Topic: Are you connected to the internet on your Podium PC?

@druid wrote:

@The Telenator wrote:

11. Always defrag before and after big projects. A DAW can frag a PC pretty good, but mainly you want to start clean.

I want to just add to this: If you are using an SSD (solid state drive, has no moving parts), please do NOT defrag. If you are both on low budget, you are not likely to have this, considering their lower space and far higher price. However, in some pro-audio setups, and as time goes on, SSDs are becoming more wide-spread, and should not be defragmented as it reduces their life for no tangible benefit whatsoever.

Also, some of those features like Windows sound, backgrounds and possibly even the effects (that Telenator receommended be set to performance) can be saved in a theme, so I believe you could create a normal theme and a recording theme, so you don’t have to chase as many settings down at once.

okay thanks for your post!

Okay, it’s time (oh, and Hi Kim!) . . .

I don’t remember seeing it linked in any other Zynewave thread, though I may have missed it, but here is the absolute best guide to disabling unneeded little programmes and processes on your PC that I’ve ever seen on the Net. In fact, I’ve searched several times before and believe it may be the only complete one. Everybody loves Viper.

http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-7-service-pack-1-service-configurations/

Do note that he has separate huge pages full of XP help offering the same help as well! You’ll have to look around there a bit. My last word on this subject, though, is having been through this thoroughly, the savings in CPU gain are nothing that should knock you off your chair; however, a few percentage points ARE a few points, and it can make all of the difference if your project has grown and you find yourself ‘up on the edge’ of potential dropouts and related dodgy business.

Also, and on another tack, although I almost always keep my Windows 7 Aero look up and running, I did long ago set up one theme I go to in Personalise that gives me a blank screen for colour, NO sound from the W7 system, and kills process on a couple of other things.

I’m sure some of the above will help. Sorry you had the ‘loud and dangerous Windows sound’. This happened to me once and I vowed never again! Cheers! –Tele