Performance Specs for "Add/Remove Programs" vs. Fresh Install

I wanted to see what the performance difference when removing bloatware from my new XPS M170 Dell computer using the “Add or Remove software” utility. I also wanted to determine the performance difference from doing a clean XP install vs. “Add or Remove software.” Below are the results based on four test environments. The environments are:

Test 1: Out of the box

Test 2: Bloatware removed and laptop optimized using bootleg2go’s “ How to optimize a notebook computer” guide.

Test 3: Clean XP install using SouthernGirl’s “ Reformat and Reinstall XP on Dell Laptops” guide.

Test 4: New system install optimized using bootleg2go’s “ How to optimize a notebook computer” guide.

Note: Exact steps for each test located after results.

Test 1
PCMark05: 3363
--CPU: 3370
--Memory: 2868
--Graphics: 5130
--HHD: 3723
3DMark06: 3419
--SM2.0: 1513
--HDR/SM3.0: 1517
--CPU: 882
Super Pi (2M): 1m 34s

Test 2
PCMark05: 3428
--CPU: 3422
--Memory: 2917
--Graphics: 5186
--HHD: 3674
3DMark06: 3445
--SM2.0: 1512
--HDR/SM3.0: 1519
--CPU: 910
Super Pi (2M): 1m 34s

Test 3
PCMark05: 3555
--CPU: 3428
--Memory: 2933
--Graphics: 5544
--HHD: 3749
3DMark06: 3445
--SM2.0: 1510
--HDR/SM3.0: 1518
--CPU: 914
Super Pi (2M): 1m 31s

Test 4
PCMark05: 3583
--CPU: 3443
--Memory: 2954
--Graphics: 5547
--HHD: 3822
3DMark06: 3452
--SM2.0: 1514
--HDR/SM3.0: 1519
--CPU: 917
Super Pi (2M): 1m 31s

*All tests were run after clean reboot.
**Displayed results are average of two runs.

From Test 1 to Test 2:
PCMark05: 1.93% Increase
3DMark06: 0.78% Increase

From Test 1 to Test 4:
PCMark05: 6.56% Increase
3DMark06: 0.97% Increase

From Test 2 to Test 4:
PCMark05: 4.52% Increase
3DMark06: 0.19% Increase



Test 1:
1. Out of box configuration
2. Completed all setup prompts
3. Shutoff Wireless/Bluetooth (Fn + F2)
4. Installed Microsoft Media Encoder 9
5. Installed PCMark05
6. Installed 3DMark06
7. Copied Super Pi to desktop
8. Set monitor resolution to 1280x1024

Test 2:
1. Uninstalled Programs using “Add or Remove Programs”
--American Online 9.0 (reboot)
--Corel Paint Shop Pro X
--Corel Photo Album 6
--Dell Digital Jukebox Driver
--Dell Game Console
--Digital Content Portal
--Digital Line Detect
--EarthLink setup files
--EducateU
--ESPNMotion
--GemMaster Mystic
--Get High Speed Internet!
--Google AFE
--Google Desktop
--Google Toolbar
--Learn2 Player (reboot)
--Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Installer
--Microsoft Plus! Photo Story 2 LE
--Musicmatch for Windows Media Player
--Musicmatch Jukebox
--WildTangent Web Driver
--WordPerfect Office 12
2. Disable startup processes (Start->Run->type “msconfig” Use startup tab)
--Ehtray
--Tosbtmng1
--Nwiz
--DVDLauncher
--RealPlay
--Qttask
--Msmsgs
3. Tweaked services.msc (Start->Run)
http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/services.html
4. Turned off system restore (Right click MyComputer->Properties->SystemRestore)
5. Disable Indexing Service
MyComputer->right click each drive->properties->uncheck indexing box

Test 3:
1. Reformatted using MCE CD
2. Installed MCE
3. Installed Zone Alarm
4. Installed Avast anit-virus
5. Installed drivers (support.dell.com)
6. Ran Windows update
7. Shutoff Wireless/Bluetooth (Fn + F2)
8. Installed Microsoft Media Encoder 9
9. Installed PCMark05
10. Installed 3DMark06
11. Copied Super Pi to desktop
12. Set monitor resolution to 1280x1024

Test 4:
1. Disable startup processes (Start->Run->type “msconfig” Use startup tab)
--ehTray
--nwiz
2. Tweaked services.msc (Start->Run)
http://smallvoid.com/tweak/winnt/services.html
3. Turned off system restore (Right click MyComputer->Properties->SystemRestore)
4. Disable Indexing Service
MyComputer->right click each drive->properties->uncheck indexing box

 

I'm a bit surprised, yet i'm not. I really figured that you might get a significant amount between Test 2 and 4.

 

I'm not up on all of the technical stuff referenced here. Is it fair to interpret it in terms of percentages?

 

I added some %s. I didn't really include any interpretation. I'm hoping those who view it can post their own thoughts.

 

One thing i would like to know is how much space did u save once u got rid of all that *crap*

 

Dang! I should have checked that! Anyone with a new XPS M170 know how much used space you have on the drive before you touch anything? I'm using 11G after everything is all said and done.

 

Very nice!!! BTW what are your specs?

 

Not sure what specs you're looking for, but system specs are in the signature. If you are looking for something different, I'd be happy to provide more info.

 

Ahh, ok I see it! Yea, I wanted to see what setup your laptop had. I think I may have to do a clean install now, Thanks for the motivation!

 

No problem. You scratched my back, I scratch yours.

 

Hey, just stopped by looking for some info on reformatting (Thank you SouthernGirl, very helpful!!! ) and ran into your thread. Was just about to reformat when I saw your request .

Just got my XPS M170 today :
2.26Mhz
2Gig SDRAM
100Gig HD at 7200rps
7800 GTX

Anyways your info (before changes, out of box):
8.66 GB Used space
84.4 GB Free space
93.1 GB Capacitysys

After clean reinstall and drivers only: 3.15 GB Used space.

I have had a couple Dells now and was surprised how few extra programs were on this one. Nice, but figured a clean install would be best anyhow. Hope this helps.

Anthony

 

Thanks Anthony. That is very helpful to know how much space was being used.

Another thing that I suggest is to analyze your HDD using defrag before and after reformatting. You'll notice a huge difference especially if you are concerned about partitioning.

I had a user send me a picture of their hdd after it was analyze by defrag (before reformatting), and it was just a mess.

 

Thanks, I'll try that next time, the drive was being reformatted as I typed the last post. Do you mean just for information sake, to see the differance? Doing that before and after won't give a performance increase, right? Sorry for the silly question, I'm fairly new at this, trying to learn all I can from info online...

 

Hi AVisitor,

Defagging using the defrag utility in Windows or using 3rd party defrag software (i.e Perfectdisk, Diskeeper) will chronologically order the data on the hard disk drive (consolidates fragmented boot files, data files, and folders on local volumes).
It is recommended to run the defrag while in safe mode (but no problem in running while in normal mode of Windows. It just that in safe mode, it will defrag faster because no program or task will interfere).

Regular Defragging the drive will boost perfomance of the programs not boost performance of the computer (notebook, desktop).
Defagging often optimizes the performance of your computer because all programs, datas are arranged closer together or which is frequently in use.

Windows XP has prefetch utility which also help to increase in opening a frequently open programs but Prefetch will not arrange the data in the drive like defrag utility do.

Before and after installation of anything (OS, software, drivers).. files can be scattered so running defrag regularly is recommended.