Actions taken on a New Asus

Hi,

I read that some of the users are ready to reformat their new notebooks. Can someone enlighten me the significance and benefits of doing so? Well to me if the HDD is partitioned in a favourable density, I do not see any need to.

Hope to hear some advice here.

 

One simple reason. People like to setup notebooks exactly the way they want it. First of most companys put lots of **** software on pcs. The only true way to get rid of it is to format and install a new OS. asus does not put **** on a pc but they make two partions and some users dont want that. so thats basically the reason. The first thing i do after getting a new laptop is check for dead pixels then format and install windows. and linux.

 

Some people own their own Operating Systems discs, so hey can do that, though its not needed.

There is no real significance, except if you hate parititons, as its usually paritioned at 40%/60%

edit: yare yare, SRD beat me to it

Another thing is, ASUS doesn't put alot of aftermarket softwares, except Norton, which can be smewhat removed easily. The regular uninstall removes SOME of Norton, but it still has a few megabytes of files left, most people(like I) don't mind but some people are anal about it

 

Just to add on, yes people format the HD and then put their own Windows onto it. But also change it from FAT32 to NTFS to get a small performance boost.

There is almost no reason why you should run you computers in Fat32, NTFS is just newer and better.

After the fresh install of Windows and changing from Fat32 to NTFS. The next thing you wanna work on is partitioning of the hard drives.

Many people do something like this. They dedicate 10-20gb for Windows, and then the other partition for Apps/Games/Downloads.

Before you do format, the little tricky thing is to FIND ALL DRIVERS, needed to make the laptop run perfectly, you'll need synaptic drivers for the touchpad.

Gaphic card drivers, and other drivers you will need.

After that comes the long and slow process of installing all software to make ur laptop usable, like Office, Photoshop, and antivirus, and maleware removal.

I think that covers the basics.

Thanks,

MysticGolem

 

And in addition, some kind of walk through to successfully format your notebook (if you are a noob like me ), it really helped me through, though...

 

hehe, we should have guide on how and what to do when formatting an ASUS HD for best performance. Which should include programs, like AVG or AVAST for antivirus, spybot or something for anti-malware.

also use speed fan, rmclock, NHC, everest for tweaking, tunexp, there are a few others.

also some benchmarking programs to see how well your laptop is performing after the notebook is complete and running like, 3dmark05/06, hdtune, pcmark05/06. Maybe sisoft sandra and others. Run some tests on boot times.

An guide would best come from a person who actually owns a laptop lol, not me hehe.

I nominate cori for this hehe

All i do i put my Windows XP Pro Sp2 CD in do a clean install, and then follow up with a few commands to change the HD from Fat32 to NTFS and then wait 3-4 hours after windows is done and everything. and then continue with the installing of software and programs, like i mentioned above.

Thanks,

MysticGolem

 

Mystic you dont need to format to get NTFS you can just convert it.

 

only taking a few minutes to convert the format from fat32 to ntfs:
convert c: /fs:ntfs

 

for curiousity's sake, those of us who want to keep our fat32, keep it so it's writable in linux.

 

ahh i din't know that linux likes fat32, hehe, i don't use it :|

Oh i din't know that you can just do a convert..lol, i did like 2 years ago, hehe, when i reformmated my computer and did both at the same time, while installing my fresh copy of XP.

Learn something new every day

Thanks,

MysticGolem

 

When I got my laptop, I installed all convenient programs etc. and then tested my laptop. Somehow I didn't get as many 3DMark05 points as it was supposed to get. Newer drivers for the X1600 from the ASUS website didn't help as well, so I uninstalled those drivers and got myself some Omega drivers. They're making your graphics games a lot better, my 3DMark05 scores got from 3380 to 3690!
I would like to get even better graphics, but overclocking is not my preferred way. If anybody's got a good idea, please tell me!

Joost

 

Thanks for all your comments.

For me, I don't think I would do any formating UNLESS the notebook comes with alot of junk.. well, in this instance, I think the Asus should be quite alright.

Same here, I would prefer maybe 20GB for Windows and the rest on D drive for other programs etc.. Definitely NTFS for me.. you mean the factory default is FAT32???

Will have to see about that...

Now am back with a slight hiccup on my selection.. its still a W5F or A8Jm.. but the A8Jm is on a WinXP Home which I have to fork up alittle more to upgrade it.

