[Virtualacorn-list] Virtual Acorn Setup Problem

[Alan Adams]

In message <4ff90e50f7briancarroll at f2s.com>
          Brian Carroll <briancarroll at f2s.com> wrote:

> In article <4ff90b6ab2Steve at joyces.demon.co.uk>, Steve Joyce
> <Steve at joyces.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> [Snip]

>> I suspect the slow speed is caused by heavy activity on other
>> processes by Windows, but have not been able to determine what
>> process(es) these are. When VA stalls, attempts to bring up
>> the Task Manager are also slow and as it kicks into action, so
>> does VA.

This behaviour is usually down to lack of physical memory - Windows is 
thrashing the disc to get enough virsual memory, so nothing responds. 
Once the memory allocation has settled down, everything, including 
task manager, springs back into life, and the problem has gone away, 
so you can't see it.

>> Possible culprits are virus scanning (AVG Free) or Windows
>> checking for updates. I've not found settings for these that
>> change this behaviour.

I don't think that, by default, AVG scans disks. What it does do is 
check files as they are run, and doesn't seem to impact performance 
noticeably. Windows Defender does scan by default, and it has a marked 
effect on performance. I've turned off the scanning, and left it to 
intercept.

Windows update doesn't seem to affect performance either, except when 
it is actually INSTALLING them - you can stop this with "download and 
notify", so you get to choose when to install.

HP printer CDs usually install HP update, which frequently makes a 
machine slow. It also has a tendency to pop up "end process" errors 
when shutting down, because bits of it won't quit. I try tio avoid 
running HP's installwers, and use Add Printers and browse for the .INF 
file. That does a minimum install, and works much better.

> I find much the same with anything I want to use on my desk PC
> which as a routine I leave on 'hibernate' and wake it up well
> before I want to use it.

> My laptop (which has VAcorn on it) is even slower to reach normal
> speed, but not nearly so slow if it is not connected to the
> router.  This gives credence to your suspected culprits as
> upgrades cannot be checked for, fetched or installed.

> Is your laptop on line immediately you start it?

> Brian.

How much physical memory do you have - wndowsXP with Service Pack 2 or 
above is struggling with 256M, and a dual-core processor can push the 
basic requirement to over 400M, so 512M is a realistic minimum.

Defragging the C: drive will help, as the virtual memory system can 
then work better.

I suspect the R-Comp setup uses a different user so that only VRPC 
starts, suppressing all the other stuff that "normal" users get to 
run. This will speed it up, both because of less contention for the 
processor and critically, less use of memory.

-- 
Alan Adams, from Northamptonshire
alan at adamshome.org.uk
http://www.nckc.org.uk/