@AndrewT,
A fresh install can restore suitability; but, only temporarily, so I suggest an effective backup directly after you have your system to your liking. That way, you can, at any time, return it to the point of suitability. Caveat: Your data files (those which you have created) will have to be stored somewhere other than drive C. At least a thorough copy will be necessary.
A fresh install can restore suitability; but, only temporarily, so I suggest an effective backup directly after you have your system to your liking. That way, you can, at any time, return it to the point of suitability. Caveat: Your data files (those which you have created) will have to be stored somewhere other than drive C. At least a thorough copy will be necessary.
Adobe Reader is a resource hog. I dumped it and replaced it with Sumatra. None of the bells and whistles. The trade -off is it's small and lean, the way I like it.
Yes , put all those data files in another "basket". (below)
You should treat your "C" drive as just a dirty "stomping ground" for
the browser cache and OS.
"C" should just be the OS plus your smaller 3'rd party viewers or
players ( like foxit PDF , winrar , winamp , paint shop). Those
4 mentioned will open 95% of all files.
I use my "extra" (F) to install larger softwares (Corel , diptrace , sprint, LT)
I also tell ALL 3'rd party programs (including the browser) to write
downloads or saved work to folders on "F".
After having this all set up , if some unforeseen screw-up happens on "C" ,
I just restore an ideal disk image of C , overwriting anything "bad".
After restore (a couple minutes off a USB memory stick) , I'm back in
business.
Once you have chosen and optimized your primary "C" ... it is quite
expendable. It can last quite a while before getting slow .... defrag
and observe it's size over time (mine is 5.3-5.5Gig).
This method of "housekeeping" can nearly eliminate data loss - also
get a new BD-R burner to make a hard backup of important
data. These methods have served me , never lost over 3TB of
data collected over the years.
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Thanks -
Sumatra is VERY good and small.....even portable.
But , no browser extensions. Foxit is a bit more bloated ... but at 20mb ,
nowhere near adobe. (Also has IE/chrome/FF extensions).
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I was using Foxit before until I couldn't stand the nags anymore. It's like having an unwelcomed salesman constantly at your door.
Older foxit's do not nag. I use V3.xxx foxit.
This is another "clean PC tip" ....
Use a good stable older version of 3'rd party software , it is usually smaller
and nag free. Foxit started getting "naggy" at V4.
V3 will do anything V5+ does , without the ads.
Oh , shut 3'rd party program updates off - If it ain't broken , why
fix it ?? Most updates after a software matures in it's first couple
years are to generate $$$ . or to nag you.
Microsoft is the same , their OS was perfected 2008 (W7-sp1) ...
all after is just bloat and needless features.
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Thanks for the tip. I will download v3. Come to think of it, Foxit didn't have any nags until the newer versions.
Another program I find useful is CCleaner. Clears up all the browser trash.
Thanks for the tip. I will download v3. Come to think of it, Foxit didn't have any nags until the newer versions.
Another program I find useful is CCleaner. Clears up all the browser trash.
This bears re-stating.
The hardware just works, wiping and reinstalling windows makes the computer as good as new.
It's been said that it will all just happen again. While that's true, it's something you just have to bear and try to learn from previous mistakes.
The windows updates, are not part of the better performance I'm talking about but are a subject of their own. I suggest being careful about any extraneous installs, scanning installs to make sure you don't get more than you ask for.
Yes, a re-install has to be the way to go on this.
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I know everyone has 'their own methods' as the saying goes, but I'm finding some of the comments very strange.
Adobe Reader. Is it really such a resource hog ? These three images show Vista with just 2Gb of RAM idling, idling with Adobe Reader and Task Manager open, and finally idling with Reader, Task Manager and IE open. Look at the RAM usage on the dial. It goes up a couple of percentage points as the loading increases.
Oh yes, and we have Aero Flip (part of Vista) running as well in the last two.
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As to installing programs on a different partition or drive... well I know some do that but I'm not so sure its a good option. Why... because the program is inextricably linked to the registry within Windows. If yo need to restore or recover a drive you need to be restoring the whole caboodle, not just parts of it.
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Many programs regularly try to connect to internet to see if there is program update (and when there is, sometimes installs directly). Such programs include jusched.exe for Java and adobe_updater.exe (and many variations) for Adobe. IME programs like this can disturb inexperienced users.
