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    NBR Vista Tips and Tweaks Guide

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Les, Sep 7, 2007.

  1. _GMAN_

    _GMAN_ Notebook Consultant

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    Is this Guide good for the Vista with the latest SP2 update? I know this was written well before the update....
     
  2. Meetloaf13

    Meetloaf13 fear the MONKEY!!!

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    Being that SP2 is still in Beta, I'm going to speculate that you won't find anything that is "up-to-date"...since there hasn't been a "date" yet =)

    That said, I can't imagine that much of this advice will go obsolete with SP2.
     
  3. _GMAN_

    _GMAN_ Notebook Consultant

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    I tried to download the Vista Battery Saver! program by (TY and Rep ScuderiaConchiglia)..........

    1. My Norton security came on to alert me that this program wanted to go onto the internet.

    2. When i was downloading the program it get to the 95 percent mark and just keep running. I allowed it to run for 30 minutes, but to no avail, it was still stuck around the 95 percent mark.. So i went to cancel the download. it would not. Also, in the back round, the computer was still running hard..

    3. I go to restart computer and it tells me the Energy saver prgram is still running. Do i want to shut down the energy saver program. Of course i said yes..

    4. When my computer comes back on, now i see the blue little light in the front of my laptop lip always running in the backround..


    DOES THIS THING HAVE A VIRUS ATTACHED TO IT? IT HAS ME WORRIED.
    ANYONE ELSE WIT THE SAME PROBLEM?

    WHY WOULD IT NOT DOWNLOAD?

    Thanks for any help.. :)
     
  4. fonduekid

    fonduekid JSUTAONHTERBIRCKINTEHWLAL

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    AFAIK, there is no Virus or anything with that program (assuming you downloaded it from their website / link given by Les in the first post!).

    I have it and I had no issues downloading it or running it either. And I have Norton too!! So this issue of yours just surprises me.

    Btw, which release were you trying to download? have you tried with this, the b2 r1??? > http://www.codeplex.com/vistabattery/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=6522
     
  5. _GMAN_

    _GMAN_ Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, That is the one... I will try again.. But it just stalls at the 95% mark... let's see if it happens again..
     
  6. Baserk

    Baserk Notebook user

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    I've just uploaded it to Virustotal.com and it's clean.
    Have you been able to download it again?
     
  7. Dumah

    Dumah Notebook Enthusiast

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    It also stalls at 95% for me, but when installing it (I think that's what GMAN also meant). I can see the little icon in the System Tray and I can use the program but whenever I shut down the computer it disappears as apparently it didn't finish installing.
     
  8. fonduekid

    fonduekid JSUTAONHTERBIRCKINTEHWLAL

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    BlackViper has an updated Vista Service Pack 1 Service Configuration (October 24, 2008). Haven't checked fully if there is any change from before (going through right now), but just thought I will share the info here for those who were not aware of this updated list. Cheers.

    More > http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm
     
  9. CaseyP

    CaseyP Notebook Guru

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    On tip # 15, you say to back up your restore point to a disk, and then turn it off completely.

    Can you elaborate on how to back up your restore point? I'd love to store it on a flash card, and use the rest for ReadyBoost.
     
  10. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    It seems like I have problem running the DefragBootFiles.
    I downloaded the file from the zip, done the instructions... Run as administrator. Then I check my task manager (immediately after I run the bat file), the two processes aren't there. Then I waited for hours and the command prompt window is still open. Does this mean it doesn't defrag at all in my system?
     
  11. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    In task manager, on the Processes tab are you sure you pressed the button marked "Show processes from all users"?. You must do this to se the two tasks.

    Gary
     
  12. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes. I already pressed the show processes from all users. I still doesn't see the two tasks.
     
  13. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    Post a picture of, or type what you see, in the command prompt window. (preferably a picture)

    Gary
     
  14. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    This is the picture:
    [​IMG]
     
  15. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    As far as I'm aware this always shows up like this...
     
  16. Monk

    Monk Notebook Consultant

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    I ran into that same problem serveral times after a fresh formatt. I ran DK pro or another defrag program, when that was done, i rebooted..and then the boot sequence defrag worked perfectly.
     
