i'm in a real jam here [comp prob]

[Larrym]

Eye Candy

Redbone,

Good to hear that going invasive on your computer worked out for you: Cleaning things up and adding more RAM in an effort to optimize performance by addressing hardware issues.

No doubt that as each time the hardware limitations are raised to a new level that the stuff the software tries to make happen all at once goes up as well. It's a vicious circle and keeping a step ahead by upgrading the processors and memory is a daunting task. Failure to keep up with this can lead to a fast computer becoming slower and slower to the point where it can no longer process the eye candy fast enough to be unnoticed by the naked eye.

Now that you've gone the hardware upgrade route and the computer is noticeably faster, there is another path which can be explored: software performance increases. If you think that you're lightning fast now just try changing one simple software setting which eliminates the loading, processing, and displaying of all the extra bells and whistles in the display which tend to bog down the whole unit.

http://www.xp-tips.com/disable-visual-effects.html

You can change it back after trying it for an hour or two....

I'm running an old Dell laptop with limited speed and ram. Rather than get into the hardware upgrade cycle, I live within the limitations and choose to bypass all the visual/processing gymnastics which would normally turn my computer experience into a frustrating "wait for it to load/display" nightmare. Just an option for those of us who don't wanna go past that sticker which says, " Danger. Electrical Shock Hazard. No User Serviceable Parts Inside. Refer All Servicing To Qualified Personnel."

I also choose to have an extension in my web browser which blocks the loading/displaying of all those annoying advertisements which also bog down performance. (I'm not interested viewing my credit rating or changing my auto insurance...though visually the ads look like they were meant for the Las Vegas strip.) Sure, it's a no frills way to go about it but then I'm quite happy with my snappy lappy.

BTW, have you confirmed that your virtual memory/paging file size setting has changed to reflect your RAM upgrades?

[redbone]

BTW, have you confirmed that your virtual memory/paging file size setting has changed to reflect your RAM upgrades?

LARRY,
thanks for the info, i would have to say no to the above question as i'm not familiar with those things. feel free to fill me in though.
thnsk

[mro]

For 99.99% of all pc users win manages VM well enough.
Manually setting it for those would not be noticeable.
Disabling unneeded services and tweaking video settings does make a difference tho, XSpecially on slower machines.

mro

[Larrym]

Thrashing Your HDD??

BTW, have you confirmed that your virtual memory/paging file size setting has changed to reflect your RAM upgrades?

LARRY,
thanks for the info, i would have to say no to the above question as i'm not familiar with those things. feel free to fill me in though.
thnsk

Windows does usually manage (I wanted to say mangle..) virtual memory and page file size but as long as you've changed the hardware then it doesn't take much to look and confirm things went according to plan. I have XP Pro so I go here for the how to verify and/or change if needed:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417

That'll show you where to go to look at your settings if you have XP. In there the guidelines say this:

"To have Windows select the best paging file size, click System managed size. The recommended minimum size is the same as 1.5 times the RAM on your computer, and 3 times that figure for the maximum size. For example, if you have 256 MB of RAM, the minimum size is 384 MB, and the maximum size is 1152 MB."

You know how much RAM you installed so the math is fairly simple. What did windows set the min/max values at? Like mro says, it may be ok to just let windows do it automatically. But here is a little tip about those settings which you may/may not know:

"Change 'Initial Size' to the same value as 'Maximum Size' then click set.
NOTE This setting will help your gaming by speeding your computer up.
ADDED NOTE: When your computer uses up your Ram then tries to use the computer's hard drive as RAM, it is also known as thrashing. Thrashing is bad for your computer and buying RAM (it's not that expensive) is much more worthwhile".

Basically setting the min/max the same prevents Windows from deciding to set the page file to it's minimum setting and then when you are in the middle of something requiring lots of memory, everything slows down/stops and windows gives you the error message "VIRTUAL MEMORY MINIMUM TOO LOW". Of course then windows goes through the laborious/slow process of freeing up more memory/thrashing the hard drive before it will let you do anything. (Very annoying to me at least.)

See? You did the hardware upgrade and now you know a little more about why it was a good idea and how the software uses the RAM you put in more effectively. I found out about this cause I have a laptop and the HDD access light is right in front of my face. I can see when it's being used.

I wonder about those folks who have their computer under the desk: out of sight and out of mind.

[redbone]

larry,
all that should work on vista too rite??
ts again,
redbone

[cywelchjr]

larry,
all that should work on vista too rite??
ts again,
redbone

Actually my experience has been that with Vista you don't need to bother, it will adjust to changes in memory size without any user intervention.

[Larrym]

Future Studies

Actually my experience has been that with Vista you don't need to bother, it will adjust to changes in memory size without any user intervention.

For the everyday/average computer owner, I believe Cy's absolutely right about this. To have a peek at what Vista has done look here first:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...virtual-memory

No need to compulsively change, tweak, or re-set anything really. Just a software exercise, a complimentary exercise to do in conjunction with the physical Ram upgrade.

I mean to do the ram upgrade you had to remove screws, lift panels, and slide components in or out. Kinda like Working with the "Hood" open if it were a car.

Going into these sections of Vista/XP to verify stuff is like checking the gauges on the dash of a car. But the average user has no need for gauges or would know where to find them or could interpret what they mean anyway. Very similar to the way current vehicles' only have idiot lights that don't provide any usable info other than "CHECK ENGINE."

If I understand the situation correctly then you are enrolled in a computer repair course and are on your way to becoming one of those who will be one of those "Qualified Personnel" referred to in the warning label on these devices. If so then at some point in your education you will need to know how to work on both the hardware and the software to effectively diagnose/repair computers. I guess those lessons are yet to come but in the end you'll have to know far more about the hardware/software than the standard "user" does.

I'm just someone who already is qualified to remove those screws and giving you a short peek into your future education.