Numpty "how to" computer question!!
Discussion
Hi, I have an Acer duo processor Comp. my problem is one processor is running at 99% full, the other is doing nowt, does this mean it has not been configured properly or is this normal. The comp goes on "go-slows" sometimes, then tells me I have to compress files etc.
Is it easy to tell the comp to use both? If so, how to do it???
Cheers, all the best.
Is it easy to tell the comp to use both? If so, how to do it???
Cheers, all the best.
Hi,
It's very unlikely that one of the processor's cores is 'disabled' on your laptop. What's more likley is that there is a program running on your laptop that isn't multithreaded i.e. it cannot take advantage oof more than one processing core at any one time. You can find which program this is by looking at the processes list in Task Manager (assuming you're running Windows).
The 'go-slow' and compress files thing is possibly to do with your hard drive having little space left? If so try to make space on it. Delete stuff you don't need, or move it to another storage device. Windows has some disk cleanup utilities on it too.
It's very unlikely that one of the processor's cores is 'disabled' on your laptop. What's more likley is that there is a program running on your laptop that isn't multithreaded i.e. it cannot take advantage oof more than one processing core at any one time. You can find which program this is by looking at the processes list in Task Manager (assuming you're running Windows).
The 'go-slow' and compress files thing is possibly to do with your hard drive having little space left? If so try to make space on it. Delete stuff you don't need, or move it to another storage device. Windows has some disk cleanup utilities on it too.
Simbu said:
Hi,
It's very unlikely that one of the processor's cores is 'disabled' on your laptop. What's more likley is that there is a program running on your laptop that isn't multithreaded i.e. it cannot take advantage oof more than one processing core at any one time. You can find which program this is by looking at the processes list in Task Manager (assuming you're running Windows).
The 'go-slow' and compress files thing is possibly to do with your hard drive having little space left? If so try to make space on it. Delete stuff you don't need, or move it to another storage device. Windows has some disk cleanup utilities on it too.
Hi, thanks for the reply, my processor is the hard drive though isnt it? It says acer hard disk drives, acer(c) has 3.36gb left of 53.2gb and acerdata(d) has 53.6gb left of 53.6gb....so thats what I cannot work out, i apologise in advance if I am being a numpty!!!It's very unlikely that one of the processor's cores is 'disabled' on your laptop. What's more likley is that there is a program running on your laptop that isn't multithreaded i.e. it cannot take advantage oof more than one processing core at any one time. You can find which program this is by looking at the processes list in Task Manager (assuming you're running Windows).
The 'go-slow' and compress files thing is possibly to do with your hard drive having little space left? If so try to make space on it. Delete stuff you don't need, or move it to another storage device. Windows has some disk cleanup utilities on it too.
The processor is a square, flat thing buried deep inside your laptop and its performance will govern how fast your machine can possibly perform, fully electronic with no moving parts. When turned off it will not retain any cohesive data. In normal use it is the thinking part of the laptop.
A hard disk is a device for the permanent storage of electronic data, the closest analogy is that of a record player which holds 2 or more records which can be played on both sides by arms which move across the disk surface very very fast. In normal use it stores and collects data that has been processed by the thinking bit.
Memory is the bit between the two and does a bit of both, the more memory your laptop has, the more it can do at the same time.
Sorry to be so basic but you seemed stuck.
Any one of these three can cause the laptop to run slowly and can be affected by different things.
whats the model number of the laptop/PC? (i repair and work with various types of acer machines at work) It will be something like acer aspire 5315 or acer travelmate 2114.
A hard disk is a device for the permanent storage of electronic data, the closest analogy is that of a record player which holds 2 or more records which can be played on both sides by arms which move across the disk surface very very fast. In normal use it stores and collects data that has been processed by the thinking bit.
Memory is the bit between the two and does a bit of both, the more memory your laptop has, the more it can do at the same time.
Sorry to be so basic but you seemed stuck.
Any one of these three can cause the laptop to run slowly and can be affected by different things.
whats the model number of the laptop/PC? (i repair and work with various types of acer machines at work) It will be something like acer aspire 5315 or acer travelmate 2114.
Your c drive is your system drive and you have used too much of it if you only have 3gb left.
Do you have LOTS of programs installed or LOADS of stuff stored in My Documents/Desktop?
It sounds like at the very least you need to do some housekeeping.
As for the one processor maxxing out, you need to find out which process is using it. Dont you have an "IT" friend.
Sounds like it just needs a clean up. You could spend ages working your way around.
Do you have LOTS of programs installed or LOADS of stuff stored in My Documents/Desktop?
It sounds like at the very least you need to do some housekeeping.
As for the one processor maxxing out, you need to find out which process is using it. Dont you have an "IT" friend.
Sounds like it just needs a clean up. You could spend ages working your way around.
As alluded to earlier in this thread you have virtually filled part of your hard drive - the thing that actually stores your programs and data. You shouldn't use more than around 90% of a hard drive for reasons I won't bore you with. Uninstall any unused programs and superfluous data and then run 'Disk Clean Up.' You don't say what version of Windows you're using but you can use your Windows search option to find it; click start |Help and Support and search for it there.