Well, any ideas to further boost the NB's performance, I am all ears!!!

 

I have to tell you how helpful this type of discussion is for the uninitiated, like myself. If someone did develop an A to Z guide on tweaking a new notebook, i am sure it would be extremely popular. Thanks!

 

That's it?

Where does the performance boost come in? From being able to find the files quicker?

If it's really that easy, I'll prob. do it too - for the extra speed and also to gain more "usable" space on my HD.

 

Microsoft is pushing everyone who uses XP to go NTFS.

I have no clue why Notebook Hard Drive come to us in Fat32, when we know NTFS is the way to go. (except for linux i guess)

Another thing is notebooks HDs i believe come partitioned in small amount, ususaly under 32gb partitions. Thus making notebook manufacturers capable of using Fat32.

NTFS do support larger than 32gb partitions. FAT32 stops at 32gb.

For Guides on how to tweak your notebook for performance. Check some of the other sections of the forums, there are stickies that may help you.

First you should monitor everything that's going on with your notebook.
And then you should speed things up with some minor tweaking.

Other than that your notebook is good.


Thanks,

MysticGolem

 

Hm, I've got a notebook here (not my A6Ja though) which is Fat32 with a partition of 46 GB...

Maybe everyone who has had a good idea here should make a small informative text which we can add into one complete guide?

Joost

 

Yah, that's one thing that puzzled me Joost, no matter what i could do, i could not change my 160gb NTFS HArd drive to FAt32gb, because it say the disk is too big.

This is true.

However, some how, manufacturers can make Bigger than 32gb partitions.

So i dunno.

But i got one guess.

Make small partitions make em fat32, and then combine those partitions using windows or partition magic (the lastest edition) and then you'll end up with a bigger fat32 HD..but for most people who use XP and nothing else NTFS is the way to go.

 

for those who are wondering about how to streamline their new notebooks, hit up NBR's Software section for the Free Software Thread.

here is a brief list of the essentials that i picked up:

Centrino/Notebook Hardware Control: monitors temps, and capable of undervolting your processors, adjusting the GPU and various performance related things (requires .NET framework).

Speedfan: monitors your notebook fans, and also allows you to adjust their settings (does not work on all motherboards)

CCleaner: nukes your recycle bin items, temporary files, browser history, cookies, etc, all at once.

RegScrubXP: scrubs your registry for useless entries that clog up your performance. if something goes wrong, it is undoable.

TuneXP: small program that tweaks a variety of things, including boot times and general performance.

apart from the software, there are adjustments you can make within windows itself: disable services, startup, devices, visual effects, etc. that are superfluous. see TweakHound

 

TO convert a volume that big to FAT32, what I usually do is use put that HDD to a notebook, boot up using DOS, then do fdisk to set the partition size then format. It works when I did that for my T21(now kapuut!!!) This may be an old method but with today's softwares and guru in NBR, someone may be able to offer you a better advice

 

yea, that 32GB fat32 limit has always confused me (given the fact that two of my desktops have 40GB fat32 partitions). BUT I'd still recommend you make your partition that your operating system is on be ntfs. You're computer will run fine with one ntfs and other fat32 partitions.

Fat32 conversion to NTFS can be done in command prompt. here are the instructions from our amigos at microsoft

 

Heh, the topic title makes it like a laptop is about to be sued.

Anyway, on a more serious note, I've heard somewhere that Windows actually run faster in FAT32, is that true?

 

^ i really doubt it, cos MS said they want their users to change from the old fat32 and use the new NTFS for XP at the least.

I personaly didn't benchmark my desktop before i made the transition. But all my computer savy guys tell me keep NTFS. So i just assume its running a lil faster.

But i can't tell.

Its just better to flow with the people i guess LOL.


Thanks,

MysticGolem

 

I just got my W5F and I love it so far. Not much junk at all. I tried the c: /fs:ntfs, but it did nothing, so I used Norton PartitionMagic to resize the d: drive to 7GB and convert to NTFS, which worked without a hitch.

If you guys tell me it's safe to remove the d: drive alltogether, I will.

Also, I notice that there's a recovery partition, called *, which I will leave alone at FAT32.

I'm switching from an Acer TM8104 because it's been bugged by a "blue screen of death," which has made me too nervous to rely on it anymore. I've *never* had any computer do that, and I reformatted the entire HD two weekends ago, so I may have to ship it back to Acer to have the motherboard replaced.

