Sony TZ painfully slow startup

I recently replaced my Sony TR5 with the new TZ. Overall I am very happy with it except it is painfully slow on startup. I have been into startup programs and removed the programs that I do not need on startup but this has made very little difference. I have also noticed that when I have several programs open it seems to freeze up for a few seconds quite often. Can any offer any advice on what I can do to fix these problems. Thanks.

 

Take a look at the many long threads about the TZ specifically and clean/semi-clean Vista installs. I think most people here would recommend a clean install of Windows and would also want to know which model you bought.

Does your system have 1 or 2 gigs of RAM and does it have a standard HDD or an SDD? As you probably know, Vista runs much more smoothly with 2GB or RAM, while the SDD option seems to afford the fastest boot on the TZ laptops.

 

The model I have is a VGNTZ17GN/N. 1GB DDR2 SDRAM. 100GB (HDD Recovery Storage:8GB max, C:Remain) Ultra ATA/100, 4200 rpm.
Vista came preinstalled on the laptop and the only way to reinstall vista would be by running the recovery disc, would that work?
Thank you.

 

Search this forum for the semi-clean install or clean install instructions as they are step by step. However, before you do anything, have a look at the posts in the TZ Owner's thread as several owners who have a model like yours with a 4200rpm HDD have found no improvement after reinstalling Windows. They returned their laptops and bought the models with faster HDDs and more RAM. See: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=130621 (most recently, the last couple of pages)

 

Great, thank you.

 

A pleasure. Let us know what you decide to do and good luck!

 

clean install...not recovery disk...it is a huge difference in performance...

 

I have 3 questions :
1.How long it takes to load Vista when you open the laptop ?
2.How many times per day do you restart your laptop ?
3.How many processes are running after the Vista is loading right after it is up ?

 

It takes 7 minutes for the Vista to load and for it to connect to my network ready for use, this is longer than my old Sony TR5 took.
When using the laptop at home there is no problem as it only goes into hibernation, I do not shut it down. It wakes from hibernation quite fast. When I am travelling and using this laptop it maybe be started several times a day as to conserve the battery I shut it down as I am often using it away from a power source.
The following processes are in the startup:
Microsoft Userinit logon
MS windows explorer
MS windows media
MS windows sidebar
MS windows defender
Macrovision software manager
Google toolbar notifier
Intel common user interface
Realtech HD audio control panel
ALPs pointing device driver
Sony ISB utility
Sony Vaio camera utility
Symantec securities technology
Symantec shared component
Synantec llive update
AML UPEK inc
Protector suite
Brother status monitor
Brother control centre

I must confess I do not know what some of these are.

Thanks

 

I cant recommend enough to completely remove every Norton/Symantec app. First thing i did on my SZ6. Get a proper antivirus protection like NOD32 or any of the free alternatives instead.

 

Yeah , I know that most of you don't like Norton . I am one of you and I really hate that it takes so long to load the windows when this program is installed . I really hate it .
But I simply can not understand why do you prefer a shorter loading time over an a bigger infection chance that will lead you to a format or to spend hours/days/weeks to remove it .
Norton has a new suite called Symantec Endpoint Protection that improves the loading time + use only few mega of RAM during its activity .
Maybe you should consider to give it a try .

 

I have the exact configuration as yours. Mine takes exactly 1 min 5 sec for desktop wallpaper to appear. It is very usable even though other startups are still loading. takes another 10 secs for internet connectivity- wireless

I used to have 4 mins boot up, but i discovered that was due to the firewall from zone alarm. I recommend u remove norton and see if it makes any difference. I can't see why can't your tz boot up just as fast as mine. At the moment i have all the preloaded applications- i didnt do reinstallation. All i did was uninstall norton- and switch it to AVG for antivirus and vista's firewall.

Hope that helps.

 

I have uninstalled Nortons and installed NOD32. The laptop then only took 2 minutes to startup and connect to the network so a big inprovement. Thank you for all the advice.
Bev