The Acer laptop I had just before this one did exactly that. Ate drives every few weeks.
Here is something scary.... My 2GHz/2GB dual-core XPSP3 laptop gets creamed by my 1.6GHz/1GB Win7 netbook in the latency test. 😱
I need to put 7 on my main laptop (XP install is old and trashed), but maintaining 6 PC's in the household gets pretty exhausting.
I need to put 7 on my main laptop (XP install is old and trashed), but maintaining 6 PC's in the household gets pretty exhausting.
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This site doesn't seem to work for me- looking at their troubleshooting guide, it appears that the version of Firefox I use (3.6.13) doesn't like .NET Framework Assistant. I have no idea what any of that is, but apparently, their coexistence is obligatory to enable Dell's download manager to function. Sigh. Guess I have to install Chrome...
I can navigate, it's just that the downloads don't work. When I look at Add-Ons in Firefox, it shows the .NET Framework to be incompatible with 3.6.13.
You can use IE ya know 😛
This is a really odd one. I still think it may be the drive but it is making me wonder if it isn't possibly something else.
This is a really odd one. I still think it may be the drive but it is making me wonder if it isn't possibly something else.
That HAS to be a driver issue.
Speaking of driver issues this may be of interest to you SY:
http://download.cnet.com/DriverMax/3000-18513_4-10572602.html
This will let you know which drivers are out of date. Often times, the computer maker will stop supporting a particular piece of hardware while the hardware maker will keep making drivers for it. This will let you know if updates do exist (even if they are straight from the hardware maker or are from a different computer maker).
I used it on my computer to find EVERY driver except one (despite the fact toshiba refused to release ANY Windows7 drivers for my laptop). The last one I found the hard way by looking up the hardware ID and finding packages that had that driver and extracting it.
If it finds any are out of date I and a few of the other guys/gals on here can find the never version for you (if you provide us with the version number and the device name).
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OK, in my usual suave and debonair manner, I managed to make things much worse. I downloaded and installed from the Dell site later versions of the IDT sound driver, an "urgent" system utility, and BIOS. Flashed the new BIOS. Now the sound has an intense three Hertz stutter. I might be able to sync it up with Tiny Tim's vibrato.
Here's the report:
Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 24140
Responsible driver: ndis.sys (NDIS 6.0 wrapper driver, Microsoft Corporation)
DPC count (execution time <500 µs): 653684
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 71
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 841
DPC count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 64
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 60
Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 215
Responsible driver: iastor.sys (Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver - x64, Intel Corporation)
ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 1262251
ISR count (execution time 250-499 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=2000 µs): 0
Highest pagefault resolution time (µs): 76451
Hard pagefault count (total): 36289
Number of processes hit: 2
Pagefault count of hardest hit process: 31534
Process with highest pagefault count: System (PID: 4, System process, Microsoft Corporation)
Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 24140
Responsible driver: ndis.sys (NDIS 6.0 wrapper driver, Microsoft Corporation)
DPC count (execution time <500 µs): 653684
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 71
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 841
DPC count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 64
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 60
Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 215
Responsible driver: iastor.sys (Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver - x64, Intel Corporation)
ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 1262251
ISR count (execution time 250-499 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=2000 µs): 0
Highest pagefault resolution time (µs): 76451
Hard pagefault count (total): 36289
Number of processes hit: 2
Pagefault count of hardest hit process: 31534
Process with highest pagefault count: System (PID: 4, System process, Microsoft Corporation)
Hmmm, very odd.
If this is a driver issue we can get to the bottom of it. Download that program I mentioned and then copy paste what ever drivers it says are out of date. Lets see if we can't get this stuff working right. I'll work on this with you all night if I have to. I love tackling problems like this.
If this is a driver issue we can get to the bottom of it. Download that program I mentioned and then copy paste what ever drivers it says are out of date. Lets see if we can't get this stuff working right. I'll work on this with you all night if I have to. I love tackling problems like this.
That's unbelievably nice of you, but it's two hours later here, I'm an old guy, and I have to be up early to get more of this grant proposal cranked out (music would have been nice!😀). Anyway, I downloaded that program and it came up with quite a few out of date drivers.
One section in particular which stood out was the drivers associated with the Firewire adapter. And here's the results for System. Any advice you leave me, I'll try when I get up.
You're a stud!
One section in particular which stood out was the drivers associated with the Firewire adapter. And here's the results for System. Any advice you leave me, I'll try when I get up.
You're a stud!
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did you take note of what the old bios revision was? can allways download the old one and flash back...
I just remembered that the first thing I used to do with dell xp laptops was to wipe the harddrive and install a new version of XP without all of the dell paraphanalia. Pedro's comment brought that back....
You can also probably roll back the driver changes 🙂
I couldn't help laughing at your last post SY as terrible as that is 😉
I think the utility was a little confused, it is showing the same driver twice once as up to date and once as not, the mobile intel 4 series express chipset one... and are you sure the firewire is out of date? IEEE1394 is showing up to date 🙂
I'm starting to think a fresh build using Win7 sounds like a plan, especially after TheAnonymous1's post (though to be fair not comparing apples with apples).
Tony.
I just remembered that the first thing I used to do with dell xp laptops was to wipe the harddrive and install a new version of XP without all of the dell paraphanalia. Pedro's comment brought that back....
You can also probably roll back the driver changes 🙂
I couldn't help laughing at your last post SY as terrible as that is 😉
I think the utility was a little confused, it is showing the same driver twice once as up to date and once as not, the mobile intel 4 series express chipset one... and are you sure the firewire is out of date? IEEE1394 is showing up to date 🙂
I'm starting to think a fresh build using Win7 sounds like a plan, especially after TheAnonymous1's post (though to be fair not comparing apples with apples).
