optimizing systems... how to?

LDB · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 01:25 PM

I've read bits here and there about optimizing netbooks to remove a lot of the dross and fat thereby improving the performance significantly. Is there a master guide somewhere that lists all the excess one could remove as well as any other hints/tips/tricks/tweaks one should do?

JesterEric · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 02:52 PM

Much of your optimizations and tweaks are dependent first on what OS you are using (XP/Vista/Win7/some strain of Linux). Most MS tweaks I've seen are for XP for the EEE. I use the default Xandros Linux distro and there are a couple of great tweaks for that: TweakEEE is the first one that comes to mind.

netbooking · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDB

I've read bits here and there about optimizing netbooks to remove a lot of the dross and fat thereby improving the performance significantly. Is there a master guide somewhere that lists all the excess one could remove as well as any other hints/tips/tricks/tweaks one should do?

XP XP XP

A lot of XP on netbooks so lots of guides available with a Google search. Depends on what your tweaking goal is - work or gaming or speed. I run SSDs so those take separate tweaks.

This forum section for Operating Systems will have some tips.

LDB · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 04:13 PM

I just bought the 1005HAB from Best Buy with the XP operating system. I'll be reading up here about them as much as I can.

ThisIsNot · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 10:01 AM

I think the best "tweak" that you could do is install Windows 7. It has specific enhancements for netbook performance. For example, my netbook has an SSD drive and Windows XP was never made to properly use those but Windows 7 can. You also get a flashy new interface (Aero) that won't bog down your netbook. You can even purchase Windows 7 Home Premium for $29.99 directly from Microsoft if you are a student (I could always give you a purchase link as well if you aren't a student).

netbooking · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 10:51 AM

Student edition having problems installing reports Engadget. It will definitely clear up - I believe a patch/workaround is already available - but a choice of XP or Windows 7 is good to have.

TINman, how do you mean that Win7 helps with SSD performance over XP? It's disk performance improved over Vista. SSD bandwidth is higher than platters so is faster. The TRIM performance improvement is a disk feature, not a W7 feature, that reduces write merge and flushes. I think. Still working on understanding it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisIsNot

I think the best "tweak" that you could do is install Windows 7. It has specific enhancements for netbook performance. For example, my netbook has an SSD drive and Windows XP was never made to properly use those but Windows 7 can. You also get a flashy new interface (Aero) that won't bog down your netbook. You can even purchase Windows 7 Home Premium for $29.99 directly from Microsoft if you are a student (I could always give you a purchase link as well if you aren't a student).

LDB · #7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 11:05 AM

I don't think mine has an SSD drive but the other options could be good. If I can get it for $30 and not a few hundred dollars I'll give it a try.

ThisIsNot · #8 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 01:40 PM

The problems with the student downloads will be solved. Windows XP often uses a variable page file size, this is problematic for SSD owners due to our limited initial capacities (Windows 7 uses a fixed size to begin with and will turn itself off once SSD drives are full). Virtual memory is also disabled with Windows 7 and SSD drives by default, that isn't the case for Windows XP. Scheduled defragmentation is also turned off with Windows 7 and SSD drives, it isn't under Windows XP. The TRIM feature that you mentioned was made by Microsoft and is being applied to be a standard for SSD drives. It is also used by default in Windows 7 and the list of drives that supports it is growing. However, this is currently officially used through Windows 7 only. Again, this is something that Microsoft made and not SSD manufacturers.

As for general netbook improvements with Windows 7, there are quite a few of the. First off is Aero. That offers a graphical upgrade over the drab Windows XP that actually works on netbooks. Additionally, Windows 7 no longer uses a series of system timers to wake PC's out of "sleep" or hibernation modes (except the low battery timer). This decreases CPU utilization and will increase battery life on a single charge. Many Windows 7 users are reporting better battery life than with Windows XP. Look at the small review that Chris did for the new Asus Eee PC 1005 model running Windows 7. It was able to push past the 6 hour mark while the Windows XP powered one comes in at 5.5 hours. There is nothing different about the two models other than Windows 7. Windows 7 also consumes less power when playing back video media (through Microsoft's applications) due to better codecs that don't tax the system as much. Microsoft is currently working with others to get these improvements up and running with other applications.

The use of a WDDM v1.1 driver means that having multiple windows open won't linearly increase the amount of RAM a system uses (the current Intel 945 express chipset and GMA 950 IGP will eventually have WDDM v1.1 drivers if they aren't out already). Another feature that will greatly help netbook users who are limited to 1GB of RAM. Other performance improvements reduce the amount of disk I/O for reading from the registry and indexing files for search, and improve low-level kernel operations that could slow down access to the Start menu and Taskbar. Windows 7 also loads fewer services when you boot. When you do something that requires a service, Windows 7 loads the service on demand and then unloads it once it’s no longer required—thus freeing up memory.

Those are just some of the features that Windows 7 has over Windows XP that can help netbook users.

ericinboston · #9 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDB

I've read bits here and there about optimizing netbooks to remove a lot of the dross and fat thereby improving the performance significantly. Is there a master guide somewhere that lists all the excess one could remove as well as any other hints/tips/tricks/tweaks one should do?

Not to be a snob...but it's called being a computer guru. Sorry, there is no master bible you can read. Never was, never will be.

Read REPUTABLE websites like CNET or PCMAG or the like so you don't get in over your head or spend hours to make your pc .0001% faster at the risk of corrupting the Registry.

-Eric

LDB · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2009, 07:00 PM

Yes, and a guru I am not. I just suspect there is a lot of stuff that came on my Asus that I don't need and removing it would help the performance. I want to get a 2mb ram card for it as well as a 6 cell battery. I'm hoping the jolly fat guy brings some/all of that. I'll be checking those websites.