WinXP performance problems every month or so

[vcddude]

Hello all,

I have a relatively new Dell 4600C desktop with 200GB HDD, 2.4GHz P4 CPU, and 512MB RAM. I do lots of video capture, editing, and encoding, so I have a lot of apps installed on it including Vegas Video 4, TMPGEnc, Canopus Procoder Express, CCE, VCDEasy, Nero, DVD-Lab, VirtualDub, etc.

I make it a point to do scheduled HDD defrags twice a week but for some weird reason, my system slows down for all apps about every month. I can't find the reason, and this slowdown makes it impossible to capture video, even using SCLive with my Canopus ADVC-100, and slow encodes and DVD authoring apps to a crawl as well. It's really weird, and unfortunately the ONLY solution I have found is to do a REPAIR installation of WinXP. This isn't hard to do but it is a pain in the $#$@! to have to do this once a month.

Anyone have any idea what might be happening here? Anyone have a similar problem? Think it might be because my 200GB disk partition is so large? I have WinXP Pro SP1.

Many thanks,
vcddude

[808smokey]

Does it do it once a month after a specific amount of days? Like ever 30 days exactly? Once it starts running slow, does it always runs slow from that point on? You want to try adaware or spybot. I doubt that it's but its worth a try. Try running scandisk or system file checker once it slows down. Type SFC in the run prompt and follow the instructions. That might fix it. Also turn off the restore and automatic updates. Also try changing this setting:

Right click my computer - properties - advanced - performance - advanced tab - change it to system cache under memory uses.

Try deleting your temp folder both internet and programs.

Try:
Disable DLL caching - When you run a program, dll files are introduced to memory for the running of the program. After the application using these same dll's has been closed, Windows Explorer caches these DLL files (Dynamic-Link Librarie) in memory for a period of time. This is an inefficient use of allotted memory. It should cut your RAM use in half
To disable the caching of these DLL's, Find the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer.
Create a new DWORD named "AlwaysUnloadDLL" and set the default Decimal value to equal "1" to disable Windows caching the DLL in memory.
Restart Windows for the change to take effect.


Try those ideas and for a more in depth look at troubleshooting Xp look this site I use. That site has just about everything you'll want to know about Xp. Hope that helps

http://www.theeldergeek.com/shutdown_issues_in_xp.htm

[vcddude]

Yes, it seems consistent, not sure if it is exactly 30 days though. I will try your tips. What's the downside of disabling DDL caching?

Thanks much!

vcddude

[vcddude]

I just saw this problem and yet again did a repair installation of WinXP. I defragged the disk prior to doing and found serious fragmentation of files in the DLL Cache (e.g. many files in up to 65 fragments). Simply defragging did not bring the performance back so I reinstalled XP (repaired it).

vcddude

[808smokey]

Your XP sounds jacked. I would do a full format and put a clean/fresh install on there. Save all your data 1st though. Without seeing it I'm outta ideas.

[iooi]

Is this after your PC has been left on for 30 days without rebooting or is it turned off every day, week or whatever.

[themichael]

There is a third party defrag util (don't have my util/rescue CD handy) that runs circles around the windows defrag util. System partition showed almost all read and white. (the popup window also said "This drive does not need to be defragged") Took a very long time to launch programs.

I try a lot of software out

After several tries, the drive was only half defragged. Ran this new utility and <2% fragment files!

I'll hunt around for the CD, may need it soon anyway.

Isn't anybody going to make a joke about the computer being female?

[vcddude]

I generally leave the PC running 24/7, unless I am gone for a few days in which case I power it down.

I use the O&O Defragger and it blows away the Windows Defragger. I have set it up to defrag the disk automatically every other day at 4am. I suspect that part of my problem is that I am using a single 200GB partition and I suspect that Windows doesn't handle it well for some reason. That, combined with the fact that I do lots of video editing which creates lots of 20GB+ size files, results in lots of fragmentation.

Also last night, based on some advice I got, I added the "AlwaysUnloadDLL" key into the registry to disable DLL caching into memory. We'll see if that helps the situation. I am also going to look for spyware on my PC but I doubt that is the problem. I tried the "free" SpyKiller app on my laptop but it is lame. They say it's "Free" but that means it will detect spyware, but when you try to remove the spyware it sends you to a "Buy SpyKiller" web page. The old "Bait-and-switch" technique.

I want to avoid a full reinstall with dsk formatting if possible, as I started with that step.

Thanks for all your help.
vcddude

[808smokey]

GOOD GOD MAN!! HAVE YOU GONE MAD?!?! 200GIG HARD DRIVE WITH NO PARTITIONS!! INSANE!!!
Do yourself a favor and throw a partition or two on there. Since you drive is so large I'd make windows (OS partition) around 20-40Gig. Then break it up in equal parts with the remainder. Maybe 50 for windows and 2-75gig for the remainder. WindowsXP is supposed to beable to handle that large of a drive but sometimes it gets really messed up. I had a 120GIG and it wouldn't boot after about 3 weeks. Before that it started running sllllloooooowwwwww..... Defragging will not solve this problem. It does improve speed but not that much. If you want a good spyware program try ad-aware from lavasoft here's the link: Adaware

I added the "AlwaysUnloadDLL" key into the registry to disable DLL caching into memory.

This will speed things up a bit but it will not have the increase in speed your looking for I think the problem is exactly like you stated

I suspect that part of my problem is that I am using a single 200GB partition and I suspect that Windows doesn't handle it well for some reason. That, combined with the fact that I do lots of video editing which creates lots of 20GB+ size files, results in lots of fragmentation.