Tony.
OK, first off:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19596&keyword="INF+Update"&lang=eng
That should update most of those intel devices that are out of date.
Intel SATA Driver
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&keyword="ICH9M"&lang=eng
OK, your dell wireless card actually appears to be a broadcom wireless card under another name. Having it under the generic broadcom name will allow us to get updates more easily. To get the exact model though I need the Hardware ID.
To get me the hardware ID:
Start ORB
Into the search box type in Device Manager
In the device manager window go down to Network Adapters
Right Click on the Dell wireless adapter and select Properties
In the window that opens click on the Details Tab
On this tab you will see an entry called Property with a drop down box below it.
Select Hardware Ids in this dropdown box
Provide for me the first entry:
For example one of my network adapters has the hardware ID:
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_4355&SUBSYS_FF501179&REV_12
That will give me everything I need to track down the Broadcom driver.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19596&keyword="INF+Update"&lang=eng
That should update most of those intel devices that are out of date.
Intel SATA Driver
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19607&keyword="ICH9M"&lang=eng
OK, your dell wireless card actually appears to be a broadcom wireless card under another name. Having it under the generic broadcom name will allow us to get updates more easily. To get the exact model though I need the Hardware ID.
To get me the hardware ID:
Start ORB
Into the search box type in Device Manager
In the device manager window go down to Network Adapters
Right Click on the Dell wireless adapter and select Properties
In the window that opens click on the Details Tab
On this tab you will see an entry called Property with a drop down box below it.
Select Hardware Ids in this dropdown box
Provide for me the first entry:
For example one of my network adapters has the hardware ID:
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_4355&SUBSYS_FF501179&REV_12
That will give me everything I need to track down the Broadcom driver.
Everybody thinks installing Win 7 will cure all their ills. Nope. Unfortunately , hardware drivers are not all M$. This seems to be where Apple rules ... total control over all software/hardware. On my mighty 9mS PC , I can install turtle beach's included sound card drivers and get latency in the 100's , this happens with either win 7 or XP.
I have had customers who want HTPC's , want to use their dells and HP's to do the job. Much harder to get smooth performance is these cases , but not impossible. The onboard junk really does get in the way , I guess one can not avoid this on a laptop.
OS
I have had customers who want HTPC's , want to use their dells and HP's to do the job. Much harder to get smooth performance is these cases , but not impossible. The onboard junk really does get in the way , I guess one can not avoid this on a laptop.
OS
SY I forgot to say... Golden rule... Only change ONE thing at a time 😉 yeah it is a pain in the backside (epscially when reboots are needed) but if you don't do it that way you don't know what made things better (or worse).
OS, I've heard from a number of people who have upgraded from vista to 7 that it made a BIG difference (on the same hardware). I have only used vista a few times on my parents laptop, and the only impression I was left with was how incredibly slow it was (compared to a similarly specced laptop running XP). So in the context of things I think either downgrading to XP or upgrading to Windows 7 would both be positive steps 😉
Tony.
OS, I've heard from a number of people who have upgraded from vista to 7 that it made a BIG difference (on the same hardware). I have only used vista a few times on my parents laptop, and the only impression I was left with was how incredibly slow it was (compared to a similarly specced laptop running XP). So in the context of things I think either downgrading to XP or upgrading to Windows 7 would both be positive steps 😉
Tony.
The Intel site told me that I shouldn't replace the drivers when I ran their update utility. Messages like "A customized computer manufacturer driver is installed on your computer. The Intel Driver Update Utility is not able to update the driver. Installing a generic Intel driver instead of the customized computer manufacturer driver may cause technical issues. Contact your computer manufacturer for the latest driver for your computer." Or "This device is unknown or unsupported. Please contact the manufacturer for possible updates."
Anyhoo, the hardware ID for the wireless adapter is PCI\VEN_14E4&DEV_4315&SUBSYS_000C1028&REV_01
There are three other entries below that.
One other possible clue- in the documentation for the sound card, they talk about an ASIO control panel for the driver and some of the settings vis a vis MMCSS. Of course, they don't bother to explain how one accesses this control panel...
edit: I did manage to get the sound back to where it was, i.e., dropouts or stutters every half minute instead of three times a second. And Intel SATA controller is updated to current version.
Here's some tweaks for XP...
PC Musician: XP Tweaks For Music
Navigate to the Advanced page of the System applet. Click on the Performance Settings button, select its Advanced tab and click on 'Background Services' for Processor Scheduling (see top pair of screens).
This is one of the few essential Windows XP tweaks, since it benefits the performance of ASIO drivers, which run as background tasks.
For anyone using ASIO drivers (and nowadays that includes just about every PC musician), this is the most essential tweak of all, because ASIO drivers run as background services in Windows. Music software and hardware developers Steinberg rely on this setting to ensure low latency without dropouts, and you may be able to run your audio interface at a significantly lower latency after this tweak.
PC Musician: XP Tweaks For Music
Navigate to the Advanced page of the System applet. Click on the Performance Settings button, select its Advanced tab and click on 'Background Services' for Processor Scheduling (see top pair of screens).
This is one of the few essential Windows XP tweaks, since it benefits the performance of ASIO drivers, which run as background tasks.
For anyone using ASIO drivers (and nowadays that includes just about every PC musician), this is the most essential tweak of all, because ASIO drivers run as background services in Windows. Music software and hardware developers Steinberg rely on this setting to ensure low latency without dropouts, and you may be able to run your audio interface at a significantly lower latency after this tweak.
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