Laptop reccys wanted - good battery life/able to run SPSS *further update 8/11/11*

GunJack

gleek1 wrote: »

Hi, it's me again

I have managed to enlist OH on the job of cleaning the fan at the weekend, however, I have just read the manual and it all sounds a bit technical....not too bad, remove the keyboard if I remember correctly, should give access to the top of the fan housing. Very small screwdriver to remove top of the fan housing should give access to the probable furry slug that's built up behind the vents. Remember to remove the battery before starting to dismantle

Is this step necessary? Am I being a wimp by having reservations about it... Will it cut down the number of processes I am running?

I am guessing the answer to that last question is no, but I guess my issue is how do I cut down the processes further?
Correct, it won't cut the proceses, but it should cut down on the fan's operation as it'll be able to cool properly and therefore won't need to be on so much.

As to the processes, have you done what I suggested in CCLeaner's Startup section and rebooted?

Will cleaning the fan stop it from being on as much as it is on?
see above

Thanks again, I really am a computer illiterate!

Alison

See above

It sounds like you're making good progress there, cleaning the fan out will make a big difference to the amount it needs to run, and overheating is a major killer of laptops....DON'T use it on your lap/duvet/carpet/cushions after you've cleaned it out - get a suitably-sized tray/book/etc to put it on (then put the cushion between the tray/book and your lap )

gleek1

Hi Gunjack
Thanks again for this. OH didn't balk too much at the manual when i sent him the link. He seemed to know about thermal grease so that is more than me!!

We will try some surgery at the weekend!

Things have been ok so far, the only thing I might have screwed up is that the volume adjustment buttons on my keyboard don't work. I need to actually go into the programme to adjust them. Can I reset it so that I have it to hand? Easier for watching dvds and stuff? What did I disable to cause it to do that? I am presuming something from the c cleaner startup menu - presuming one of the soundmax things?

Once again, your advice has been invaluable

Alison

GunJack

:wave: no, it's not the soundmax, it's one of the lenovo processes....I'll go check it out....

edit:
reinstate this one in CCLeaner Startup:-

Yes No HKLM:Run TPHOTKEY C:\Program Files\Lenovo\HOTKEY\TPOSDSVC.exe

reboot, and the volume keys should work again

gleek1

Can't say anything else but you are a star!!

Many thanks
Alison

GunJack

do I take it you have vol keys again ???

now you've done this, how many processes at idle, and new commit charge figures please ??? How quick is it booting from power-on ?? Is it more responsive ?? Hopefully you're seeing a big difference now

gleek1

66 processes, 407 commit charge. Things are much faster, not as fast as someone quoted earlier in this thread - but it is usually under 5 mins to get the internet up and running on start up. I think you also said that processes should be about 30?

Right clicking is still a bit slow - I guess it is worse when the computer is multi-tasking - I need to give it a chance to complete one thing before asking it to open another. I think I am noticing it more because at work my computer is much faster and can easily cope with opening several things at once, it responds straight away to a click - on the laptop I am not left wondering whether I actually did click the icon etc. Would my relatively small amount of RAM be an issue with this?

Maybe I am just comparing too unfavourably - but I do need my comp to be a bit more responsive...

I know, I am a PITA - but there has been a huge difference so as ever, many thanks

gleek1

I have just re-read my first post and the dread I had of booting up my computer all came flooding back!! I got in from work last night quite late - around 10pm. Usually at that time before bed I would NOT consider booting up and trying to go online as it could easily be around 11 before I even managed to do anything - but I actually did use my computer to send some emails..... HUGE difference.

Whilst I was typing this my computer did that top left hand corner thing again - I was calling it chdsk, but it actually just says "copying" in the blue bit of the window. This had been happening before, but in the past week or so had calmed down. It has now done it once last night and twice this morning. Is this because I have been altering settings? I had been told that the frequency of this was an indicator of doom.....

Seriously - I am so grateful that you guys hang out on here - you spend so much time giving great advice. Do you do this for a living? (obv not on mse, but in rl)

closed

backup, reinstall windows

gleek1

closed I can't reinstall windows - I don't have any installation discs - the computer was sold to me ready installed from university.

Thanks for the suggestion though

GunJack

sorry to be a pain, but can you just clarify what you mean "top left corner", or have I just missed it earlier in the thread ??

the commit charge/processes - is that as soon as you can open task manager, or after the initial settling period? (some windows processes fire up when you boot, do their thing, then close down).

If it's xp pro, someone will be able to sort you out an .ISO for you to download and burn if you really do need to re-install. May I suggest downloading speccy to read the product key used to install your current windows ?? And if the COA sticker on the base of the lappy is intact, you have a choice of 2 legit product keys.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_speccy/


also, it'd be worth posting a new hjt log