Help with Vista and Performance

[jenrsmills]

I'm at my wits end! Here's the G2:

Dell Inspiron laptop
Vista Business
Intel Pentium M 1.73 GHz
RAM 2039 MB (just added to the max)

The problem is that even with no applications running, my physical memory of 2038 has over 1500 MB cached and only about 2-50 MB free. If I'm running something (particularly AOL or IE) the free goes down to zip and my CPU usage is often clocking at over 90% and it's dog slow. I had added some memory above what came with my 1 1/2 year old laptop and had the same problem, so I maxed it out thinking that would solve my problem. But, the same thing happens.

I have McAfee, run Spybot and Adaware, have all my firewalls in place, and have never had a virus. This is affecting my performance and I can't help thinking that there's something going on in the background.

Do you think I can do anything to help my performance? I'm grateful for all your suggestions. If I've missed any info that you need, please ask!

Jen

[augiedoggie]

I have McAfee, run Spybot and Adaware, have all my firewalls in place

Is this just a typo or are you really running more than one firewall? I have Vista Ult running on a 1GB desktop rig and memory usage stays around %50-%60

[jenrsmills]

Originally Posted by augiedoggie

Is this just a typo or are you really running more than one firewall? I have Vista Ult running on a 1GB desktop rig and memory usage stays around %50-%60

Sorry, it is a typo: I only have McAfee running as my firewall.

Jen

[Mada_Milty]

There are updates to improve the performance and reliability of Vista. See this thread for details.

Additionally, you can always go through, and tweak your startup programs (paying particular attention to Vista's services)

But, as Augie said, it's never a good thing to have multiple software firewalls, or more than one AV or AS with real-time scanning.

Originally Posted by jenrsmills

If I'm running something (particularly AOL or IE) the free goes down to zip and my CPU usage is often clocking at over 90% and it's dog slow.

This catches my eye, though. This sounds like there's a problem with an application dependency. When this happens, immediately kill the program taking up all your resources, and then check your application log for errors, and post back with the Event ID number, the source, and the exact error description.

[jenrsmills]

Mada,

I'll check on these things. I'm a bit squirmish about my startup programs--I don't want to tweak something vital! I'll go through and read your link and see how much I feel comfortable with doing.

I agree that it seems as though it's either what's running in background (startup items), or something with the applications. I find it hard to believe that my system would almost shut down running IE, though. I will check the application log for errors and post back here with the Event ID, source and exact error description.

Thanks for the suggestions--VERY much appreciated!

Jen

[jenrsmills]

Originally Posted by Mada_Milty

This catches my eye, though. This sounds like there's a problem with an application dependency. When this happens, immediately kill the program taking up all your resources, and then check your application log for errors, and post back with the Event ID number, the source, and the exact error description.

I had AOL (I know you all hate AOL--but I use it!) shut down unexpectedly with high CPU usage earlier when I was typing a response to this thread. I just went in the application log and couldn't figure out where the event was. There were a ton of warnings and errors and such. What specifically should I look for, please?


Jen

[usafveteran]

I was also wondering about the "firewalls". And, getting rid of McAfee would probably help. In my Notebook PC with Vista Home Premium and 1GB of RAM, Task Manager shows Physical Memory at 46%.

But, I'm wondering whether we're all reading from the same sheet of music here. Here's a screen print of my Task Manager's Performance tab:



What, really, is the significance of cached memory? Is it available for whatever Windows needs it for? If so, then why worry about the amount of "Free" memory?

Maybe the key question should be, how is your system performing in normal use? Do you have specific performance issues?

Edit: OK, you do have specific performance issues: "If I'm running something (particularly AOL or IE) the free goes down to zip and my CPU usage is often clocking at over 90% and it's dog slow."

[Adrynalyne]

Exactly. Putting too much emphasis on cached memory. Vista "pre-emptively" caches applications and what not to predict what you will use next, so that it loads faster. If these applications do not get used, Vista wil let go of the ram. If another application needs said ram, Vista will also let go of it.

The more ram you have, the more Vista will use for caching. Unused ram is wasted money!

Allow me to suggest there are some other things gong on.

1. As mentioned sounds like you have some CPU hungry apps installed and running.

2. Its single core--how well do you really expect it to multitask?

3. Its a slower CPU.

4. Its a laptop. SLower hard drives definately affect Vista performance.

5. Once again, CPU hungry apps installed, and/or malware. The CPU usage would not go up from running out of physical ram, as you have mentioned.

[Adrynalyne]

Just to show I'm not a liar, I'll post a screenie. I too, have 2gb of ram, and no slowdowns like you mentioned.

[jenrsmills]

Originally Posted by Adrynalyne

Exactly. Putting too much emphasis on cached memory. Vista "pre-emptively" caches applications and what not to predict what you will use next, so that it loads faster. If these applications do not get used, Vista wil let go of the ram. If another application needs said ram, Vista will also let go of it.

