Laptop - Vista(64) - Seems slow!

Mp4 · 7 Aug 2010 at 11:29

Hi all,

i've gone through msconfig and unchecked what isn't needed i only have running (see below). At boot it seems very slow and firefox(have some add-ons installed) takes a while to load + websites take time. (I am on wireless & directly under the wireless N router (135Mbps)

I have noticed in device manager I have 3 other devices (yellow icons) Base system device: SM Bus Controller & an Unknown Device.
Windows update can't find the drivers for these. & can't find them via Sony site.

Also i've noticed that even though the laptop has a Blu-Ray drive it wont play them what so ever!

I've not looked at Services to disable if their are any let me know

Very tempted to get Win7 but don't know if i will have the same issues.

Laptop Spec: Sony VGN-FW21M
---------------------------------
Windows Vista(64)
4GB RAM
Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4 GHz
HDD 400 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 4200 rpm
GFX: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 (256 mem)
Netgear - WN111 Wireless N
Optical Storage: BD-RE - integrated

Msconfig
---------
Audio control
Nod32
Malwarebytes
S&D
Catalyst
Netgear - WN111 Wireless

Mp4 · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:22

So can anyone help?

thepeganator · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:35

When did you last reinstall windows?

Mp4 · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:37

thepeganator said:
When did you last reinstall windows?

nstallation Date: 28 February 2010, 09:41

thepeganator · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:40

Not that long ago, but a reinstall can sort out a lot.

How many processes running?

Tried changing the DNS servers?

Disabled indexing?

Look through services (run>"services.msc"), there are quite a few that it's obvious if you don't need, printing, touch etc.

Mp4 · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:43

thepeganator said:
Not that long ago, but a reinstall can sort out a lot.

How many processes running?

Tried changing the DNS servers?

46 processes running
CPU 10% ish now as i type
Physical Mem 36% (1.44GB)

Not tried the DNS - The router is set to auto DNS via ISP

thepeganator · 7 Aug 2010 at 17:52

Not really a miracle cure for slow boot up unfortunately as far as I've found, a case of many minor things, services, programs starting up, installed programs, hard drive, system age, logging on etc.

Try changing the DNS to 4.2.2.2/4.2.2.3, reinstall FF, and uninstall as many programs as you can that you don't use.

Run a defrag too (I use Defraggler), and clean up using CCleaner, making sure you check the windows error reporting box and you close your browsers.

Mp4 · 7 Aug 2010 at 18:24

thepeganator said:
Not really a miracle cure for slow boot up unfortunately as far as I've found, a case of many minor things, services, programs starting up, installed programs, hard drive, system age, logging on etc.

Try changing the DNS to 4.2.2.2/4.2.2.3, reinstall FF, and uninstall as many programs as you can that you don't use.

Run a defrag too (I use Defraggler), and clean up using CCleaner, making sure you check the windows error reporting box and you close your browsers.

I've uninstalled all programs which i've not used via ccleaner last week ill try the DNS and see what happens (at the GF's they have AOL as ISP)

*** What do you mean by : "making sure you check the windows error reporting box and you close your browsers." ***

Downloaded Defraggler see if thats any better than Win vista one

Going to try and get win7 for this laptop too.

thepeganator · 7 Aug 2010 at 20:59

Mp4 said:
I've uninstalled all programs which i've not used via ccleaner last week ill try the DNS and see what happens (at the GF's they have AOL as ISP)

*** What do you mean by : "making sure you check the windows error reporting box and you close your browsers." ***

Downloaded Defraggler see if thats any better than Win vista one

Going to try and get win7 for this laptop too.

I mean when you run ccleaner check the box for windows error reports, often take up a big chunk of space, and close FF/IE when you run ccleaner.

Puppetmaster · 7 Aug 2010 at 22:09

I'd try updating reinstalling your chipset drivers. An upgrade to windows 7 would help as well.

Mp4 · 8 Aug 2010 at 10:05

thepeganator said:
I mean when you run ccleaner check the box for windows error reports, often take up a big chunk of space, and close FF/IE when you run ccleaner.

Ah okay i've done this and nothing came up, i've checked the registry and i get quite few errors but i'm not really happy with deleting them

Puppetmaster said:
I'd try updating reinstalling your chipset drivers. An upgrade to windows 7 would help as well.

Auto update can't find the drives that are yellow ! in device manager and i can't seem to find any on the drivers Sony site

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/updates/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-FW21M

Destination · 8 Aug 2010 at 10:16

You CPU is 10% doing what?
What programs are using your %?

Mp4 · 8 Aug 2010 at 10:31

Hikari Kisugi said:
You CPU is 10% doing what?
What programs are using your %?

Programs i had open at the time of post was Firefox / photoshop

Programs on startup :

Audio control
Nod32
Malwarebytes
S&D
Catalyst
Netgear - WN111 Wireless

Mp4 · 9 Aug 2010 at 12:26

I've maanaged to get hold of win7 so i shall be installing this today so i hope this helps!

i'm still trying to get my Blu-ray disk drive going but no luck so far!

according to Speccy - MAT****A BD-MLT UJ230AS ATA Device

i used PowerDVD + BR but the picture is distorted rainbow.

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/downloads/updates/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=VGN-FW21M&os=10

Trying to find out more on sony site their is something wrong

Revision date: May 12th 2010.

Sony found that some new Blu-ray titles cannot be played on some VAIO machines pre-installed with WinDVD BD.

A new version of WinDVD BD which fixes this issue is made available through VAIO Update and our downloads section.

Planning to look at AnyDVD HD to see if that does anything - but £90 Lifetime!

siege2 · 9 Aug 2010 at 14:16

anydvd is not a blu ray. dvd player program, it only makes 100% Great backups off your own DVDs/Blu ray Discs :-)

Mp4 · 9 Aug 2010 at 14:28

Win7 is far better on the laptop - still doing updates etc.

Though Base System Device isn't installed

Properties -

Location - PCI bus 10 , device 3 , function 2

The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)

Used win update to find drivers but doesn't find them

thepeganator · 9 Aug 2010 at 15:14

Installed everything from the manufacturers website?

Often Windows Update drivers are not up to date completely.

Base System Device may be your card reader?

Mp4 · 9 Aug 2010 at 15:26

thepeganator said:
Installed everything from the manufacturers website?

Often Windows Update drivers are not up to date completely.

Base System Device may be your card reader?

Well after all that i did look on the sony website

even though win7 tried to install drives and failed doing so , it linked me to the Sony site and downloaded the exe

Ricoh memory stick disk device

Just need to get Win7 to play Blu-Ray and im set!