Your hard drive has been split into two (not physically but in software) and your settings aren't configured correctly to use the second (Acer Data) area, hence it's empty. I would suggest asking for the assistance of a computer savvy friend to sort this out for you. If you don't know anyone then you should take really should take it somewhere and have a professional merge the partitions, or move 'My Documents' - you won't lose any data and you'll get access to the unused 53GB of space. Don't attempt either of these yourself as when I say 'move My Documents' it's not as simple as that.
Regards
Skier
Your hard drive has been split into two (not physically but in software) and your settings aren't configured correctly to use the second (Acer Data) area, hence it's empty. I would suggest asking for the assistance of a computer savvy friend to sort this out for you. If you don't know anyone then you should take really should take it somewhere and have a professional merge the partitions, or move 'My Documents' - you won't lose any data and you'll get access to the unused 53GB of space. Don't attempt either of these yourself as when I say 'move My Documents' it's not as simple as that.
Regards
Skier
It actually is very simple to move My Documents folder.
Microsoft even has a Help guide on how to do it
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310147 (XP version}
Microsoft even has a Help guide on how to do it
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310147 (XP version}
DocJock said:
It actually is very simple to move My Documents folder.
Microsoft even has a Help guide on how to do it
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310147 (XP version}
I would agree that is is straightforward for most but from the original poster's clear lack of IT expertise I wouldn't recommend that he undertakes it himself.Microsoft even has a Help guide on how to do it
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310147 (XP version}
Skier
My laptop is the same, Windows Vista Centrino Core 2 Duo - C drive nearly full and E drive (data) totally empty. I don't store anything in 'my documents' but keep all of my stuff in a folder on desktop so that I can find it all easily.
It is something that should have been set up correctly at the start? I have not noticed any performance issues yet. New laptop due sometime soon so don't want to make the same mistake again.
It is something that should have been set up correctly at the start? I have not noticed any performance issues yet. New laptop due sometime soon so don't want to make the same mistake again.
Edited by Phoenix on Sunday 31st January 10:07
... trying to think of a car analogy
your computer's engine (processor) is a V8 with two banks of cylinders - it's working fine so don't worry about it.
Problem is you've also got two fuel tanks (hard drives) which store the programmes and files. One is full - C and the other is empty so you need to shift some out of one tank into the other.
(that's really crap isn't it)
your computer's engine (processor) is a V8 with two banks of cylinders - it's working fine so don't worry about it.
Problem is you've also got two fuel tanks (hard drives) which store the programmes and files. One is full - C and the other is empty so you need to shift some out of one tank into the other.
(that's really crap isn't it)
If you are using a folder sat on the desktop it's still on the c drive. If you want the documents available on the desktop create a folder on the d drive, make a shortcut to it from the desktop and stick all your documents in there. The docs will be on the d drive bit still accessible in exactly the same way as before. You could even do this on your existing machine by moving the folder to your d drive and creating the shortcut.
Phoenix said:
My laptop is the same, Windows Vista Centrino Core 2 Duo - C drive nearly full and E drive (data) totally empty. I don't store anything in 'my documents' but keep all of my stuff in a folder on desktop so that I can find it all easily.
It is something that should have been set up correctly at the start? I have not noticed any performance issues yet. New laptop due sometime soon so don't want to make the same mistake again.
This sort of folder organisation will also cause your laptop to run slower. Having as little as possible on the drive with your OS (windows) on is a good way of improving boot speed and general OS tasks.It is something that should have been set up correctly at the start? I have not noticed any performance issues yet. New laptop due sometime soon so don't want to make the same mistake again.
Edited by Phoenix on Sunday 31st January 10:07
I don't see how keeping everything in a folder on your desktop makes it any easier than storing stuff in My Documents.
@OP
If you don't feel confident enough to do some cleaning up etc, then best suggestion is to take it to your local PC shop. They should be able to do some general cleaning up for you. If you tell them one of your partitions is full and you need things moving over to the other partition they will know what to do.
Cerberus90 said:
This sort of folder organisation will also cause your laptop to run slower. Having as little as possible on the drive with your OS (windows) on is a good way of improving boot speed and general OS tasks.
I don't see how keeping everything in a folder on your desktop makes it any easier than storing stuff in My Documents.
Well, one answer is that I have always done it this way, although that doesn't mean it is the correct or most efficient way, but it seems to work for me. I save anything I download or documents I create to desktop where I can easily find them and then file them away in my folder on desktop. I can then just copy the whole folder from desktop onto a usb memory stick/external hard drive as needed. I know I then have everything up to date.I don't see how keeping everything in a folder on your desktop makes it any easier than storing stuff in My Documents.
I am not very computer savvy so doing it this way seems to work for me, but am willing to try somehting else if it will make a big difference. I haven't noticed any problems with the running of my laptop but just that one drive is nearly full and the data drive empty.
