Replies

JohnW wrote:

I would upgrade to an SSD. I think that Windows 10 performs much better on them.

I upgraded a desktop (Win 7) and laptop (Win 8.1) to Windows 10.

The desktop has an SSD and is a very good performer, while the laptop with a 5400RPM HDD lags quite a bit, even though it has a generation newer Intel CPU and chipset than the desktop. Win 8.1 on this laptop didn’t seem to exhibit this behavior that I can recall.

The laptop always has disk usage pegged at 100% for a while after boot, and periodically during the day when a Windows background task runs. Observations made using Task Manager and Resource Monitor. CPU load is usually minimal and memory use is also low. It is obvious that whenever this happens the disk is maxed out.

I have tried optimizing the laptop and eliminating as many startup programs and scheduled tasks as possible. Yet still …

Exactly what I did. My SSD arrived today, figuring out how to clone it and change the boot order took like an hour – und voila!

I am very happy with the SSD, works really well, fast.

Strangley, my HHD seems to be working quite well….thinking I’ll format it and use it to mess around with Linux or something similar.

Thanks for all your help!

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JohnW

joep517 wrote:

If you don’t understand “network shares” then you probably don’t have them.

The reason to run Disk Cleanup (Control Panel) or Storage Sense (Settings | System | Storage) is to clean up the Windows Update WinSXS folder that accumulates lots of files especially after cumulative updates are run.

BTW, I would always use the built-in utilities before any third-party programs for this kind of cleanup. Both Ccleaner and Glary have gotten more complex over the years. They are trying to be all things to all people. I know many people swear by them but I only use them if I can’t get a system cleaned up using built-in apps/programs.

Good to know, thank you.

joep517 wrote:

BTW, I would always use the built-in utilities before any third-party programs for this kind of cleanup. Both Ccleaner and Glary have gotten more complex over the years. They are trying to be all things to all people. I know many people swear by them but I only use them if I can’t get a system cleaned up using built-in apps/programs.

I hear you, programs like Ccleaner and Glary and so many AV programs that Iv’e tried can take so much work make do the one thing alone that you need from them – I think your way is probably better also in terms of privacy and safety. So thanks for that.

joep517 wrote:

Have you used the StartUp tab in Task Manager to check and disable unneeded startup items?

Do you have any network shares defined that are not available when the PC starts?

Have you run Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense?

If you are running an HDD have you run any defragmenter?

Yes, the first thing I do after updating/upgrading my OS is always to kill startup processes I don’t want starting until I want to use them, that and removing as much bloatware as I can.

I haven’t used Disk Cleanup, or Storage Sense(which is new to me) but I use Ccleaner (and more recently Glary Utilities) regulary. I have heaps of space, Iv’e only used a quarter of my 1TB HD, but yes I have defragmented the drive – probably 5 months back (for the first time) .

joep517 wrote:

Have you used the StartUp tab in Task Manager to check and disable unneeded startup items?

Do you have any network shares defined that are not available when the PC starts?

Have you run Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense?

If you are running an HDD have you run any defragmenter?

Sorry, I don’t quite understand what you mean ‘network shares defined’.

mn– wrote:

There’s an age-related failure mode or two that are known to produce gradually increasing seek delays on spinning HDDs, for both reads and writes – and some models of SSDs have shown delays too with a much steeper curve, as their first symptom.

That makes my reasoning to get an SSD as replacement a bit more shaky lol. Although perhaps a steeper curve would mean a faster diagnosis.

Thanks so much for your help, it is truly appreciated.

Now to look for a new HD…

satrow wrote:

What are the Disk and Memory stats?

That actually is quite interesting Satrow – I noticed that copying files to an external or 2nd drive (for back-up) jumps around wildly between 40kb/sec and 24mb\sec, but mostly is very slow.

Resource Monitor shows my Disk running between 40 and 1200kb /sec, while it’s highest active time is at 100%, this possibly reflects Windows Explorer being very slow and sometimes flashing Not Responding for a bit before continuing.

I don’t know what Hard Faults are but in Memory the number jumps around a bit, the highest Iv’e noticed is 32 – Used Physical Memory is at 26% (I’m sure it was around 38% at some point yesterday)

 

[frogant]

Paul T wrote:

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Select the Performance tab.
3. Click “Open Resource Monitor” at the bottom.
4. Close Task Manager.
5. Get on with your work and let us know what happens.

First thing I notice Paul is my CPU Maximum Frequency is running consistently between 98 and 102% -not sure if that’s an issue

CPU usage is low though

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by frogant.

Hi Alex, I use LTE wifi which is quite fast, though I don’t think it would impact on system windows (Explorer) lagging on open.

The problem exists whether I’m connected to the internet or not.