How to speed up a slow T41

Message

Goobie · #1 Post by **Goobie** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:13 pm

Hello,

I recently converted from a Dell Inspiron 8200 (2GHz) to a T41 (1.6 Ghz 2379DJU) hoping that I will have at least the same kind of performance but so far I'm not terribly impressed with the speed of my new thinkpad. The biggest problem I have is with Outlook Express starting up, it takes 15 seconds to go from click to reading the first message. Once it has loaded up I can shut OE down and when clicked again it will start up much faster. I'm using Firefox to browse the web and it too lags before popping up. Overall the machine is just not too responsive, I don't know if I'm perhaps expecting too much from the centrino compared to the P4M.

This is what I've done so far:
1. Upgraded RAM to 768MB
2. Disabled all the services that I do not need.
3. Played with the power settings and disabled rundll32
4. Downloaded the latest updates from Microsoft and IBM

I was hoping somebody more knowledgeable with these kind of things could give me some pointers on how to speed things up. I used "HIJACK THIS" to get a log of all the processes running on my machine, so here it is, any help on what processes I can disable would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

------

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.0
Scan saved at 1:58:28 PM, on 6/30/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ibmpmsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\S24EvMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities\NPROTECT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\QCONSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RegSrvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\SPEEDD~1\nopdb.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\TpKmpSVC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\TpShocks.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPONSCR.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY_1\TpScrex.exe
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\QCWLICON.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RunDll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Temp\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = http://localhost;<local>
F0 - system.ini: Shell=
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [S3TRAY2] S3Tray2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BluetoothAuthenticationAgent] rundll32.exe irprops.cpl,,BluetoothAuthenticationAgent
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TpShocks] TpShocks.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPHOTKEY] C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\PkgMgr\HOTKEY\TPHKMGR.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TPKMAPHELPER] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\TpKmapAp.exe -helper
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TP4EX] tp4ex.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UC_Start] C:\IBMTools\Updater\ucstartup.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QCWLICON] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\ConnectUtilities\QCWLICON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccRegVfy.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BMMGAG] RunDll32 C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\pwrmonit.dll,StartPwrMonitor
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BMMLREF] C:\Program Files\ThinkPad\Utilities\BMMLREF.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BMMMONWND] rundll32.exe C:\PROGRA~1\ThinkPad\UTILIT~1\BatInfEx.dll,BMMAutonomicMonitor
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.exe.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - (no file)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O11 - Options group: [JAVA_IBM] Java (IBM)

eriqesque · #2 Post by **eriqesque** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:22 pm

well the 1st thing i can see in the running services is Norton
dump that and you will see an increase in outlook and probably the overall responsiveness of the whole machine.
Norton is a resource hog.
The Pentium M(which you are calling a centino) is a much better performer that P4M

You can also use in the run menu type msconfig and go into startup and turn off anything you don't need starting up.

#3 Post by **K. Eng** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:29 pm

I just opened Outlook Express on my own system - I counted about 12 seconds before it loaded up. It took 7 seconds on my Pentium III 750 MHz desktop. I note a lot of HDD activity before it finishes loading. The 7200 RPM drive (8MB cache) in the desktop probably accounts for this. My 4200 RPM drive chugs a bit to load up OE.

Your T41 should be a bit faster than the Inspiron 8200. In synthetic and application benchmarks, the 1.60 GHz Pentium M is roughly equivalent to a 2.40 GHz Pentium 4-M.

What are the full specs of your old 8200? In particular I am interested in the speed differences between the HDDs in your systems.

Besides the included IBM utilities, are you running different software or different versions of software on each of the machines?

What power management profile are you using in the Battery Maximizer applet? If your machine is using a profile that locks the CPU speed at 600 MHz, it might explain some of the sluggishness.

Goobie · #4 Post by **Goobie** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:34 pm

K. Eng,

The Dell and IBM is configured exactly the same with both having 768 MB RAM, 40 Gb 5400 rpm HDD, same programs running on both. IBM "feels" slower, much more hard disk activity than on the Dell. Power management is set to "HIGH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE"

#5 Post by **K. Eng** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:46 pm

My gut feeling is that this is a software problem. I would run HijackThis on the 8200 and compare it to the results you've posted on your ThinkPad.

Try uninstalling as many unessential IBM utilities as possible to get the configs roughly the same.

much more hard disk activity than on the Dell

eriqesque · #6 Post by **eriqesque** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:54 pm

i run Outlook
Not express should't matter however.

I opened outlook and opened the 1st email in approx 4 seconds
and my power profile is set to adaptive.

So I think you need to find what pieces of software you have running and eating up you resources and get rid of them.

Again I #1 Norton. If you have the discs for Norton uninstall it and you will see.
I was a big fan of sysytem works til I dumped it.

gte204i · #7 Post by **gte204i** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:28 pm

ZoneAlarm is also a known resource hog - try a firewall with a smaller footprint like Kerio 2.1.5

Goobie · #8 Post by **Goobie** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:34 pm

WHOOOHOOO! I fixed it.

I'm posting this follow up incase anybody was interested in how this situation turned out. There was something wrong with the harddrive, it kept on failing PCDoctor's surface scans, so IBM sent me a new drive overnight. I formatted the drive and installed my own copy of XP PRO with only the apps that I needed from the IBMTOOLS folder. The machine now boots up extremely fast.

krosenstein · #9 Post by **krosenstein** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:06 pm

Is it possible to install just WinXP from the recovery CDs rather than from a WinXP CD?

jx3000 · #10 Post by **jx3000** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 7:04 pm

krosenstein wrote:Is it possible to install just WinXP from the recovery CDs rather than from a WinXP CD?

Yes I am trying to install it like this too. How does one do this?

Bluecamp · #11 Post by **Bluecamp** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:30 am

I would say it is not possible. You need to create a new WinXP CD with the I386 folder. Maybe this link helps: http://unattended.msfn.org/index.htm

XCoalMiner · #12 Post by **XCoalMiner** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:43 pm

Also check your power scheme, (set to High Performance?), when you use the battery, the processor frequency can be configured to adjust downward to conserve battery power.

Edit: Sorry, after posting, saw that this was already mentioned above.

How to speed up a slow T41

How to speed up a slow T41

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