in here only has to look thru the one hard drive for
a program when I want it brought up.

	I may be imagining things thinking this computer has slowed down
a lot. It opens photos so fast it is amazing and there is almost no waiting
for anything. Doesn't hurt to check it out once in a while, however.

Cecil