Optimizing Vista on ASUS Notebooks: A Quick Guide

Optimizing Vista on ASUS Notebooks: A Quick Guide

Last updated: 18 May 2008

I have recently bought an ASUS A8He for a friend of mine (see the review). It came with Vista Business preinstalled and I didn't want to waste the OS price that was included in the notebook price. So, I decided to keep the Vista instead of installing a Windows XP for which I would have to pay.

The performance out of the box was absolutely horrible. More than half of the task bar was taken by the system tray icons. Installing Vista updates took more than an hour, and at that point I wished the notebook was mine so that I could throw it out the window and feel generally better about myself. So I started tinkering with Vista. At the end of the tinkering process, I got it to boot up and shut down much faster than my V6J XP, and run smoothly overall.

I will not give detailed information about how to perform the steps, see here for that: Flamenco's "Top Vista Tweaks". The language of that guide is a bit overenthusiastic but many of the tips are useful. See below for my selection of which of his steps to apply, and which not. You may also have your personal preferences of course. Some steps that are not explicitly stated as being his (like turning off System Restore, defragmenting the HDD etc.) are also in his guide, so I give him and his collaborators credit for that.

Step A. Run msconfig and disable all the preinstalled ASUS bloatware that you don't need. I was left when I finished only with autostarting: Power4Gear, Synaptics touchpad driver, Wireless utility, and ATK utility, HControl, and ATKOSD (+ some Windows services that I did not tinker with).

Step B. Reboot once so that the msconfig settings are enforced. Stop system restore. Then remove Norton AV (or Internet Security or whatever it's called on your system). Remove all the ASUS bloatware you don't need. I was left (besides the autostarting stuff listed above) with the Bluetooth stack, ASUS Lifeframe for the webcam, and of course Nero and the drivers (Audio, modem, GPU, LAN). I did not remove the Office trial installation, but if you don't plan to pay for it go ahead and remove it.

Here is an explicit list of what software you should probably remove:

• ASUS PowerForPhone (what does it even do? it's a mystery to me...)
• ASUS DataSecurity Manager (unless you absolutely need to use TPM; this software is known to cause stuttering and other issues)
• ASUS Wireless Console. If your machine has dedicated WLAN and BlueTooth toggle buttons, removing this program will NOT affect wireless functionality; its functions, namely toggling Bluetooth and wireless on and off, can be more efficiently performed with the dedicated buttons. However, the program is necessary on machines where there are no separate buttons to toggle WLAN and BlueTooth, such as the ASUS W7S. On those machines, pressing the single wireless toggle button (usually Fn+F2)will cycle through WLAN and BlueTooth, but only if the Wireless Console is running.
• ASUS Splendid (maybe you want to try it out, it's basically different profiles for your GPU)
• ASUS MultiFrame
• ASUS LiveUpdate (known to be very buggy, known not to update anything in most cases, and in isolated cases to kill computers by bad BIOS updates)
• ASUS Net4Switch (or IP Switch whatever)
• ASUS InstantFun
• Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus (resource hog, slows down the system, only trial installation); be sure to install a good antivirus afterwards, see Step C for suggestions. If the uninstaller does not remove the LiveUpdate component of the antivirus, remove it manually.
• Microsoft Office Trial (unless you wish to keep it and pay for a serial number)

Step C. Download and install a good lightweight antivirus. AVG is a good free option, NOD32 is an excellent paid option. Do the updates. Also update the Windows Defender.

Step D. Connect to a network and install Vista updates. Turn off automatic update installation, but tell the system to notify you when updates are available.

Step E. Disable unneeded services. Use your own judgment to decide what to remove. A good starting point is my WinXP guide / Services Setup, since many of the services didn't change. Do not stop Task Scheduler though, it has become essential in Vista.

Step F. Reboot again to let above settings be enforced.

Step G. The numbered items below are taken from Flamenco's "Top Vista Tweaks". See his guide on how to do these.

