Win XP & Graphics Choke Hold

runs slow as molasses

[idiotgirl]

Mac users can go ahead and laugh < there - go ahead > - but has anyone recenty upgraded from Win 2000 to Win XP and noticed a horrible memory crunch when working on large image files?

Running Photoshop 7 with 768 megs of RAM - my system now locks up when working on any file more than 150 megs. With Win 2000 I could cruise on 180 meg files and never miss a beat.

One problem I see is whenever I open file folders Win XP insists on creating little icons next to every file, which slows things down considerably. It's almost like watching a virtual memory meter sink like a thermometer hung on the north side of the Klondikes with all these convenient little "features" Win XP runs in the background.

I've been saddled with this plague for the last week since upgrading (if you call this an upgrade!), and I'm getting a bit on the grumpy side. I'm adding another 256 of memory next week, but I have my reservations.

My consensus is Win XP and hard core graphics mix like oil and water.

[korkus2000]

This is why I have been hesitant to upgrade to XP. I was able to try XP out running PhotoShop. I saw how slow it ran. I think that adding more memory will probably help. How much ram are you running currently?

[idiotgirl]

I'm not much of a hardware person and have zero math skills, but I'm running three sticks of 256 - same as before. I will max out this next week with another 256. If THAT doesn't work, I'm sending Win XP into the dumper and going through all the /#@!* hassle of a system re-install of Win 2000.

I was just wondering if this problem is my own - or if it's been noticed by any other Win XP users that do much graphic work. I doubt it's a configuration problem, but then again... As I said, previously with Win 2000 I could burn rubber with Photoshop all day. Now I'm stalled out on the side of the road and the ONLY difference in my system or programs is Win XP - nothing else has changed :(

FWIW - Do I ever HATE all this icon rendering folder stuff going on. If there's a way to kill it, I haven't stumbled upon it yet.

<added>I also have an 80 gig HD and a 40 gig scratch disk</added>

[korkus2000]

I found this stuff online about speeding XP up
http://www.overclockersclub.com/windowsxpservices.php
http://www.thosecomputergeeks.net/ow.asp?XPTipsAndTricks

[idiotgirl]

I'll send my son over to those URL's with my usual vague instructions: read it, learn it, fix it. That is, if it can be fixed.

I have a feeling Win XP was designed for people who run Word or Access all day. Not being one of those people, I can't see it's worth using Win XP just to have a pretty interface (which Mac users have never been without - and never at the cost of performance).

I think I'll start entering some of those "Win a Mac" contests. Until now I never felt Windows compromised my ability to do graphics work - but I can no longer claim that. This is unbearable. Insufferable. Maddening.

I hope the additional memory helps.

[korkus2000]

Was there a reason you upgraded? I worry about upgrading. I like 2000 and until WinXP gets their stuff together I will wait and see.

[martinibuster]

I would imagine that you would need a very good cpu, as well, to run XP. The prob with Windows is that they have historically designed windows to suck more power than the current PC's were able to deliver on a stable basis, as they are maybe figuring that a year or two down the line PC's will be able to handle the processing power.

If I ever get an XP machine, it will have to be XP Pro, as some networking functions are disabled with the regular XP.

Win98 does just fine for me.

Also, do you have a good graphics card?

[idiotgirl]

Everyone, including my techie-son, told me it would be "better". That it would improve performance, blah, blah. Not being a hardware person, I blindly agreed.

Note to self (and korkus): When "everyone" tells you something, totally disregard their recommendations if they've never spent a day working with only Photoshop and/or Illustrator, or any single file over 100 megs. Assume they are clueless and are quietly trying to undermine your success and/or sanity. Know they don't sit in YOUR chair all day, never have, and never will. Your ultimate demise will go unnoticed as they play with Word all day.

[idiotgirl]

martinibuster - I don't even know what graphics card I have. I never open my own case, as my son and Mr. Idiotgirl does all that stuff. But it's the same one as before XP, and it used to work just dandy. In order to work as well as pre-XP, I suppose I could get more memory AND a new graphics card.

Boy, was that an economical upgrade or what?

[mivox]

I never upgrade my OS until 1.) the 'new' version has been out for at least a year, and has been updated at least 3 times, and either 2.) I start feeling I 'need' software that requires a newer OS, and/or 3.) I buy a new computer with a newer OS installed already.

I don't care who says what is an "upgrade," because I know it takes forever to get my system tweaked just the way I like it, and there's always the chance that one of those little shareware gems I can't live without will roll over and die when exposed to a new OS.

So even though I'm on a Mac, I feel your pain. I am still using 9.2, being afraid of the massive shareware die-off a switch to OSX will entail... My only suggestion would be to delete the bugger and "downgrade" back to a system you know works well.

[yokelrobin]

I think I would class 2000 > XP as a 'sidegrade' rather than an 'upgrade'.

I often get asked to set up computers for people, and will normally install XP for home use and 2000 for business use. That's really what they were designed for.

[idiotgirl]

UPDATE FYI: I maxed out my system with 1 meg of RAM and it seemed to do the trick, in case someone else suffers similar problems. I worked on a 230 meg file without any problems, with Photoshop 7 open and Opera running in the background.

Still hate all the icon displays, but at least it's stable.

[msr986]

I know there is a way to eliminate most of the animated effects.... all you have to do is find out where. :)

<added> OK, try this: Right Click 'My Computer' > Properties > Advanced tab > Performance Setting. You can clobber a lot of the effects there. </added>

[Bradley]

"One problem I see is whenever I open file folders Win XP insists on creating little icons next to every file, which slows things down considerably."

This sounds like you might want to change the properties on how you view your files. If you are seeing icons next to every file, you might want to change your properties. I can't think of the exact command to use, but some of the options you have are: Details, Thumbnails, List - and I know there are a few more............

What you want to do is change it to List - because this will NOT instruct XP to show an icon/gif of the file. This might help you improve your performance. Let me know if this helps.