  17. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    I waited around until 2:00 AM and had to get some sleep. If this picture was still showing after two hours and you saw NONE of the defrag processes in task manager with "show all processes" enabled, you should look at the Disk access LED on you machine and see if it is being constantly accessed. If not kill the command prompt, reboot and try it again. If the drive is being constantly accessed, WAIT TILL IT STOPS. Then if the command windows doesn't disappear, kill it reboot and try again.

    Gary
     
  18. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    Yes, but it should go away and you should be able to see the two defrag tasks in process manager. KarenA was seeing no defrag tasks and the cmd window didn't go away.

    Gary
     
  19. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    Before running DK pro, the command window didn't disappear AND the two defrag tasks didn't appear???

    Gary
     
  20. Monk

    Monk Notebook Consultant

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    no..the command window appeared, showed same first line, but hung for hours. I check all process for all users, but no defrag or defragnts, etc showed up..also my HDD light wasnt processing or getting hit, so i took my chance and rebooted the computer. After a reboot and full system defrag, your boot sequence defrag then worked perfectly, and has eversense.
     
  21. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    So the defrag processes NEVER showed up? Had you checked for them immediately after starting the batch or only after it took so long?

    If the former, that means the task that compiles the ordered list of boot files never completed. If the latter, we can't guess as to what happened.

    Gary
     
  22. Monk

    Monk Notebook Consultant

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    defrag processes never showed up at all..check right when it started, gave it 10 or so minutes after that, checked again, and nothing, then let it sit for an hour or so, and when i came back the command window was still open, with only the first line showing, and no defrag processes showing anywhere. Its odd, but souns like more than one person may have had it happen.
     
  23. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    I rebooted, and tried to run the DefragBootFiles again, but it still has the same problem. The processes doesn't show up at all. :confused:
     
  24. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    The first line of the batch file tells Vista that it is idle. When it sense this Vista will trigger a scheduled task that examines the log of boot file info and create a sequenced list of all of the files accessed at boot time.

    It would appear that this task is not firing. There are a couple of things that might be preventing it. First make sure there are no applications running at all. I would even go so far as to disconnect from the internet and shut down your antivirus/antispyware apps. The other thing that might be causing this is, have you changed anything in Vista's task scheduler? If that task is no longer there it would be a problem.

    Someone else said that they had a similar problem until they did a regular defrag (which does NOT resequence the boot files) and after it was complete they were able to run the batch file. You might try that.

    Gary
     
  25. Kaze

    Kaze Notebook Consultant

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    does rearranging the bootfile help in SSDs?
     
  26. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    I doubt if the difference will be measurable.

    Gary
     
  27. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Gary - I know in XP the normal deffragmentation often stopped before all files were defreagmented because due to reason x y z it couldn't finish (at least on my laptop)

    Does the same happen on Vista? (Without the obvious notice you have in XP)

    Also: Does the normal defragmentation thoroughly defragment Boot files? Because I think fragmented files on a SSD should be slower than unfragmented files...
     
  28. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    1. I don't know. I have never had it happen.
    2. Yes, but it does not reorganize them like the specialized defrag does.

    My contention is that a defrag on an SSD is going to speed things up, but I don't think you can tell the difference. The improvement will be marginal as there is no latency issues with SSD as there is with a HD.

    Gary
     
  29. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ok.

    Kaze - if its no bother, you could stop the time it takes to boot before the Boot file defrag an after...

    It would be interesting to see the result.
     
  30. Kaze

    Kaze Notebook Consultant

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    Detlev, I timed it and it made no measurable difference.
    SSD just boots up too quickly. I have the VAIO Z with 2 SLC SSDs in RAID 0 Config.
     
  31. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ok. Then I think you may have found your answer - SSDs are not sped up by a boot file defragmentation, or if they are it not noticeable.

    PS: Nice computer choice.
    I was rather desperate to get a Sony SZ before they got replaced :D
     
  32. fonduekid

    fonduekid JSUTAONHTERBIRCKINTEHWLAL

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    Hi People,

    A quick question: I have 4GB RAM now... I haven't tried the ReadyBoost thing yet, but I was wondering if it would make any difference if I did? Of course, I read the first post from Les and also some other info on the web, but it wasn't really clear to me from a technical point of view. As far as I understand, it would *not* make any difference really, in *my* case. Am I right?

    Thanks a lot people.
     
  33. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    As far as I'm aware, on a 32Bit operating system it will make no difference.
     