1. Disable TMM
3. Cut Shut Down Time In Half!!
I used a value of 7000 instead of the 5000 Flamenco recommends since the computer is a budget notebook with lower-performing components, and will probably need more time to shutdown all the applications.
7. Turn Off Unused Windows Features (Tx and Rep LIVEFRMNYC)
Definitely recommended!
16. Get CCleaner!!! It Works with 32/64Bit (Click here!)
Very useful program. Definitely recommended. Use it after you're done removing applications!
19. Improve your Battery Life with Vista Battery Saver!!!!!!!(TY and Rep ScuderiaConchiglia)
I will say a few more things on this. I find absolutely mind-boggling the fact that ASUS hasn't included a way to set the Power4Gear Xtreme profiles as a function of whether you are plugged in or on battery! This software remedies that. I recommend you use the P4G Battery Saving profile on battery, and at the same time disable Aero and Vista gadgets. Leave them enabled for the Plugged-in state, and use the Power4Gear HighPerformance profile. Be sure to turn down the Min CPU State in Power4Gear for this profile though, it's pointless to always run the CPU at a high speed.

Step H. Things from Flamenco's "Top Vista Tweaks" that I did not do, and the reasons:

5. Disable Vista Search Indexing
I find it very nice that Vista offers this feature. Once indexing is complete, any file on the HDD should be a click-type-Enter away. It will decrease peformance during the first few days as the index is being built, though. Even more, I went and enabled indexing on the Data partition as well (by default it was disabled). Of course, it's up to you whether you want to leave indexing on or not.
11. Increase Performance by Adjusting Vista Visual Effects and Performance Properties!!!!
This is taken care of the Vista Battery Saver.
12. Remove that Annoying Security Center Notification!!
If you are not very computer-savvy, a bit of extra protection doesn't hurt. If you can take care of the updates for the firewall and antivirus, feel free to disable the notification.
13. Turn Off User Account Control (UAC)(Ty and Rep Sequoia225)
If you are not very computer-savvy, a bit of extra protection doesn't hurt. As long as you don't configure and install software each day and you don't work directly with files in the system folders, the notifications are not that annoying.
If you're sure that you know what you're doing with the software and on the system partition, feel free to disable UAC.

Step I. Do a defrag on the system partition.

Step J. Resize the system partition to be smaller than the indecent 60% of the HDD which is the default! I resized such that it was 55 GB or less than 40% of the HDD.

Step K. Resize the extended and the Data partitions within the extended, to include the space left after the shrinking of the system partition. You will need a separate partition manager for this as Windows can't do it. I suggest using the BootItNextGeneration software. See my WinXP guide / Useful Applications for how to get a hold of that software.

Step L. Disable automatic hibernation when the lid of the notebook is closed! This is one of the most stupid default settings I've seen. Screen lids can be closed for many reasons: privacy, going to lunch, needing to grab something from behind it like the phone -- and very few of these reasons involve hibernation!

Step M. Re-enable system restore on the system partition, and create a restore point with the optimized Vista you have just obtained. It is very useful to limit the disk space taken by System Restore (by default it is not limited, so it can just continuously grow and you won't know where your OS partition space is going). Here are the instructions on how to do that, posted by emedici on the Losing Disk Space thread:

I recommend changing the 8GB to something that suits you best. Say that after doing the Vista install you have X GB left on the OS partition, I think a reasonable value for the system restore space would be X/3 (a third of this space) but, to be on the safe side, no more than 8GB and no less than 3GB.

(Fore more information about Windows Vista Shadow Copy, which is the component that manages the disk requirements of System Restore, see Where's All My Disk Space Going (Vista)? by orev.)

Step N. Optionally: use Acronis True Image to do a backup of your optimized OS installation. See my WinXP guide / OS Backup for how to do that; the procedure is the same for Vista and XP.

Step O. Optionally, if the computer is new: test the hardware: ports, ODD, HDD (use the manufacturer's utility, e.g., SeaTools for Seagate and Hitachi Drive Fitness tools for Hitachi harddrives), RAM (using RAM tester), webcam, to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Step P. Do a final reboot and hibernation, test some applications, and wonder at the uncanny speedup that you have obtained.

