12-20-2011, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by vansmith

I wonder if disabling Aero and other unnecessary effects would make it better. I suppose it's too late now to test that but it seems like that might help (especially if the GPU is integrated and uses shared memory).

I have the installs on separate drives. So if I turn off Aero...what other "unnecessary effects" are there to turn off (and where do I find them)?

Thanks,

- Nick

12-20-2011, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by vansmith

I wonder if disabling Aero and other unnecessary effects would make it better. I suppose it's too late now to test that but it seems like that might help (especially if the GPU is integrated and uses shared memory).

I'll bet it's AV-related. I've noticed that nearly all of the major AV packages are so convoluted and bloated, they can drag even the fastest of systems to their knees, let alone a budget box.

Things get much worse when the Windows machine is running a more comprehensive security suite. I've found that in many cases, the program has so many nannies and co-opts so many facets of the OS that it does more harm than good.

As far as Windows 7 goes, I think it's certainly the best Windows version in recent memory. If they'd just fix UAC to work properly, those all-encompassing security suites would have little reason to exist.

12-20-2011, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

Was there a lot of bloat installed or just a fresh install of W7?

I'm not 100% sure if it's a fresh install (W7 was on the computer when I got it) ...but I don't think that there's much bloat.

- Nick

12-20-2011, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by vansmith

I wonder if disabling Aero and other unnecessary effects would make it better.

It makes a huge difference. I had an old XP PC that I put 7 on & the peak RAM usage while idle with all the effects on was something like 1.4GB (of 2GB), leaving the computer usable but sluggish. I disabled said effects (leaving it looking like Win2k) & the peak usage went down to about 0.8GB, and it peaked much less often too.

12-20-2011, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

if I turn off Aero...what other "unnecessary effects" are there to turn off (and where do I find them)?

Thanks,

- Nick

Get-up the Start Menu, right-click Computer, select Properties from the pop-up menu, go to Advanced System Settings in the left-hand pane of the window, select Settings under the Performance section of the Advanced tab, and that will give you many options to disable or modify graphical & other properties.

12-20-2011, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Ctrl-Opt-Del

Get-up the Start Menu, right-click Computer, select Properties from the pop-up menu, go to Advanced System Settings in the left-hand pane of the window, select Settings under the Performance section of the Advanced tab, and that will give you many options to disable or modify graphical & other properties.

Awesome...thanks! And thanks for the detailed instructions for a "Windows-Challanged" Mac-User!

- Nick

12-20-2011, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by vansmith

I wonder if disabling Aero and other unnecessary effects would make it better. I suppose it's too late now to test that but it seems like that might help (especially if the GPU is integrated and uses shared memory).

What is interesting is I like Aero and have it full on and have an Integrated graphics ATI and it's not really slow at all.

12-20-2011, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by cwa107

I'll bet it's AV-related. I've noticed that nearly all of the major AV packages are so convoluted and bloated, they can drag even the fastest of systems to their knees, let alone a budget box.

Things get much worse when the Windows machine is running a more comprehensive security suite. I've found that in many cases, the program has so many nannies and co-opts so many facets of the OS that it does more harm than good.

As far as Windows 7 goes, I think it's certainly the best Windows version in recent memory. If they'd just fix UAC to work properly, those all-encompassing security suites would have little reason to exist.

I completely agree with you CWA. I even stopped using AntiVir and put in MSE which I saw you saying was good. It works quite well.

12-20-2011, 11:42 PM

Since you guys brought up "Anti-Virus". I found this page the other day for the "Best Free Anti-Virus Programs for Windows":

Best Free Antivirus - Reviews of the Best Free Antivirus for Windows

...and was wondering if you guys heard of these various apps...and/or what you thought of them?

Thanks again,

- Nick

12-20-2011, 11:45 PM

Of those I have settled on MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). CWA and Bobtomay, do you both still use and like MSE? One of both of them recommended it to me a while back.

I used to use AntiVir at one time (For years) but found MSE better for me anyway and not very resource heavy.

12-20-2011, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

Of those I have settled on MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). CWA and Bobtomay, do you both still use and like MSE? One of both of them recommended it to me a while back.

I used to use AntiVir at one time (For years) but found MSE better for me anyway and not very resource heavy.

What about the 1st program in the list "Avira AntiVir Personal for Windows"? Seems to be a "top pick" of sorts among users & gets good scores from antivirus testing agencies.

- Nick

12-20-2011, 11:55 PM

That is Antivir. I used it for many years but back away after the recommend of MSE. Their servers are in some other country and updates were getting so slow to download and toward the end it seemed to be dragging down my systems more and more. It's a good program though. I hope CWA and Bob chime in.

12-21-2011, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

That is Antivir.

Ahh I see. Three of the first 4 programs in the list start with the letter "A"...so I probably got the names confused.

- Nick

12-21-2011, 12:19 AM

It's not you, people call it many names, Antivir, Avira!

12-21-2011, 12:36 AM

Still using MSE on my Windows rig for a year now with no issues.