Fuchsrohre

As with every version of windows I've had, after a time it starts slowing down compared to what it was like when first installed. So I thought I'd take a look around my system and see if there was anything I could tweak.

I've defragged my registry and cleaned out dupications
I've defragged the hard disk
I've got back to a classic them which doesn't use a desktop background, or fade-in menus and the like.
I've created a new pagefile on a partition all of its own

Incidentally , I'm running with 1GB of PC2700 Ram, a Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB, an NForce2 chipset, ATA100 WD Caviar drive with 8MB Cache + 7200rpm and XP2800 CPU.

The machine is used for programming, 3DS Max, Photoshop, and games.

My questions are as follows:

1. A while ago 1GB of ram seems plenty but when I monitor the free RAM windows has available when running a couple of apps, its drops down to 200MB, so I was wondering if I moved up to a total of 2GB of ram, would it be prudent ?

2. Would I see much performance in upgrading to the latest SATA or SCSI drive ?

Any input would be appreciated

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

1. More Ram is always a good thing. However if u are runnin low on ram with 1gig installed, then something is taking up all your resources, so look at services/apps running in the bground to determine which ones are consuming all your ram. E.g I use Eudora as a mail client, and after about 2-3 days of uptime, it swallows up aload of ram. Simply closing it down n reopening will refresh the ram used up, as XP is quite good at managing the ram resources.

2. You wont notice any difference at all between ATA100 n SATA imo. But u will if u use say a 16k rpm SCSI drive. Alot more expensive than SATA thou

Best way to refresh XP when it gets hogged down, is to do a format n reinstall.

andrewdelvard

Agree 1000% Nothing like it for giving a computer a new lease of life.
Very easy to do. Just have all drivers to hand, xp key at the ready, files saved, etc etc.
Easy Peasy.

mike1210

and just before you do that re-build, take a look at this

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/nLite/1087118197/1

Fuchsrohre

So daft isn't it - having to re-install to get that fresh feeling back!

Also heard a Fat32 partition is a little quicker than an NTFS ?

Mike, thanks for the link - may check that out!

Scooby Dooby Blue

Rollerblades are faster than foot but most folk still walk to the paper shop.

I believe MS put their hands up to FAT32 being the worst filing system known to man!

john_s

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I hear FAT32 is quicker, but the NT based versions of Windows seem to be much happier and more stable running on a NTFS drive.

John.

mike1210

plus the ability for file permissions, compression and encryption. Defo stick with NTFS!!!!

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

NTFS is actually quicker than Fat32

Gareth Allan

re the re-installing XP etc, is there anything out there that would allow me to make a install disk that included all the programs and files I usually add after a fresh install, eg office apps, dvd write software etc etc?

This could be added from original installation disks or something of disk image once I have manually installed once more?

preferably would allow inclusion of proper keys etc and not require attended install (ie no keys to press, stick disk in, start install and walk away for half an hour...)

Gareth

mike1210

check out my previous link and this

http://unattended.msfn.org/index.htm

edited to add this too

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=9817

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Yes Norton Ghost. Once u have the XP install you want with all your apps installed, and running how you want it, use Ghost to image your boot drive to an image file, cdr, dvdr etc. To restore the image, you simply boot from the norton CD put in the media with your image on it, and voila. Takes about 30mins to fully restore an 8gb image.

Edited to say, my C:\ image is on 2 dvdrs, so u would need to swap the dvdrs over, as I think Ghost only uses one optical drive at any time.