Hoping this helps,

E.B.E.

 

Another useful tip for the Adobe Reader installation. If you're opening PDF files often, like I do, you will notice the very long startup time of the Reader. This is because it is loading all the plugins by default, even those that aren't remotely needed.

To make it start near-instantly, do the following. Navigate with WinExplorer or something similar to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\plug_ins where the drive letter and version might vary depending on your setup. Select and Cut all the plugins except for:

AcroForm (folder and file)
EScript
EWH32
HLS
IA32
Search
Search5

(this is for a 32 bit installation of course)

Navigate one step up to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\, create a new folder and name it "uninstalled_plugins" or whatever name you like, and paste the plugin files here.

If you ever need one of the removed plugins in the future, all you need to do is move the file back to the plug_ins directory.

 

Added to sticky, thanks!

 

Thanks. Hope it saves some people from wondering why their $1000 (or $2000, for that matter) notebook runs like cr_p.

 

How do you know which programs to delete? Can you list out all the programs that I should delete?

 

First of all, not delete, but first stop from msconfig, reboot the computer, and then uninstall.

When I say "Everything but X, Y, Z" I mean "Everything but X, Y, Z" Here are the details, i.e., what to remove.

Power4Phone
DataSecurity Manager (unless you absolutely need to use TPM; known to cause stuttering and other issues)
Wireless Console (this will NOT affect wireless functionality)
Splendid
MultiFrame
LiveUpdate (known to be very buggy)
Net4Switch (or IP Switch whatever)
Instant Fun

Edit: I have edited the list into the main guide.

 

Nice post about how to speed up Acrobat Reader when it is started. An alternative option is to use a freeware program like FoxIt Reader which loads quicker than the streamlined Acrobat Reader.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/

 

Yes, the main disadvantage of that is that it doesn't know how to open files inside a browser. I use that alot with Firefox tabs.

 

I also use Foxit, but I find that the ClearType font reproduction used by Reader for pdf documents generated by both Acrobat and other sources to be more accurate and easier to read.

This streamline guide for Reader is truly outstanding, E.B.E. Kudos to you, and I wholeheartedly agree with adding both of these to the forum sticky .

 

1 Nov 2007: Added a procedure to limit the disk space taken by System Restore.

 

E.B.E. do you know of a source for info on which plugins should remain for Acrobat 8 to function?

Gary

 

Unless you do something really fancy with Adobe Reader, the list of plugins in my second post on this thread should serve you well.

Otherwise, do a google search for "optimize adobe reader plugins" or something similar. That's how I found out about it.

 

I was reading the Power4phone manual, and supposedly it allows you to make calls over a standard telephone line with the modem. Its pretty cool, actually.

 

it is great,,thx

 

Hi, I'd rather call using my phone. But other people will be different.

Vista1984 -- were you thanking HalfHalo for the Power4phone heads up, or me for the guide?

 

I could see how the phone could be usefull it you had a mobile breoadband adapter, and it let you use that. But, alas, its limited to skype and your built in modem

 

I said I would use my phone in that I would call directly with my phone, not using the laptop I'm a bit old fashioned, I know.

 

Thanks for the guide E.B.E.

 

Heh (a late) welcome to the forums, and good luck with the green thingies!

(& thanks for the rep btw. I'll be sure to pay it back as soon as you post a sufficiently helpful post )

 

How do I do this? I have tried computer management and diskpart.exe, but am unable to extend my primary drive into the free space created by shrinking the "data" drive.

Currently my VistaOS drive is 70 GB and the Data drive is 60 GB. This is ridiculous and I want to shrink the Data drive and extend my main drive.

I don't know a lot about partitions so maybe what I'm saying can't even be done, or doesnt make sense to a lot of you.

