I ran Norton Speed Disk from Norton SystemWorks 2002! My drive was only 13% fragmented! It took 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete! To long for only 13%! I have an XP2400+ ThoroughBread and 768-DDR! one-512-one-256 chip! And a 40-GB 7200-RPM ATA-100 HD! And XP-PRO OS!
Others even slower here say it takes only 10-30 min! Why am I not fast enough? I have an XP2400+TB, a 40-GB fast HD, and plenty of DDR so what am I doing wrong? And a nice fast ECS K7S5A with SIS735 Chipset! One of the fastest! How can a XP2400+TB be slow? What's missing?
Thanks, ivnj ************************************************** 12-07-02, 04:00 AM koicarp It might be your GLOBAL OPTIONS are set wrong. open system works > speeddisk > view > global options > click the default button. close then restart system works. If that doe's not work try the computers defrag tool.
I also found this regardingsoftware running IN the background..
I would first look at software, which can drag down any PC. When observing slowness, open the task manager (single CTRL-ALT-DEL) and look at the processes running. Is anythin taking >>50% of the CPU (other than system idel process)? If so what? Try turning it off. But, do NOT turn off systray or explorer. Some virus scanners and some optimization software can drag down a PC. Temporarily try de-activation the virus scanner. Also, turn off all Norton optimization tools that might be running in the background. (It is enough to defrag once a week manually, maybe less frequently. And, WinDoctor does not have to be run more than once a day.) If nothing is using all the CPU, check the DMA settings for the hard drive. You definitely want to use DMA (direct memory access) if it is an option for your hardware. Finally, I recall reading something about never installing a CD-ROM, ZIP or other relatively low speed device on the same EIDE contoller as the hard drive. I have heard that this can downgrade the hard drive many factors. Most motherboards have two EIDE (sometimes called ATA) controllers. The hard drive is usually installed as the master on the first controller. if a second hard drive, then install that as a slave on the same controller. Put other devices on the other controller. Good luck.
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[This message was edited by koicarp on 12-07-02 at 04:16 AM.] ************************************************** 12-07-02, 09:29 AM Murray S. Howdy again:
The specs I gave you on the other thread were for my home system.. P3-866 with 512megs PC-133
Lose the Norton SystemWorks (keep the av).. It is nothing but a system resource hog and will slow you down to no end..
Download and install DiskKeeper Lite and run that.. I do think with SystemWorks gone and using Diskkeeper Lite, you will notice a big difference !!
Murray ************************************************** 12-07-02, 10:05 AM Murray S. Just for comparison, I ran Diskkeeper right now.. Using the "analyse" command first, this is what it found..
Dang.. I hate this not being able to paste..
Findings on c:
Diskeeper analysis found 1083 fragmented files or directories and 5176 excess fragments.
Average number of fragments per file is 1.16 (norm should be 1.00)
The volume is heavily fragmented with 87% of the total volume space avaialble for defragmentation.
Started defrag at 9:54am my time.. finished at 9:59am my time.. Total time was 5 minutes for a complete defrag !!!
Thats on a 40GB hard-drive..
Murray ************************************************** 12-07-02, 10:17 AM Dwight
"Dang.. I hate this not being able to paste..."
You can use the "menu" key (between the "Windows" key and "Ctrl" key on the right side of the Space bar).
Or
Press Ctrl + C to copy
Press Ctrl + V to paste
Or
Click the Edit menu, then Paste
Here is a page where you can print out some useful keyboard shortcuts.
Dwight ************************************************** 12-07-02, 10:21 AM Murray S. Howdy Dwight..
Thanks.. was trying the good old right click cut and paste and it wouldn't go.. Totally forgot about the keyboard shortcuts..
Murray ************************************************** 12-07-02, 11:05 AM TomGL2 IVNJ, you should test the overall drive perfomance. Sisoft's Sandra should show about 25 MB/sec on your system -- a substantially lower number may mean there is some specific system problem needing to be resolved.
One thing you should verify is that DMA is enabled for the hard disk. You should be able to check this in the drive's properties, or in the Device Manager. ************************************************** 12-07-02, 02:02 PM ivnj I finally found some place to download the 2003.1.9.28 Standard version! I couldn't even find their site or the lite version! It has another section called DMA but that's only for the pro version! The other section about the drives says nothibg about DMA transfers!
ivnj ************************************************** 12-07-02, 02:32 PM Murray S. IVNJ:
Here is the shortcut to the "Lite" version of Diskeeper..
Murray ************************************************** 12-08-02, 02:17 AM ivnj That link just asked for a profile or something! I found a better link!
ivnj ************************************************** 12-08-02, 02:53 AM ivnj With Disk Keeper Lite it's been half an hour approx! And it's only 23% done! And the built-in XP thing is slow too! But an XP2400+TB shouldn't be!
And I can't find DMA Transfers in Sandra! At least the new 2003 Standard version! The only section there is for PRO users!
Is there another program that anybody knows that will tell me that for free? Or maybe I'll run it in safe mode and see!
Cuz like I said in the Beginners section here "I mean what's the point of having a Ferrari if U only intend to go 5 miles an hour?"
ivnj ************************************************** 12-08-02, 05:35 AM TomGL2
I couldn't even find their site
Well, I typed "Sisoft Sandra" into Google, and their site was the first link listed.
nothibg about DMA transfers
As I mentioned, check this in Device Manager or drive properties. Open the Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, click Computer Management, System Tools, Device Manager, and IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers. Click the controller to which the hard drive's connected, and click the Advanced Settings tab. 12-08-02, 02:10 PM ivnj It says DMA if available, or PIO Only! DMA if available is checked! Which is better? And will PIO corespond to the BIOS entry?
ivnj ************************************************** 12-08-02, 07:27 PM TomGL2 DMA is much better, as the highest PIO setting (mode 4) is limited to 16.7 MB/sec. You might want to verify that the correct DMA mode is enabled in BIOS.