New laptop coming sometime soon. Will I need to change any settings before I start using it or my way of working to make sure both drives are used correctly?
Both drives won't automatically get used.
You have to tell the computer to use the other drive. When you save things, and when you install programs.
What I always do with my PC, and other PCs I build for friends/family is, have Windows on its on partition, and then have another one for Applications/Documents/Music etc.
That way, the partition with Windows on, shouldn't be affected (fragmentation wise) by doing things with documents/apps etc.
This is the way that most PC people will do it, or atleast it is for all the PC people I know of (entire site bit-tech.net).
I've never understood why mainstream computer builders seperate the hard drive this way, as most general users won't know what to do to utilise the other partition.
I would never save all my files to desktop, I try to keep my desktop as clear as possible, hence why now my desktop only contains the recycle bin, and thats it.
Saving things to documents is what you should do. Then when you want to backup, just copy the entire My Documents folder.
You have to tell the computer to use the other drive. When you save things, and when you install programs.
What I always do with my PC, and other PCs I build for friends/family is, have Windows on its on partition, and then have another one for Applications/Documents/Music etc.
That way, the partition with Windows on, shouldn't be affected (fragmentation wise) by doing things with documents/apps etc.
This is the way that most PC people will do it, or atleast it is for all the PC people I know of (entire site bit-tech.net).
I've never understood why mainstream computer builders seperate the hard drive this way, as most general users won't know what to do to utilise the other partition.
I would never save all my files to desktop, I try to keep my desktop as clear as possible, hence why now my desktop only contains the recycle bin, and thats it.
Saving things to documents is what you should do. Then when you want to backup, just copy the entire My Documents folder.
Cerberus90 said:
Both drives won't automatically get used.
You have to tell the computer to use the other drive. When you save things, and when you install programs.
What I always do with my PC, and other PCs I build for friends/family is, have Windows on its on partition, and then have another one for Applications/Documents/Music etc.
That way, the partition with Windows on, shouldn't be affected (fragmentation wise) by doing things with documents/apps etc.
This is the way that most PC people will do it, or atleast it is for all the PC people I know of (entire site bit-tech.net).
I've never understood why mainstream computer builders seperate the hard drive this way, as most general users won't know what to do to utilise the other partition.
I would never save all my files to desktop, I try to keep my desktop as clear as possible, hence why now my desktop only contains the recycle bin, and thats it.
Saving things to documents is what you should do. Then when you want to backup, just copy the entire My Documents folder.
Thanks for that. I will try and do this on my new laptop (probably too much hassle to start doing it now on this one after 2 years use). Although I also store a copy of everything on an external hard drive.You have to tell the computer to use the other drive. When you save things, and when you install programs.
What I always do with my PC, and other PCs I build for friends/family is, have Windows on its on partition, and then have another one for Applications/Documents/Music etc.
That way, the partition with Windows on, shouldn't be affected (fragmentation wise) by doing things with documents/apps etc.
This is the way that most PC people will do it, or atleast it is for all the PC people I know of (entire site bit-tech.net).
I've never understood why mainstream computer builders seperate the hard drive this way, as most general users won't know what to do to utilise the other partition.
I would never save all my files to desktop, I try to keep my desktop as clear as possible, hence why now my desktop only contains the recycle bin, and thats it.
Saving things to documents is what you should do. Then when you want to backup, just copy the entire My Documents folder.
I guess I have always put everything on C drive without thinking as back in the day that was the only drive. Oh well, never too old to learn.
I don't understand why companies are shipping computers like this, both my toshiba and my mothers's acer arrived with the hard drives partitioned, first thing I did before we put on anything important was to re-partition them so the 'main' partition was the largest.
Any IT bod know why computers are being supplied like this?
Any IT bod know why computers are being supplied like this?
diesel head said:
I don't understand why companies are shipping computers like this, both my toshiba and my mothers's acer arrived with the hard drives partitioned, first thing I did before we put on anything important was to re-partition them so the 'main' partition was the largest.
Any IT bod know why computers are being supplied like this?
It makes sense to isolate user data from O/S so that, if the O/S needs to be reinstalled the user data will be preserved.Any IT bod know why computers are being supplied like this?
Unfortunately, Windows defaults to using the single partition for everything. Proper OSes without drive letters make it a lot easier
marshalla said:
diesel head said:
I don't understand why companies are shipping computers like this, both my toshiba and my mothers's acer arrived with the hard drives partitioned, first thing I did before we put on anything important was to re-partition them so the 'main' partition was the largest.
Any IT bod know why computers are being supplied like this?
It makes sense to isolate user data from O/S so that, if the O/S needs to be reinstalled the user data will be preserved.Any IT bod know why computers are being supplied like this?
Unfortunately, Windows defaults to using the single partition for everything. Proper OSes without drive letters make it a lot easier
Its all sort of contradictory isn't it.
Good practice to separate OS and data, but most general users don't know of this, and don't know how to, so begs the question why is it done like this. I just explain the process to people who I build for, even my Granddad understood it!
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