If anyone could help and explain this to me, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

 

Google the Gparted Live CD. It's a simple Linux based OS that lets you essentially move/resize all of your partitions on boot up. It's really easy to do. Just put it in, boot the computer up and boot from the CD. It'll bring you to a partition manager, and then just resize the partitions. Be warned though, once you modify your VistaOS partition, once you start it up it'll ask to repair your installation. Just put in your Vista OS disk, and let it do its thing. After it's done, your all set with your new partitions.

 

Alright thanks, but the only problem is I don't have a Vista OS disk. Vista was preloaded on my laptop. The only 3 disks that came were Nero, Drivers, and the Recovery Disk.

What do you suggest I do now?

 

That could be a problem since the Recovery disks don't come with the Vista OS menu...What you could do is redo the entire harddrive. Do a recovery and split it into two partitions using that CD. Then once Vista is loaded, go into Vista's Partition Manager, and shrink the volumes as much as you can from there. That should work...since there's no fragmentation on a cleanly installed OS. No guarantee though.

Then, after doing that, use gParted to rearrange the other partitions.

 

Well I figured it out, thanks for the help though.

I simply got tired of this issue, so I went ahead and deleted the partition using Disk Management. This left me with 60GB unused space, which (this is the part I didn't do before) I then deleted again. Sorry, it wasn't obvious to me that another partition couldn't be extended into unused space, or that unused space could be deleted.

Anyway, now I have one major partition of 142 GB.

 

Well, actually, that's completely against my suggestions, and a bad idea. Now if your OS breaks down for some reason you will need a lot of time to sift through the files and copy your personal data to another HDD (since there is no second partition on your current HDD that can be kept while the OS is reinstalled).

Also if your OS partition gets messed up for some reason (not very likely, but still) your data will be lost.

If you had done what I suggested, then you could've kept all your data on the D: partition and then whenever the OS gives problems, you can just format C: and reinstall the OS without worries of losing any data.

 

Which is why I suggested redoing the entire hard-drive using the recovery CD...

 

I'm following your steps on my new G1S-B2.
It's currently installing all the new windows updates.

Question. How should I create a backup of my new stream lined Vista.
I'm not super computer savvy, so don't totally understand the method you've described win hour WinXPGuide / OS Backup

Thanks in advance.
I'm going to leave it defraging over night and will do the update in the morning.

oh yeah, does anyone know what these startup items do.

ATK Hotkey
ATK Generic Function Service
ATK Media

Do I need to keep Winflash.

 

Hi,

I suggest you use another partition imaging software than PartImage, I'd had problems restoring with it since I wrote that guide. I think Acronis make a good product -- search around (google, this forum) for guides on backing up and restoring partitions.

Please, keep the ATK utils they are required for the proper functioning of the hotbuttons.

You can use Winflash, there's a better way to update the BIOS via the BIOS itself (see my guide in my signature).

 

So I can remove WinFlash then.
does anything starting with ATK refer to the Hot keys?

 

Well, that's what I said. All of the ATK tools are needed for the hotkeys to function properly.

 

Excellent info EBE ... thanks for putting it all in one place!

 

I love this guide, would you possibly do one for the G50V?

There's some software on it that Asus included that I'm curious if I'm safe to get rid of (Asus Copyprotect is one).

Thanks

 

Unfortunately I don't have such a recent ASUS computer to determine what can be safely uninstalled and what cannot. That will be up to you to determine. However, removing bloatware is only a small part of the guide, and the rest can be used just as well.

 

I'm sorry, I thought you did! You've been quite helpful in the G50V questions I and some others have asked.

Well I'll test getting rid of the other stuff once I get my notebook back!

 

I am wondering about the ASUS security protect manager - is this another TPM? (i was bundled with infineon which I will uninstall also) I dont need this function & it seems to have issues as mentioned in the previous post here...

look forward to your reply!!

 

I believe that program is related to TPM, yes, but I have never used it so I'm not sure. I think part of its functions are to remember passwords and autotype them upon swiping the finger on the fingerprint reader.

 

Awesome guide. I recently dump the XP and install Vista ultimate ultra lite version, which is by far the best operating system I have used. It doesn't install any useless programs you don't need.