  34. fonduekid

    fonduekid JSUTAONHTERBIRCKINTEHWLAL

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    Thanks Detlev..
     
  35. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

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    I haven't seen any documentation where it would make any kind of measurable or noticeable difference except for systems with virtually no RAM.
     
  36. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    I don't get it. You have 4gb ram on a 32 bit machine? It won't recognize all 4gb, only around 3.25 gb. And, ReadyBoost only comes in handy if you have 1-2gb of ram. If you have anymore than that, ReadyBoost doesn't do much.
     
  37. Meetloaf13

    Meetloaf13 fear the MONKEY!!!

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    I remember reading into this many months ago. I actually spent several hours reading articles and benchmarks. I can't quote any sources, but I seem to remember that in many cases setting up ReadyBoost can actually degrade performance on systems with 2+ GB.

    Essentially, the concept was promising, but ended up not delivering on the promise
     
  38. fonduekid

    fonduekid JSUTAONHTERBIRCKINTEHWLAL

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    Well, this is what I understood from Les' words as well in the first post and from reading other articles... Still I was like a bit lost on the exact way in which this works. Thanks Crash.

    Well, you are right. I was not referring this to how much RAM I am actually utilizing.. I wanted to know a bit more info. about whether this ReadyBoost as such would make any difference with 2+ GB (as meetloaf addressed below). Thanks to you too, McGrady. Of course, I am aware of this 32bit limitations in utilizing all available RAM.

    Thanks Meetloaf.
     
  39. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Readyboost - Vista compresses data and wirtes it onto a Flash drive - that's basically all Readyboost does.

    Problems here:
    USB speed and read/write speed of Flash drive

    Then: Theoretically the compression should take some calculating power - this may explain the lower performance
     
  40. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    Can't wait for USB 3.0 which comes out on Monday. ;]
     
  41. surfguy17

    surfguy17 Notebook Geek

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    used crap cleaner on my 3 month old acer gemstone messed it all up. had to reformat it but luckly didnt have much on at the time. would never use again but love the other tweaks
     
  42. Meetloaf13

    Meetloaf13 fear the MONKEY!!!

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    First bad experience I've heard among hundreds of positives. Too bad, it's a great utility
     
  43. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What did you do? The registry cleaner has the potential to do do damage (as any registry cleaner has it) but else - what went wrong?

    Maybe you could write them an e-mail so they can improve it in their next version?

    Because as Meetloaf13 said - first bad one in hundreds of positives...
     
  44. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    I wouldn't use Ccleaner on older machines.
     
  45. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What is old?
    Its fine for XP as far as I'm aware...
     
  46. King Arth

    King Arth Notebook Guru

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    Used Ccleaner many many countless times on different machines and never had one issue.
     
  47. Capella1

    Capella1 Notebook Consultant

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    Not sure if this applies to all versions of Vista, but in ultimate you can add the run command to the start menu. Open start/right click on start menu/properties/customize/scroll down and click checkbox for Run command.

    Seems more convenient than doing the shift+r thing described in the tweaks page.


    PS: Disabling TMM did not change the screen flicker phenom on my laptop.
     
  48. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Any Windows OS since XP can do this s far as I know.
     
  49. ATaylor

    ATaylor Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ultimate Windows Tweaker is a Tweak UI Utility for tweaking and optimizing Windows Vista, 32-bit & 64-bit.

    It can simply be downloaded and used as a portable application to customize your Windows Vista to meet your requirements. With judicious tweaking, It can make your system faster, more stable, and more secure with just a few mouse clicks. The tweaker detects whether you have IE 7 or IE 8 installed and accordingly offers you the relevant tweaks only.

    Over 130 tweaks, just a 370 KB .exe file, which does not require an install.

    "It is always recommended to create a system restore point before tweaking your system, and hence an easily accessible button for creating the same has been provided in the tweaker. Should you wish or need to, you can always restore your system to the Windows Vista default settings using the Restore Defaults button and applying them."

    Just visit the "WinVistaClub".
     
  50. Meetloaf13

    Meetloaf13 fear the MONKEY!!!

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    It crashed with a debug error for me. I guess the scripts weren't written very well for x64?

    Or perhaps it doesn't play nicely with TweakVI (another free vista tweaking utility)
     
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