Adobe_updater.exe is to find update for Adobe products such as Flash and Reader. Problem is, updates are regularly releashed, even for what I consider unimportant patches. Adobe claims that the update is necessary for security sake. But if you study the patches they regularly distribute, it is not that important, and at the same time it shows you how fragile the software is (memory leak)...
Once I'm comfortable with any version of Adobe Reader, I usually just disable the update and I have never had any problem.
Yes, you can just set Adobe to check for updates but not to download and install them. The same with Flash player. I also have Windows set the same way (to check only).
Version 6 began to draw my ire. At one point I refused to accept version 8 and settled on 7. A number of things have changed since.
I had my W98/XP installs refined and the entire partition reduced to a file operated on and stored with a Linux install on the same machine. I could reinstall windows in under 10 minutes.
When a person goes to this level to keep it running well, programs like Adobe can be a drag.
I had my W98/XP installs refined and the entire partition reduced to a file operated on and stored with a Linux install on the same machine. I could reinstall windows in under 10 minutes.
When a person goes to this level to keep it running well, programs like Adobe can be a drag.
This is a big task of old school proportions. How did you deal with hanging requests?
Is youtube currently using HTML5? In the old days you can't do without Flash.
Yes, youtube likes HTML5. I gave up on FLASH when it kept hanging on facebook. Whenever video came on, like youtube, my XP goes into coma. Switched over to HTML5 and no more hanging.
You guys are paranoid!!! 😀
Been using Windoze right from Win 3.11 and have used all subsequent versions except for Vista and Win 8 which I skipped. I have always accepted ALL updates and have never had a problem ever. I have always used AV software and when they were released, anti-malware software. I have always made sure that unnecessary services are disabled and Windows startup does not load unnecessary programs/services. Once a month, I use CCLeaner to clean the disk and following that, I defragment my disks using MyDefrag. On occasion, I'll use Wise cleaner to clean and shrink my PC's registry. That's about all I do. The only paranoid bit is to create a System restore point before using Wise cleaner because "cleaning" the registry is always dicey.
Been using Windoze right from Win 3.11 and have used all subsequent versions except for Vista and Win 8 which I skipped. I have always accepted ALL updates and have never had a problem ever. I have always used AV software and when they were released, anti-malware software. I have always made sure that unnecessary services are disabled and Windows startup does not load unnecessary programs/services. Once a month, I use CCLeaner to clean the disk and following that, I defragment my disks using MyDefrag. On occasion, I'll use Wise cleaner to clean and shrink my PC's registry. That's about all I do. The only paranoid bit is to create a System restore point before using Wise cleaner because "cleaning" the registry is always dicey.
#1 - Abobe PDF really. really stinks !!!
(below 1) is foxit V3 versus the new reader. The new adobe reader is
- 42mb for the reader itself
-8 mb for the built in ad server - OMG !
-another 4mb for the always on constant updater. This "bombed out"
software package updated 20 minutes after I installed it from the adobe
site ..... what, it was not updated ENOUGH ??
Foxit is just 7mb and does it all.
#2 - if you install 3rd party softwares on a second partition or drive , as long
as the hardware and the enumeration of the drives (sata 0 ,1 .. etc.) , is the same ....
the registry on a restored OS partition will still point to the
same drive letter and/or SATA port.
That is , if you made the restore image AFTER you installed those 3rd party
programs.
This should be done only for a program that you know you will use regularly.
If you are installing/uninstalling all sorts of stuff ... why bother.
Short of this , at least make the work directory on another partition (or
better yet , another drive).
PS - I IMMEDIATELY uninstalled adobe PDF ... the nagging , immediate
update ... and another "add/remove" entry for the added windows service and the added
startup entry (requires a reboot to remove) - what crapware !!!
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Its like I said earlier 'we all have our own methods' 😉
42Mb is only 2% of the available RAM on a lowly 2Gb system, and RAM is there to be used, if its empty its not doing any good.
I'm still not convinced on installing programs to other partitions, the program and its registry settings are intertwined one with the other. You still need the same overall space to install the program. I tend to believe in installing major programs and then keeping that version rather than constantly updating (for example LibreOffice).
Like most things though, when you have a system that works and works well then you tend to stick with it.
42Mb is only 2% of the available RAM on a lowly 2Gb system, and RAM is there to be used, if its empty its not doing any good.
I'm still not convinced on installing programs to other partitions, the program and its registry settings are intertwined one with the other. You still need the same overall space to install the program. I tend to believe in installing major programs and then keeping that version rather than constantly updating (for example LibreOffice).
Like most things though, when you have a system that works and works well then you tend to stick with it.
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