Definitly partition that drive and put all the VOB's on another partition and I'm willing to bet money that it will solve the problem. Not to mention defrag A LOT faster. And if you need to reload windows for whatever reason you won't loose all your data, fresh install not repair. You can resize it through FDISK or Partition Magic. Never tried to do it with XP, not sure if you can or how easy it is.
Also if you resize the partitions you WILL NOT have to reload windows. Unless it's beyond repair, you might want to anyways just to make sure it's set up properly. It might save a lot of hair pulling in the future. You could get partition magic at the store or online but there might be some free ones at download.com

[vcddude]

Okay okay, yeah I guess I am insane to use a single 200GB partition. Yep takes up to 2 hours to defrag this sucker.

I will go get Partition Magic -- I understand this allows you to partition a disk without requiring wiping it first, is this correct? I will follow your advice and set up 3 partitions:

50GB for Windows / OS stuff
2x75GB for other crap

What do you think is the largest reasonable partition size? I'd like to use the biggest sizes possible.

I hope this will be the magic bullet for my PC performance problems.

Thanks!
vcddude

[808smokey]

Yep takes up to 2 hours to defrag this sucker.

WOW

I understand this allows you to partition a disk without requiring wiping it first, is this correct?

Yup. It will not require a t reload of windows. Remember to only do one task at a time in partition magic. When you open partition magic just create one partition. The 50gig (whatever size you want) then click apply. When it's done then apply the 2nd partition, again only if you want to.
You might be able to use the remaining 150GIG disk space as one partition and have no problems. I would try it with just the OS partition (C: & D: ) You can make the OS partition as small as 2gig and it will work but it will fill up real fast with internet junk and temp files.

I have my WindowsXP like this:
40gig =
8gig - windowsXP Pro
32gig - programs
120gig =
60gig - VOB ripping
60gig - MP3, MPEG and other junk

I only spli the 120gig drive to speed up defragging. I used Norton System Works Defrag for a while it took about 15-20min for the 2 75gig drives. Now I only use the WindowsXP defrag tool and it only takes about 5 minutes. I defrag every couple of days or whenever it gets higher than 5% fragmented.

If your looking for maximum size try the windows partition at say 10gig and the remaining 190 at that size. If the 190 gives you problems make a 40gig partition and leave the remaining 150gig fir video files. XP should be able to handle the 190gig without any problems once it is set up as data only. I think the problem your having is windows can't find parts itself on that huge drive. If that makes any sense

[vcddude]

Cool, thanks so much for your time and help with this! I really appreciate it! Hey where are you located?

I am running to Fry's now to go buy Partition Magic 8 -- doesn't look like the older versions support big-ass drives like my 200GB HDD.

Is it obvious how to set up the WinXP pro partition and the Programs partition? I've never played with partitions and I don't wanna mess it up!


Thanks again,
vcddude

[808smokey]

The programs shold remain intact without any problems. At least from my experiences I've never had any problems. I use partition magic 8 and never had anything go wrong. I used older versions and ran into a few problems, nothing major. That was PM 6 if I remember right. I'm in NE Ohio

Is it obvious how to set up the WinXP pro partition and the Programs partition?

Yeah pretty much. Once you open PM you see the drive on there as a big bar. All you do is right click on the drive and select resize. Then pick whatever size you want. Or choose "resize partition" from the left column and then follow the wizard instructions. Then click apply at the bottom left. Hope that works for ya

[vcddude]

Thanks 808smokey, you da man!

I just purchased PM8 -- man it's kinda expensive at $69, but worth it if it makes my XP perf problems go away. I'm gonna check it out tonight..

Thanks again, I appreciate your help.

Kevin

------------
PS Hard to tell if your avatar is really a hottie cuz it's small, but she certainly has big eyes.

[ROBERT BLACK]

Thanks 808smokey, you da man!

I second that! His suggestions helped me out. Thanks.

[LSchafroth]

Cool, thanks so much for your time and help with this! I really appreciate it! Hey where are you located?

I am running to Fry's now to go buy Partition Magic 8 -- doesn't look like the older versions support big-ass drives like my 200GB HDD.

Is it obvious how to set up the WinXP pro partition and the Programs partition? I've never played with partitions and I don't wanna mess it up!


Thanks again,
vcddude

keep in mind that the larger your partition the larger the mimnum file size that will be stored on the drive. if you save a 1K file with a 200Gb partion, it will be saved on the drive as possible a 1Mb chunck.

10Gb partitions or smaller work great for system disks. For speed and access times. (cluster size is smaller)

LS

[gmatov]

I don't think so. I think they go to 32k max.

Win 9X used FAT 32, but, I think, only 28 bits of 32 were actually used for File allocation. This is all from articles in 5 year old mags, don't know if I have time or inclination to hunt them down.

2k, XP, I think, use 40 bits for NTFS. Have to check. It's why they don't bump up against the 137 gig barrier.

Good luck with PM8. Has to be better than older versions.

There is also another freeware, Ranish Partition Manager, too late, now that you have bought it.

Cheers,

George

[vcddude]

Hello all,

Yep, partitioning the drive with PM8 was super easy and it appears to have fixed the performance issues. The only tricky thing after partitioning was to rename the CDROM drive letters because XP uses weird rules when assigning letters. Got it all working though. Thanks for everyone's help!

vcddude