The more ram you have, the more Vista will use for caching. Unused ram is wasted money!

Interesting. Didn't know that. I just assumed that the cache was being used by something, not just preemptively set aside by Vista. Frustrating that my barely 1 1/2 year old system is once more a "slow" CPU! I have to have a laptop for our business, but, maybe it's time once again to upgrade to a newer one...

I'm checking on malware and application problems as suggested by another responder. Thanks!

Jen

[Adrynalyne]

I know this isn't really helpful, but you aren't alone. I have a friend who also had this very same Pentium-M, who had the very same problem with it being dog slow, even in XP. He ended up getting a core 2 duo machine and ahs been happy ever since.

I just setup an Acer Aspire laptop for my Aunt that came with Vista Home Premium for 629 bucks.

It has:

C2D @1.67ghz
2gb ram
160gb hard disk
built in webcam
media card reader
wired and wireless nics built in
15.4 in screen
some sort of onboard video from Intel that I didnt pay attention to.


It smokes in Vista, even with the default garbage Acer installs.

[Mada_Milty]

Originally Posted by Adrynalyne

It smokes in Vista, even with the default garbage Acer installs.

Sounds like a decent machine, but I gotta raise a flag of caution on Acer's Vista laptops.

For whatever reason, Acer has been shipping Vista on hardware that would barely run XP. I've have TWO come to me now with disgustingly low specs. If buying a new laptop is in your future, jenrsmills, keep your eye out.

[jenrsmills]

Originally Posted by usafveteran

I was also wondering about the "firewalls". And, getting rid of McAfee would probably help. In my Notebook PC with Vista Home Premium and 1GB of RAM, Task Manager shows Physical Memory at 46%.

What would you recommend instead of McAfee? I've never liked it, but have been hesitant to get something else until I get some recommendations.

Jen

[DavidGP]

I have a ACER 5630 series Intel C2D 2GB ram and dedicated Nvidia card and run Vista with no issues, all hardware compatible with Vista.... but I do agree with Mada if you go lower end laptops then you do tend to run into speed issues as most have 1GB ram and shared GFX which suck up at least 128MB of your system ram, so always best to do with a dedicated GFX card from ATi or Nvidia.



Is your Mcafee one of the Securitty Suites with Antivirus, firewall, antispyware etc? if so and if your running Spybots Tea-Timer, turn off the Tea Timer part.

You may as mentioned have too many un-necassary startups and if youy are willing to post a list of startups ( can get this from the likes of CCleaners Startup listing or Msconfig Startups ) adn we could advise you as to which ones are really safe to remove, as many are just usless updaters.

[jenrsmills]

Originally Posted by Halo

Is your Mcafee one of the Securitty Suites with Antivirus, firewall, antispyware etc? if so and if your running Spybots Tea-Timer, turn off the Tea Timer part.

You may as mentioned have too many un-necassary startups and if youy are willing to post a list of startups ( can get this from the likes of CCleaners Startup listing or Msconfig Startups ) adn we could advise you as to which ones are really safe to remove, as many are just usless updaters.

Yes, my McAfee is a security suite but I don't have the spam, identity protection or parental controlds activated. I was running Spybot's Tea-timer and just uninstalled it, and reinstalled it (because I couldn't figure out how to turn off the tea-timer ). Now, I have it running without the Tea-timer and we'll see if that helps.

Also, I would be very willing to post a list of startups. How would I do that? An attachment? A screen shot?

Thanks!!

Jen

[DavidGP]

Originally Posted by jenrsmills

Also, I would be very willing to post a list of startups. How would I do that? An attachment? A screen shot?

Thanks!!

Jen

Hi Jen

Yes a screenshot is fine, just download and install CCleaner ( if you dont have it already CCleaner )

Once run, click Tools > Startup and you will get listing like mine below, ok yours maybe longer.....

#

and yes just attach the screenshot, if the full screenshot is too large to attach to the forum, just do as I have done and crop it for the relevent bits.

[jenrsmills]

Originally Posted by Halo

Hi Jen

Yes a screenshot is fine, just download and install CCleaner ( if you dont have it already CCleaner )

Once run, click Tools > Startup and you will get listing like mine below, ok yours maybe longer.....

.

Okay, I've done this and I can't figure out how to get the screen shot to copy. I've saved it as a compressed PDF file and all I can get down to is 105 KB and the max is 97KB per Major Geek guidelines! HELP! I've tried to cntrl-alt-prnt scrn and CntrlV to paste on here to no avail.

Please tell me how to paste this screenshot!

Frustrating...

Jen

[Adrynalyne]

I'll post it.

Email it to:

adrynalyne at majorgeeks dot com.

Of course, format the address correctly

[Adrynalyne]

Here ya go.

[jenrsmills]

Thanks! Halo...any thoughts after looking at the screen shot of my start up list? Anyone?

Jen