topic Re: Perormance problems in PCs & Accessories

Perormance problems

dcelovic — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 22:35:50 GMT

Bought the VAIO VGN-FS195-XP with 1Gb memory in april (wanted it to be fast). A month later performance started degrading, especially when watching films from a DVD. After a while it became impossible to watch a film, even from the hard disk.
Recording a DVD, that would initially take 20 min, slowed down to 90 minutes!

I reinstalled the PC from scratch. For 2 days things were better.
Then my VAIO went to update itself on the net... and now:

Impossible to play music as sounds play slow.
Even the windows logon sound does not play properly.
Playing a film from a DVD is OK, but playing from the HD too slow!!!
Recording a DVD = 90min

I have a Toshiba laptop too, which is supposed to be slower, but is 5 times faster and never had such problems.

AAAARRRGH!!! Please help!!!!!!

Re: Perormance problems

jammold — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 22:47:45 GMT

God, the Sony update gremlin strikes again!

Try uninstalling eac update one by one until performance improves, otherwise if this is not possible, try going back to a basic configuration using your recovery disk(s), (remembering to make a full backup first before they are used).

Hopefully your configuration will be such that your computer's performance increases.

If the changes are very recent, you could try a System Restore or last known Good Configuration to elimate the possibility that it is something recent that causing your problem.

Re: Perormance problems

tonybeard — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 23:52:00 GMT

I don't want to tell Granma how to suck eggs but you do know about defragmentation yeah? If not and you are suffering simply from lossey or latency defragment your Vaio with everything disabled but the basics and do it over and over again until it defrags in about 30 seconds. This may improve things greatly. I defrag when installing and my system is lightning fast with just 512 meg of RAM

Re: Perormance problems

feederfan — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 08:01:07 GMT

Yer, you should defragment your hard drive. I got my VAIO back from repair wiped clean 2 days ago, and I uninstalled all the crap... so everything except windows.. then i updated it to SP2 and put the rest of the windows updates on, and after all that, i analyzed the drive using Disk Defragmenter and it came back as being 75% defragmented!
Ideally you should run a defrag every month, or 2 weeks if you use your vaio more.

Re: Perormance problems

dcelovic — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:25:46 GMT

Thanks for the replies. OK, i'll try the defrag, but I can't beleive that the disk can get defragmented only few days after a clean install...
I'll come back with news ;-(

Re: Perormance problems

kee-lo_ — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 19:25:23 GMT

That sounds pretty bad.
I would try avoid the updates if your VAIO works

Re: Perormance problems

Ash911 — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 19:32:23 GMT

I wouldnt defrag the HDD too often if I were you as it seriously impairs HDD life if overused. Perhaps every 6 months is sensible.

This problem sounds as though defrag is exacerbating the problem, but I dont think its causing it. The updates are when the problems start so logically the updates are the cause?

Freshly format the thing 'standing alone' i.e. no network interaction at all, and disable autoupdate and that stuff before putting it back on any network/internet.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

Re: Perormance problems

robpaxton — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 19:39:50 GMT

Use task manager to find out what application(s) are using the most resources when the slowdown occurs. The problem is probably not related to a fragmented disk unless you are low on disk space.

Re: Perormance problems

feederfan — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 22:49:04 GMT

defragging doesnt impair drive life! infact, it lengthens it, because it moves files into an order, so the drive does not have to spin at often, and therefore does not wear out as quickly. It is recommended by most IT professionals to defrag on a monthly basis.
Defragging the hard drive on my VAIO boosts performance massivley, and reduces the windows loading time by at least half.

Re: Perormance problems

kee-lo_ — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 00:04:04 GMT

They say that on Executive Software's website too

Re: Perormance problems

TygerTyger — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 15:26:41 GMT

Defragging won't be the problem on a brand new installation. Try a system restore back to factory condition, then run it for as long again before installing any other Sony updates. See if performance degrades over the time again.

Re: Perormance problems

Ash911 — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 12:46:03 GMT

In defence of my comment about Defrag impairing HDD life: (:smileygrin: )

Defrag involves massive read/write spin ups of the HDD continuously. So while a defragged drive would quite rightly not need to be spun up etc. as much to access the info...to actually get it to that stage requires an awful lot of defrag, and as some chap above said "keep doing this over and over...", so its a trade off between time spent stressing the drive via defrag and leaving it to naturally fragment, and also that defrag stresses the hardware a lot in a short space of time whereas general use does not.

^^Every 6 months depending on use is optimal

Re: Perormance problems

kee-lo_ — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 18:49:09 GMT

You do have a point Ash, it does put on some stress, but I think a lot of modern hard disks are equipped to handle this sort of operation

Re: Perormance problems

tonybeard — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:27:52 GMT

OK Ash point taken I think I should clarify what I meant when I said defrag over and over. Do this process ONCE to condition you're HD
I agree with you that defragmentation itself is very very wearing on HD but only if the HD has not been conditioned using this repetative process I mentioned. Feederfan and KeeLo are also correct that fragmented disks also wear the HD hence the need to have latency free HD
The information I obtained from a US Microsoft Teckie whilst chatting live on Mplayer is this.
1. Windows never places installed programs or data very intelligently unless the HD is condtioned by your actions. It needs help to do this. So defragmenting over and over until it get it right and defragments within 30 seconds just ONCE is a very good practise. Disable any unneccessary processes and even leave the mouse alone while it does this.
2. Then adjust the Master Paging File so that fragmentation is kept a minimum (best to use Diskeeper Pro for this).
3. Then fragmentation will be minimal so you can do it often or not so often either way it is less harmful to the life of the HD. If you disagree with this then you are going against the advice of one of the very designers of the Windows platform. Personally I totaly agree as it is logical and because my system is lightning fast.

Re: Perormance problems

TygerTyger — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 10:04:49 GMT

I always say this, but since we're on the subject, PerfectDisk is an awesomely good defragmenter. Makes a vast difference above even Diskkeeper.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/perfectdisk.html

Re: Perormance problems

Ash911 — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 13:21:45 GMT

Wow a debate on a forum which didnt degenerate into more 'untasteful' stuff :smileygrin:
And yeh Diskeeper Pro is the one I use

Thanks for hearing me out and keeping it clean peeps...

Re: Perormance problems

kee-lo_ — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 13:47:20 GMT

We like good old discussions here
PerfectDisk does look good TT