What was the Sandra benchmark for the C: drive? ************************************************** 12-08-02, 08:25 PM ivnj And the correct mode would be? And it's funny but I don't see bench numbers in Sandra 2003 like I used to in earlier versions! Is standard the same as lite or not? And where are earlier versions available? Or http://www.pcpitstop.com with no colored flags says I'm 1005 ! Don't know if that helps!
ivnj ************************************************** 12-08-02, 11:02 PM TomGL2 Sandra's disk benchmark is now the "File System Benchmark". As usual, you can compare your result to those included in the listboxes, but I expect 25,000 to 35,000 should be in the neighborhood for your system (depending on the drive -- what do you have?). 12-09-02, 04:36 PM ivnj Drive index is reported at only 15330kB/s ! Kinda Poor! But still don't see DMA Transfers there!
ivnj ************************************************** 12-10-02, 07:12 PM ivnj Even after changing the Bios Options to Load Optimal Settings OR Load Best Performance Settings it never went higher than 17 or 18,000! Now what?
ivnj ************************************************** 12-11-02, 08:13 AM TomGL2 To reinstall the IDE driver, right-click My Computer, click Properties, Hardware, and Device Manager. Expand ATA/ATAPI Controllers, double-click Primary IDE, then click Driver, Update Driver, and "Install...Automatically". 12-11-02, 03:18 PM ivnj I should of thought of that but anyway I can't find any updated ECS K7S5A IDE Drivers!
However, I noticed all the BIOS options are set to AUTO but when I turn on the computer it says DMA Mode-5! Why is that? Might that have anything to do with it?
ivnj ************************************************** 12-11-02, 04:10 PM ivnj Defrag! I just found the problem! I got the latest BIOS! But the srceen after the IDE info still says Pio Mode 4 even if I select mode 5 or AUTO! But it does say ATA100 so it's working! So I wonder why it's stuck on PIO MODE4! PCI BUS MASTER IDE is enabled!
ivnj ************************************************** 12-12-02, 05:27 PM ivnj No matter how many forums I visit or searches I do I can't fid the solution! It doesn't matter what I delete or reinstall!
[This message was edited by ivnj on 12-12-02 at 05:37 PM.] ************************************************** 12-13-02, 01:59 AM ivnj Or would a new Controller card like
ivnj ************************************************** 12-13-02, 02:14 PM puppyblues I kept getting the message that 'windows has contacted them ten times, do I want to keep seeing this message?' Then it said that it wouldn't let me defrag???? What should I do?
And I still don't have any sound yet!! frown ************************************************** 12-13-02, 04:00 PM Dwight Reference the defrag. Something is running in the background that is "writing-to-the-disk" and interrupting the defrag process.
Generally, the easiest way to defrag is to run it is "Safe Mode".
You can start "Safe Mode" by pressing and holding the "Ctrl" key during start-up. Then use the arrow keys to scroll to the Safe Mode option in the Windows Start Up menu you will see. Press the Enter key to select it.
An alternative method of starting Safe Mode is to repeatedly tap the F8 key during start-up. You should start this immediately after hearing the "Power On Self Test" beep at startup. This usually occurs at the first screen you see when starting your computer.
As for the sound, will you go to your Original Sound Post and let us know what you have done, reference the suggested fixes? It is helpful to know what you've tried, and what you haven't tried.
Thanks,
Dwight ************************************************** 12-13-02, 08:29 PM puppyblues I posted again on the sound question. I will try and defrag again later tonight. I'm not sure that I totally understand what you mean by pressing Ctrl. key during start up. Also, I won't hear the beep on the 'Power on self test', because I don't have any sound, but I'll give it my best shot and check here again before I go to do it again tonight. Thanks for your help. Puppy ************************************************** 12-14-02, 11:02 AM Dwight On your keyboard, left side on the bottom row is a key labeled "Ctrl". As you start your computer, when you see the first screen image, press and hold it until you see the Windows Start Menu. Then, using your "Arrow" keys, scroll to the Safe Mode option. Press your "Enter" key to select it.
Once you have completed the defrag, restart your computer and it will restart in Normal Mode.
Also, during the defrag operation you cannot do anything on your computer. If you open a program or try to run something, the defrag with have to start over.
An alternative to the "Ctrl" key for starting Safe Mode is the use of the "F8" key. At the first screen (really the P.O.S.T. beep) repeatedly press the F8 key until you see the Windows Start Menu.
The error code "beeps" do not sound through your external speakers, but rather through an internal speaker that is independent from the normal sound system. You should hear any error code "beeps" regardless of your sound system status.
With reference to your sound, I suggest you contact Dell Technical Support via the telephone and get assistance "one-on-one" with the problem.
Your hair is very pretty and we can't have you pulling it out!
Before calling, note your Dell service tag number:
Dell Desktop - On the back of system or on the side panel.
Dwight ************************************************** 12-14-02, 11:41 AM Dwight I think Windows XP (which is the operating system your new Dell is using, I believe) requires the F8 key procedure for starting in Safe Mode. At least that is true of my Son's WinXP machine.
Dwight
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
Posts: 2957 | Location: Chicago USA | Registered: 08-17-02
