How to Easily Optimize a Notebook Computer and Make it Faster Discussion

[Tiger-Heli]

I'm not an expert either, but we need to define some terms for you. Here's a pretty good technical resource: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_restore.htm

System Restore does NOT save the contents of your C:\ drive (or any other drive for that matter). For that you would need a BACKUP program, either the WinXP service or some third party app, and copying to either an external HD, DVD-R, etc. A USB flash Drive could be used to TRANSFER files, unless you have very little critical data on the laptop.

What System Restore does is basically take a snapshot of your windows registry (4 files that are critical for windows, not sure of the names) and also I think your desktop and certain areas that are monitored by it and replaces these files back to the state at the time of the snapshot. Most common usage: You download some untested program. (Ideally, you manually create a restore point, before installing it). It doesn't do what you want, but now your CD-Drive, sound card, USB port, doesn't work, PC shuts down for no good reason, wants to send a message to Bill Gates, etc. You start the system restore utility, select a restore point before the installation of the problem software, and hopefully all works as it used to.

There is also a system restore service which runs automatically and creates restore points at certain intervals and critical events. I am not sure whether you can disable the service and then manually create restore points at a later time without enabling the service again, but I don't think so.

What will happen if I turn it off will something not be saved?

Nothing is LOST if you turn it off. (That is until some new program installer overwrites a critical file or it (or you) change the registry until your laptop won't load XP and you don't have a backup).

If I do this will this really help the performance of my laptop when playing games?

Not appreciably.

"Myth - "Disabling System Restore improves performance."

Reality - "System Restore does not cause any noticeable performance impact when monitoring your computer. The creation of a Restore point also is a very fast process and usually takes only a few seconds. Scheduled System Checkpoints (every 24 hours by default) are created only at system idle time to avoid interfering with a computer during use.""

From http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/XPMyths.html

Plus, I REALLY like the function. It's saved my backside quite a few times as you might have guessed from my comments.

[Tiger-Heli]

More links: Black Viper's guide is long gone now, not sure if it will return, but here is one of the few cases where I disagree with him: http://www.majorgeeks.com/page.php?i...estore Service

The ElderGeek and I are in synch: http://www.theeldergeek.com/system_restore_service.htm

Here a more practical instead of theoretical view of how it works: http://www.theeldergeek.com/system_restore.htm

[Gamermatt]

all a system restore does it restore your computer to EXACTLY how it was at a given date. Thats ALL it does. If you are planning to system restore your computer to the date when you first bought it, then all your files would be gone. That MIGHT make your laptop go slightly faster when you play games, but you probably wont even notice a difference...
-MATT

[Robert in Sadorus]

Is anyone else having proplems reading this... I copy and pasted it from the topic.

Startup items that you will really want to disable are “qttask” (Quick Time), anything that begins with the 3 letters “ati” (these are ATI video card background tasks that are not needed and just waste memory and bandwidth), anything related to “office” or “fastfind”, or anything related to a program you installed such as a media player or utility. You should keep startup?*tasks that are running your touchpad, firewall?*or anti-virus software.


The entire post is like this. Can someone fix it?

[hoolyproductions]

ah I thought it was just me !

i'm sure it was okay when I first saw it about a week ago. I'm on firefox 2.0.

[Robert in Sadorus]

It's real annoying when your trying to figure out what to type in the "RUN" box.

[Gamermatt]

yeah it also looks like that on my computer...

[hehe299792458]

If you have 2GB of RAM, can you disable paging files all together? I rarely see my RAM usage go above 1GB so I usually have another GB free anyways. Does Paging Files serves some purpose that my RAM can't? Thanks in advance.

[Tiger-Heli]

If you have 2GB of RAM, can you disable paging files all together? I rarely see my RAM usage go above 1GB so I usually have another GB free anyways. Does Paging Files serves some purpose that my RAM can't? Thanks in advance.

Theoretically, you could, but WinXP generally likes to have some page file there. Here is the best article I have found on them: http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

[dynot]

Theoretically, you could, but WinXP generally likes to have some page file there. Here is the best article I have found on them: http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Interesting article, but not very convincing. This is the first time I've seen anyone recommend having a page file even with large amounts of RAM.

They also seem to be a little vague about how much your page file size should be. Here's a quote:

...it is suggested that a sensible start point for the initial size would be the greater of (a) 100 MB or (b) enough to bring RAM plus file to about 500 MB. EXAMPLE: Set the Initial page file size to 400 MB on a computer with 128 MB RAM; 250 on a 256 MB computer; or 100 MB for larger sizes.

Huh??? OK, I have 2GB. Does that mean I should set my page file to -1.5GB (2GB - 1.5GB = the 500mb they suggest)? And just how many systems are out there with 256MB today?


Who is this organization and what credentials do they have?