NBR Vista Tips and Tweaks Guide

I could probably add this on to the papa regading turning off System Restore but not give it its own space because, shutting system restore off accomplishes this.

 

HEy Flam, real quick, I thought you might know what's going on.

So, it takes about 2 minutes to boot to desktop.

It takes ~20 to get to the point where crcdisk.sys appears to be loading, which takes another ~10s to load. Then I have a blank screen for ~55s (during which I see my webcam light blink) and then the Pearl. ~30s later I see desktop.

What is supposed to be happening during the "Blank Screen" period?

P.S. The Pagefile is off =D But my HD is still accessed all the time (indexing is off), any clues on that one either?

Here are the drivers that it indicated didn't load on boot (However, I see other entries that say they did):
Did not load driver \??\C:\Windows\system32\drivers\hcmon.sys
Did not load driver \??\C:\Windows\system32\drivers\vmnetuserif.sys
Did not load driver \??\C:\Windows\system32\drivers\vmx86.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\kbdhid.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\NDProxy.SYS
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\System32\DRIVERS\srv.sys
Did not load driver \SystemRoot\system32\DRIVERS\vmnetbridge.sys

 

I see that my boot has the following commands (switches?):
/NOEXECUTE /NOGUIBOOT /BOOTLOGO /BOOTLOG /SOS

I don't recognize the sos or noexecute (doesn't mean they're bad).

 

I am feeling your pain but no, I am not familiar with what you are seeing. There is no way you should be getting this even after a Clean Install.

Can anyone else jump in thats familiar with what he is seeing?

 

NOEXECUTE: found this online:
The /NoExecute switch relates to the new data execution prevention (DEP) technologies that Microsoft introduced in Windows 2003 SP1 and Windows XP SP2. DEP technologies help stop malicious code from accessing data pages. Two types of DEP technologies exist: software-enforced and hardware-enforced.

SOS: and this from microsoft ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833721):

The /sos switch displays the device driver names while they are being loaded. By default, the Windows Loader screen only echoes progress dots. Use this switch with the /basevideo switch to determine the driver that is triggering a failure.

 

Meetloaf:

Do a Clean Install
Install the needed drivers
Tweak the system
THEN do the testing....no other programs and no SP1

 

I knew someone was going to suggest that. If/when I ever have time, I will definitely try that and let you know.

Thanks for all your help/suggestions.

 

Best tips I've seen anywhere yet and I plan to use them when I do the Dell Clean Install when the new SP1 comes out.

Repped

 

Thanks a lot for these wonderful tips.

 

Thank you and Jack for the support...

 

flamenko, i just found this on the internet,
this might be useful for those who have updated or planning to update SP1, I get about 1GB back by applying the exe.

**after doing this, SP1 will become irreversible think before you do so.**

 

I wouldn't touch it until the final version has been sent to automatically update systems.

Thank you though.

I would make sure you post this once SP1 is released. Its good info.

 

Yes, as flamenko said, until we see what happens with all of the folks who downloaded the LAST refresh of the beta and are HOPING that Windows Update treats it as the RTM version, folks should NOT run this cleanup app.

Now before all of you who have the beta refresh and are sure it is the RTM version start jumping on me. I agree with you that indeed it is. The unknown here is will Windows Update recognize it as the RTM version? Until we have THAT answer folks need to be careful. It most likely will, but we sure as hell don't want to burn a bridge for uninstalling the final beta SP1 if it turns out we need too.

Gary

 

Hey Flam (and others),

I know I may be beating a dead dog here, but I thought that maybe you had seen this behavior before. I couldn't describe it in words very well, so I made quick video of it.

During the boot process I have the NOGUIBOOT thing enabled (which allows you to see all the drivers being loaded) it usually scrolls through very quickly and fluidly. As you can see with my video here it blips through slower and not "fluid". I don't know if this is due to something running slower, or just some sort of refresh problem.

Let me know if this triggers any ideas.

Thanks again.

 

That looks like your system is starting in diagnostic mode.

Have you done what we all are requesting and reinstalled sans Vista Update and programs yet???

 

I really have to thank you once again for these tweaks flamenko, they've really been increasing my performance greatly.

 

Definately so! Until I purchased a machine for my wife, I hadnt really played around with Vista. After coming across this site (most specifically the Tweaks thread) Vista grew on me. I've had nothing but good luck (so far) with the OS, and have not suffered one single BSOD. I even went so far as to install Vista Business on a Dell Latitude D620 that I use at work. I work in our Help Desk, and we havent made the move to Vista yet, but I figured what the heck.

 

Great news diggy, be sure to post here if you have any problems with the tweaks.

 

same as you,
I was google-ing about tweaking vista and found this thread,
this is how I found this forum

 

So thats two more that came as a result of the Thread!!! Thats great! I figured there had been a few..couldn't imagine putting a number on it though.

