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Topic: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?  (Read 2019 times)

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Offline NJAntman

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Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« on: November 24, 2010, 11:44:57 pm »
Wife's laptop crapped out last week so got her an early XMas present a Toshiba Satellite i5 cpu with 4Gb running Win7.

Haven't had time to research so the question: is it still a good idea as with XP to split the hard drive into seperate drives for core Windows files, all other program files, and a then data such as pics and music?
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Offline Capt. Mike

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2010, 07:46:21 am »
Well Nick,

What I did was leave the Office stuff on the HD, get three externals to put my music, pictures, and other stuff on...I have the Toshiba L655 laptop...
If I need any pictures or music when I travel (rarely..only places I can drive to) I put them on a flash drive or two...
If she's going to carry the laptop around a lot, partitioning couldn't hurt..it's easier to restore just the operating system..but backup, backup, backup..

I hope she likes it...this is my first laptop..so I'm still finding interesting things..now if I could only disable the stinking mouse pad on the keyboard since I use a wireless mouse to keep from accidently moving the cursor..

Have a great turkey day..and save a cupcake for your governor  ;D 

Mike
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Offline ShadowDiver

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2010, 10:34:48 am »
Yes...

It is better to partition the hard drive...

I don't know if windows 7 will allow you to do this, I don't use 7...srry on that note.

Carrying around a few extra external HDD really is a good idea..on paper, but the reality is, it is more cumbersome then it is really worth..

My personal setup, is a compaq presario, I remover the 160GB and installed a Seagate 750GB for a $100.00. then I partitioned it X3..
100GB for XP-Pro, 100GB for Vista Ultimate and 300GB for misc/games..

I truly hope this helps in any way..

here is the link for the HDD..[http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6324326&CatId=2682]

Good Luck, Happy Thanksgiving... :D

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Offline FCM_SFHQ_XC

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2010, 01:52:57 pm »
In general always a better practice to do so, but your probably also ok with a single one so long as your careful, and just regurally backup files to an external for quick recovery. You'll get more noticable performance increases with turning off unnessary services and startup programs over drive partitioning.
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Offline NJAntman

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2010, 10:01:19 pm »
Good points.

This comp is going to get a lot of photo and music files so I'll at least split into 2 more drives for those. All my experience is XP so I really need to start reading up on Win7. Unfortunately she was poking arond and found out about the webcam & Skype, as if Facebook wasn't bad enough now she'll be calling friends on Skype just so she can use hand gestures.

Serious case of PC envy, her laptop outperforms my desktop now.
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Offline ShadowDiver

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2010, 03:19:23 am »
well...

If you know a thing or two about computers you could always upgrade some key components, like getting a faster CPU or adding more ram memory.

Windows 7 just has a lot of cool bells and whistles like Vista did except it runs a lot smoother...Personally I would stick with your XP system and build it to the maximum it can go.
Again if you know what your doing...find out what type of motherboard you have, do a little research and find out what it can do and max it out.
If you don't know a lot, you can always take it to best buy, tiger direct or any real computer store and tell them to rebuild it  :D

If you want, since I'm not doing anything this year, send me a PM and tell me what motherboard you have and I'll do all the research for you..

ShadowDiver.
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Offline Age

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2010, 03:03:39 am »
I wouldn't partition a hdd on Laptop and it is best to keep to Win. 7 as XP only has 4 more years of life.It will be very easy for her to use once she gets use to it. I would recommend a second drive with Xp on it if this were a desk top.
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Offline ShadowDiver

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2010, 10:58:45 am »
Srry Age,

He bought his wife a laptop which has win 7 on an un-partitioned hard drive.
He also has an older desktop that has win xp on it...

He has computer envy due to win 7...that's all. :)

I still recommend rebuilding the desktop and up grading everything you can.  :)
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Offline Age

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2010, 06:34:26 pm »
Quote from: ShadowDiver on November 29, 2010, 10:58:45 am
Srry Age,

He bought his wife a laptop which has win 7 on an un-partitioned hard drive.
He also has an older desktop that has win xp on it...

He has computer envy due to win 7...that's all. :)

I still recommend rebuilding the desktop and up grading everything you can.  :)
That is not what I said and he doesn't mention desk top.

I said wouldn't partition it being laptop.
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Offline ShadowDiver

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Re: Optimizing a laptop with Win7?
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2010, 10:08:12 pm »
ummmm.....

Quote from: NJAntman on November 25, 2010, 10:01:19 pm
Serious case of PC envy, her laptop outperforms my desktop now.

 ::) ::) ::)

I never said anything or miss quoted you in any manner...I was just pointing out his desktop and poking fun.. aimed at him.

Quote from: Age on November 30, 2010, 06:34:26 pm
Quote from: ShadowDiver on November 29, 2010, 10:58:45 am
Srry Age,

He bought his wife a laptop which has win 7 on an un-partitioned hard drive.
He also has an older desktop that has win xp on it...

He has computer envy due to win 7...that's all. :)

I still recommend rebuilding the desktop and up grading everything you can.  :)
That is not what I said and he doesn't mention desk top.

I said wouldn't partition it being laptop.
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