Slower Startup on T40

[Duncan James Murray]

Hi all, this is my first time posting here, so I guess I should say hello!

Have a small question:

I've had my IBM T40 for a couple of months now, and I've put quite a few
applications on it, to run on Windows XPpro. But I've noticed that it now
starts up nearly half-a-minute slower than it did when I just had Office and
Photoshop on there. I think I have now installed Norton Antivirus since
then, plus numerous XP updates (maybe 30!). Plus cd burning software etc...

Anyone know the true culprit which is slowing down my computer (and also
causing it to take ages to switch off too...)

Any ideas appreciated (I'm suspecting the updates or maybe Norton?)

Duncan.

[wesley]

On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 01:21:39 +0000, Duncan James Murray wrote:
Hi all, this is my first time posting here, so I guess I should say hello! Have a small question: I've had my IBM T40 for a couple of months now, and I've put quite a few applications on it, to run on Windows XPpro. But I've noticed that it now starts up nearly half-a-minute slower than it did when I just had Office and Photoshop on there. I think I have now installed Norton Antivirus since then, plus numerous XP updates (maybe 30!). Plus cd burning software etc... Anyone know the true culprit which is slowing down my computer (and also causing it to take ages to switch off too...) Any ideas appreciated (I'm suspecting the updates or maybe Norton?) Duncan.

Windows XP loads a lot of programs into the backround when you boot, even
if you have no plans to use a particular program in that session. Sounds
like the programs you've added are the cause of your now-slower boot.

To check, run Task Manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL) and see what processes are
running. (Just popped over from Linux and checked my XP - there are 36
processes running with NO applications open!) You might wish to change
your configuration so some of these don't automatically start on boot.

Another option is adding more RAM. This typically makes a PC boot and run
much faster since it keeps extra garbage out of the relatively slow Swap
file.

[Duncan James Murray]

Hi Wesley,

Thanks very much for that infomation. I just have a couple more
questions - firstly, the system processes seem to be named completely
ambiguously - any chance I can work out what they are supposed to be
doing?

And the second question is, how do I configure the system to stop any
useless processes loading up (assuming I find some) - I understand
that Windows>Startup might be a good place to look, but are you
thinking of something different?

Thanks for you help, again,

Duncan Murray.

"wesley" <w_olandat@yahoodot.com> wrote in message news:<pan.2003.11.16.17.05.18.509268@yahoodot.com>... On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 01:21:39 +0000, Duncan James Murray wrote: Hi all, this is my first time posting here, so I guess I should say hello! Have a small question: I've had my IBM T40 for a couple of months now, and I've put quite a few applications on it, to run on Windows XPpro. But I've noticed that it now starts up nearly half-a-minute slower than it did when I just had Office and Photoshop on there. I think I have now installed Norton Antivirus since then, plus numerous XP updates (maybe 30!). Plus cd burning software etc... Anyone know the true culprit which is slowing down my computer (and also causing it to take ages to switch off too...) Any ideas appreciated (I'm suspecting the updates or maybe Norton?) Duncan. Windows XP loads a lot of programs into the backround when you boot, even if you have no plans to use a particular program in that session. Sounds like the programs you've added are the cause of your now-slower boot. To check, run Task Manager (CTRL-ALT-DEL) and see what processes are running. (Just popped over from Linux and checked my XP - there are 36 processes running with NO applications open!) You might wish to change your configuration so some of these don't automatically start on boot. Another option is adding more RAM. This typically makes a PC boot and run much faster since it keeps extra garbage out of the relatively slow Swap file.

[wesley]

On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 07:47:53 -0800, Duncan James Murray wrote:
Hi Wesley, Thanks very much for that infomation. I just have a couple more questions - firstly, the system processes seem to be named completely ambiguously - any chance I can work out what they are supposed to be doing? And the second question is, how do I configure the system to stop any useless processes loading up (assuming I find some) - I understand that Windows>Startup might be a good place to look, but are you thinking of something different? Thanks for you help, again, Duncan Murray.

First, there are a number of web sites that do a good job of inventorying
those obscure windows programs where the name doesn't suggest what the
program is up to. A google search will usually find them for you.

Second, under your Start menu, check out "Administrative Tools" then
"Computer Management." You'll find lots of things to play with.

I'm not an XP person (prefer spending my time with Linux these days) but
there is a lot of helpful info out there. Good luck!

[Duncan James Murray]

Hi Wesley,

Thanks again - just checked how many processes are running on my laptop when
I start it up - would you believe it - 49! That's before I've touched
anything!!!

Madness...

Duncan.

"wesley" <w_olandat@yahoodot.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2003.11.19.02.18.02.848008@yahoodot.com... On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 07:47:53 -0800, Duncan James Murray wrote: Hi Wesley, Thanks very much for that infomation. I just have a couple more
questions - firstly, the system processes seem to be named completely
ambiguously - any chance I can work out what they are supposed to be doing? And the second question is, how do I configure the system to stop any useless processes loading up (assuming I find some) - I understand that Windows>Startup might be a good place to look, but are you thinking of something different? Thanks for you help, again, Duncan Murray. First, there are a number of web sites that do a good job of inventorying those obscure windows programs where the name doesn't suggest what the program is up to. A google search will usually find them for you. Second, under your Start menu, check out "Administrative Tools" then "Computer Management." You'll find lots of things to play with. I'm not an XP person (prefer spending my time with Linux these days) but there is a lot of helpful info out there. Good luck!