And I simply install a few essential Asus drivers (ie: Wireless, Lan, multi-frame). It's fast as hell.

 

I have a question for my F8Va ....will uninstalling Splendid and Power4Gear (or extreme, or whatever it is) make my hot keys for these applications useless? I plan on controlling these settings from the hardcoded buttons, not from within Vista.

But I don't want to uninstall the applications if they will give me 2 dead keys on my notebook.

 

Well, I can see a fallacy there. If the keys are used only to control those programs; and you do not need the programs; therefore you do not need the keys. So your argument doesn't stand.

That being said, though, have a look at the Info Booth and the "Customize your ASUS hotkeys" thread.

 

hah, well I mostly mean that I don't want redundant software for controlling my power options, since I intend to use the built in ASUS keys, but yeah, I'll take a look at the recommended reading

 

That basically means that you want to control the integrated power profiles of Vista using the ASUS Power4Gear hotkey, right? I don't know if that is possible or if anyone has done it. I guess studying Asus Notebook Keys is the best way to go forward. Perhaps even the source code, if the programmer released it.

 

Thank You --- awesome guide, saves me a lot of time in config new install...

(this should be sticky again)

 

Just an update...the newer version of Power4Gear (stock version on my G50Vt) actually seems to do a more decent job with the power profiles. It correctly detects plugged in vs battery and compensates accordingly by doing stuff like turning off Aero and Sidebar, if you are in one of the more saving power modes.

 

NEVER EVER close your laptop for any length of time when it's running, especially the likes of an ASUS G1S. It's similar to closing the lid on a BBQ when it's full of food after turning the heat up full.

 

Not completely true of all laptops, the N50/N80 series, for example, are extremely cool running despite being relatively powerful. If it's a extremely hot computer at idle, it is a very good idea to hibernate it, of course.

 

Thanks. It's linked in the master sticky -- we just have one, to avoid clutter.

Thanks. Power4Gear is indeed one of the (few) actually useful utilities of ASUS.

This is debatable. Many laptops run just fine closed, without overheating (mine all do). There will be some interruption of airflow, but the effect will usually not be severe.

 

Wow, thanks for this, I'm getting my ASUS soon, and I'll be sure to follow your recommendations!

 

As usual, great post ebe. Thanks!


However, is it tolerable to have to do all of that for a new pc+os to have something barely working?
Wouldn't be more practical to get a mac, or something hassle free, add free...or nothing at all...well, i'm maybe too drunk tonight.

It seems like that software and hardware are all plagued with the same flashy disease, and nothing work as it should.

I have a very naive question here but does anyone know how computer industry ended up to this: buggy software&hardware?

PS: I hate them more than they hate us as consumers!

 

Hmm. Well Vista is "barely" working in the ASUS stock configuration (on newer computers it's even working reasonably, since they are faster).

The point of this guide is to make it run well.

Additionally, keep in mind that ASUS is one of the manufacturers that go light on the bloatware -- much better than others! There is no bloatware per se; the 3rd party applications are all useful to some people (MS Office trial, Norton AV). All the rest is ASUS applications, so that's what's usually called "bloatware" on an ASUS.

As to how the industry ended up like this... I wouldn't know how to give a clear answer. I would guess the bottom line (profit) has to do with it; together with increasing complexity both at the hardware and software level, which is bound to cause bugs.

 

Yes ebe, I got your point about the guide. Thank for sharing it with us. This is indeed a very useful guide. I've used one similar (or maybe yours) sometime ago to turn my vista install into something bearable and not just into a HD grinder.

Yes, I'm a bit bitter these days. I'm the guy from the other thread that had his "high end" V1S out for RMA twice and a third time is in sight, they sent me the UPS sticker. Well, I should have bought two laptops: one for RMA and the other one for work.

I know I shouldn't be that dramatic. One laptop death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic.
I was needing a powerful and reliable laptop and I thought that the V1S was one like that. I realized the hard way that it is not true. Vista is notoriously anti-productive and the hardware is design to just last the time of the warranty. Bad luck, for some people the gpu is not even lasting that long.