 

I remember reading somewhere (I can't exactly remember, but I think it was on the Acer forum) that by just converting your HD from FAT32 to NTFS, instead of reformatting and rewriting everything in NTFS, you lose one of the main advantages of NTFS. Something like the word length, I can't remember, but people were saying that converting to NTFS doesn't really give you the true performance advantages of NTFS if you installed it that way initially.

I think it has something to do with cluster size. FAT32 uses 32K clusters, where NTFA can use smaller clusters....I think.....

Just my 2 cents,
I will try and find the exact info soon.
Shoe

 

Lefty Supremacist , sorry if the subject title startled you... kekeke...

Actually I started a new thread on the W5F in specific (since this is the model I bought and need advice on) while this thread can be used to consolidate detail steps if a New Asus owner wishes to reinstall XP and create their required partition volume size in NTFS.

I think the current Asus owners can share their experience with us new owners that we should backup certain drivers etc as the "CD with the Drivers" did not contain the right files, or what drivers should we get off the web as its more updated than the one in the CD. I duno since this is my first ASUS.

I will keep up with the other thread I started for W5F and share what I encountered when I personally do the re-installation in both threads...

 

Hey Shoe (and anyone else who cares),

When you convert FAT32 to NTFS, instead of installing that file system from scratch, the security settings are lower than the new install. On a network (domain) this is a big NO . On standalone boxes, you can make your own choices.

See this:
Even tho it is a school somewhere, it talks to a really good set of issues you should consider.
http://www.lbl.gov/cyber/systems/wxp-security-checklist.html#one

This is a KB article from MS about Win2k but it still has good info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];237399

I lock down the password stuff at the very least.

Please understand that, more than likely, neither of these articles will address your specific situation, and you should proceed with great caution before implementing anything you read in these two links. IOW, I do not want to be
responsible for screwing up your machine. "Caveat emptor" comes to mind.

Read up and make your own decision. But, it is not a safe world out there.

Sorry if this has been posted in the wrong forum.

Al

 

My new W7J came with two FAT32 partitions. Does anyone know why they do this? The problem with the XP convert utility is that it converts the clusters to 512 bytes. A clean format sizes the clusters to a more reasonable 4K. Partition Magic and Partition Commander both claim to be able to resize NTFS clusters but there are many reports of failures. Partition Manager may be able to do it.
Tom

 

They split the partitions for several reasons. First, many people prefer to keep their files and programs on one partition, and their windows install on another. Also, they put a restore partition on the computer, so if you need to reinstall windows, you don't have to have the CD with you. If you have backup software, you might be able to skirt the issue of cluster size by backing up your data and reformatting, but then putting the data back on the hard drive (just make sure your program is designed for doing that).

 

I did a clean OS isntall recently so here is what I did:
1) Installed windows (80GB HD was partitioned to 20/60)
2) Installed AVG, Zonealarm and Intel ProWireless drivers only - the program in no better than windows at managing wireless connections
3) Connected to the internet and downloaded windows updates
4) Used the included driver CD to install everything minus touchpad driver and wireless console for the reasons i gave here
5) Installed all the programs I use e.g Office, Firefox etc.

 

A lot of tweaking information can be found at,

www.tweakguides.com

Radditz,

That's an unusual installation order. It's usually,

1. Install Windows (Don't do a QuickFormat, so the drive is tested)
2. Download latest chipset, graphics, audio drivers
3. Install current DirectX, dual-core hotfix if needed, chipset drivers
4. Install remaining drivers from CD
5. Install AVG, Ad-Aware, etc.
6. Connect to internet and download/install Windows Updates
7. Install latest graphics (use Driver Cleaner to remove previous), and audio drivers.
8. Install remaining software.


Be seeing you...

---> TBC (Toasty Brain Cells)

 

On the issue of FAT32 vs. NTFS, I'm steadfast that NTFS is the better choice. I'm not sure, but I believe the maximun FAT32 partition size it 137GB. I work at a college and a lot of the film student use Macs and PCs and want their portable hard drives to be usable on both. Most people break them up into 137GB partitions since that's most likely enough room to work. I think the reason Microsoft limits the size so severely is to get people to migrate and also because of the instability of FAT32. More information can be found here.

Another question, when doing the ASUS restore, are you given the option to format the drive as NTFS? Does the utility give you other options for how you want to partition the drive?