Re: performance issues

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Alex Nichol (alexn.mvpdts_at_ntlworld.delete.com)
Date: 05/17/04 

Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 16:00:53 +0100

Jamie wrote:

>A few weeks ago my computer suddenly decided that it did
>not have a hard drive. I have been working diligently ever
>since trying to get it back up to speed. After
>reformatting twice, repairing and reinstalling windows xp
>several times, increasing to twice the amount of memory,
>and running countless system diagnostics and performance
>tests my computer is still EXTREMELY SLOW.
>
> From what I can gather with all the tests I've run, I've
>got something called a "disk bottleneck." Something about
>not having enough cache, too small of a paging file,
>excessive paging hogging up memory resources, a program
>running that has not dumped memory and released cache (or
>something like that???

There are two things for you to check. One is to see if the fundamental
caching that the hardware uses has got turned off. As you power up, hit
the hotkey that loads BIOS setup. This is often DEL, and if you hit
that and it is wrong there will probably be a message to 'hit whatever
to enter Setup'

In that, on the 'BIOS Features' or 'Advanced' page (names vary ) make
sure that CPU Level 1 Cache and CPU Level 2 Cache are enabled. If not
get to them with the arrow key and use PageDn key to change. Hit ESC,
then Exit - saving changes. Having level 2 off is bad: having level 1
off too will make a Pentium feel like an abacus

The other is to check in Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device
Manager under the IDE TA/TAPI Disk controllers -- the Primary one,
double click and on Advanced Settings make sure that 'DMA If available'
is selected in the Transfer mode. If it is, and the Current Mode below
shows as being PIO, cancel that and just above Primary highlight the
Master IDE controller and take Action - Remove. OK out and reboot to
let Plug and Play find it again 

-- 
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.  Alexn@mvps.D8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)

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