I, along with NBR, have granted the Guides translation in Polish and Finish most recently.

 

23. Clean System Restore and Eliminate Shadow Copies

If, after careful consideration, you elected to leave System Restore on and pass on Tip #15, there is another great little trick to save space. It is common for new users to write the forums stating that their disk space is dissappearing and they don't know why. By default, System Restore will save a copy of your current desktop on regularly scheduled intervals, whenever something new is installed and also if an error or update occurs with the system. The results in alot of GB of needless backups remaining for no reason. Also, shadow copies of programs are created on expansion after installation, many of which remain their needlessly.

To get there, follow: Start/Computer/Right Click On 'C'/Disk CleanUp/More Options/System Restore and Shadow Copies/Clean Up

You can check the space on your drive after this and be amazed!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

im having problem on the part of after going to "computer" from start..you say to right click on 'C', i dont see it?? i tried right clicking on the hard drive but nothing

 

right click on C then click on properties or u can also go to run and type in cleanmgr.exe

 

Or..

Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup

 

Hey Flam,

Just wondering if you could check out a benchmark I did on my new HD, I think it's running slow (which would obviously affect boot time).

I started a post here, and then I thought you might be able to help, since you are the HD-guru.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=3015294#post3015294

 

Jaxxx why are posting the same thing multiple times?. Also the information you had posted is a well-known fact.

 

He was trying to quote the tweak he had issues with, but doesn't know how to use the quote tags.

 

yup i didnt want to quote the whole number of guide so i just copy and pasted the guide i was talking about... my question was under it

 

This kind of OT, but...

To put text you're responding to in a quote box, type: [QUOTE]Your text here.[/QUOTE]

It will show up as...

For more vB Code, see this.

Ok, back on topic.

 

I received some errors when using dual monitors and some big programs. My video card driver crashed and then had to wake up. It probably had to do with the page filing system turned off. I read more about it, and it seems that in vista, you want to have page filing always turned on, no matter how much ram you have.

http://tweakhound.com/vista/tweakguide/page_6.htm

 

also, as for the readyboost, it should be noted that you wont really notice any improvement if you have a lot of memory, say 3 gb and up. On top of that, it's not that practical for a laptop unless you used an internal method...

 

You wont notice any improvement on readyboost for 2Gb and above for the most part and your monitore problem was probably from the Tweak entitled TMM where it discusses that, not the pagefile tweak.

 

I never did the TMM tweak b/c I use dual monitors.

 

Flamenko, have you seen the PM i sent you about the spelling mistake?

 

Thanks for the guild just ran it and got about 3 gigs of space back.

 

Great! Glad everything worked for you.

flamenko, I sent you a PM with some thoughts I had about the guide. Let me know what you think.

 

I've a Thinkpad T61p runing Vista Home Premium. If I stop the Workstation service, Firefox (2.0.0.12) will not appear on the desktop when launched.

When I check the processes using Task Manager, it is running, but it is not visible on the screen.

The minute I turn on Workstation service again, it appears.

Weird, huh?

 

Yes weird and...in this case maybe you wanna leave it on. Not a fan of Firefox myself.

 

It's no problem for me. I used to use Firefox 2.0.0.12 and now i use the Firefox 3 beta 3. Your problem is most likely that it takes a long time to start up.

 

Actually no. The behavior is repeatable. I even tried it with portable Firefox.

Workstation service disabled, FF no show but running according to Task Manager.

Workstation service enabled, FF shows up.

 

When i try to disable vista search indexing, i unclick the "index drive for faster searching", hit apply, then i get a bunch of error messages. Do i hit ignore all to these? Also when it "applying attributes to:" it took a a good 5 minutes? is this normal?

 

Press "ignore all" and yes, it's supposed to take a while.

 

OMG! Flamenko no longer exists!

 

Nope...sorry...still here....

 

What is he talking about?

 

Removed Flamenko...went with first name. A few have gotten confused over it for some reason.

 

But your user title says: "formerly Flamenko".

 

Wait! Who kidnapped flamenko? Who is this imposter? Someone, quick. call the police... big ol' grin...

Gary

 

911... Flamenko is missing.

 

Wow.... I never dreamed changing my handle from Flamenko to 'Les', my real name would cause such a reaction. From posts here and on other threads, to pm's, to a call from Interpol, to a personal knock on my door from local police....this has been an adventure to say the least.

Perhaps it should get its own thread (if anyone really deems it necessary) so people looking for real information on this thread don't spend a great deal of time wondering what the hecks up?

Heck..whats that Eminem song playing in the backgound?

"Can I have your attention please? Would the real Flamenko please stand up, please stand up?"