M3 - Performance.

Hi,

I am new to Toshiba laptop. I recently got my Toshiba M3 with 2G processor, 1GB of RAM and 128MB display.

I found there are hell lots of Toshiba apps install on it and easy crunch up to 30-40% on average of my physical memory - this is kinda insane, i think. I wonder anyone has monitor and made a changes to correct it? Compared to my old Evo N610C which I feels it run faster.

I personally have 2 questions.

1. Has anyone know what Toshiba apps can be removed safely?
2. How i can get into the BIOS?

Cheers,

 

First, question 2, I don't know!

Question 1: I know that ConfigFree is pretty useless, personally, as it runs on top of Windows' Zero-Config utility for wireless, and all the rest well, unless you have very specific needs, is useless. It is one of the cpu hogging application as it is made of some kind of flash-type animation, with alpha-blending enabled.

Other than this one, you can remove virtual sound if you don'T need it, it only applies some effect to the sound based on content.

You could remove the zooming utility if you don't need it either. Except than that, most of the toshiba stuff that's installed is for functionnality.

IMHO, Toshiba REALLY needs to work on their products' driver package. There is like 10 different packages required just to make all the little things functionnal. For my M40, for example. there is an app for "touchpad enable/disable", one for "media shortcut buttons", one for the "other shortcut buttons", etc.

EDIT

Oh, and if you are reinstalling from scratch, installing only the basic drivers and not their whole useless-tility packages can also help speed up things.

Toshiba Satellite M40 - Pentium-M Sonoma 1.6ghz - 512mb DDR333 - 60gb 4200rpm - GeForce 6600 128mb - 15.4" BrightView WXGA TFT LCD

 

Hi,

I got my Tecra M3 (Pentium M 760, 1 Gb RAM, 80 Gb HDD, GeForce 6600 with 128 Mb video RAM) a couple of weeks ago and so far I'm very happy with it.

It's very fast, but I agree with you that the software that comes with the machine is not too "heavy".

Here is what I did:

1) Made backup DVDs of the preinstalled software by using the Toshiba Utility

2) Having an installation CD of WinXP (that does not come with the machine [ !]), I formatted the hard drive an made a fresh installation of the operating system (also removing the hidden partition containing the Toshiba preinstalled software)

3) With the Toshiba installation utility that was saved on DVD #2 (I don't know how this translates to CD backup), I selected the drivers and the applications I wanted: Toshiba Drivers for BIOS, PcHealth, Software Upgrade, Intel chipset, Intel Wireless card, Toshiba Fn+Fs configuration, Toshiba Power Saver, nVidia drivers, Modem drivers, LAN/ieee1394 (Marvell Yukon) drivers, touchpad drivers.

Just to say what I DIDN'T want on my computer:
a) ConfigFree: it's too heavy and pretty unuseful, since for example it does not allow to customize the smtp server used by mail programs as you change the network you are connected to;
b) AOL and AT&T connectivity,
c) Acrobat Reader (the included version is 5.0, you can download 7.0 for free from Adobe site)
d) No Microsoft Works/Office/One Note (I already had full licences for MS Office Professional)
e) Norton Antivirus and EzFirewall (I already had another antivirus and firewall).
f) No dvd burning software (I use Nero rather than Sonic).

After this I've run the disk defragmenter and the msconfig utility that allows to customize the programs loaded as the computer starts, to clean up other few things.

Finally, you can access the BIOS according to the following procedure (from the Toshiba website):


For Toshiba notebook PCs manufactured since the introduction of Windows XP, one or more of the following methods will be effective:

* Toshiba Hardware utility method: Run the Toshiba Hardware utility from the Toshiba Console. It is also accessible (as 'HWSetup') from the Windows Control Panel. This utility provides a relatively user-friendly way to change the CMOS settings. Changes to some of the settings will require re-starting the PC (along with re-starting Windows). This method is the only way to access the CMOS settings on some of the newer notebook PCs (Satellite 5000 series, for example). (For these machines, pressing and holding the F12 key immediately after powering-on the notebook will allow you to alter the notebook's boot priority.)

If the notebook is fully off, and/or to avoid having to re-start it (and Windows), use one or the other of the following two methods. The PC will have to be truly off (not suspended, or in standby mode, or in hibernation mode). If an external keyboard is attached to the notebook (either directly or via a docking station or a port-replicator), disconnect it until you have completed this procedure.

* F2 key method: Turn the notebook on. If you see an invitation to press the F2 key to enter Setup, do so. The Setup screen will appear.

* Esc key method: Turn the notebook on. If you do not see a prompt to press the F2 key, then immediately press and hold the Esc key. When prompted to, press the F1 key. The Setup screen will appear.


I hope this information is useful to you,


Nick