ObjectARX from the beginning, the guantlet is thrown.

[Lee Mac]

Lee:

 

Regarding improving the performance of AutoCAD on your laptop.

 

Run SCANDISK to check for hard drive errors. Follow this up by defragging the hard drive.

 

The three most common things you can do to improve performance are 1) add more RAM, 2) increase the page file size and 3) increase free space on your primary drive.

 

Does you laptop have a dedicated graphics card or does it use an integrated onboard graphics chip?

 

There are some things you can do to speed up Vista as well. It may mean having to turn off some features. Would you be willing to do this?

 

I am running a disk defrag as we speak - and I have also scheduled an error check for the next restart - I'm hoping this will resolve things.

 

I find the laptop running slow even when AutoCAD is not even running, which I cannot understand. I don't see how AutoCAD could have any effect on the system when the program has not even been opened. So perhaps I have downloaded a virus in the mean time that is evading my virus scan...

[Shawndoe]

Hi,

 

Take a look for WSCommCntr1.exe in your task manager. I don't know what it is but it was installed with AutoCAD and I have found it to be a real hog.

 

You might try this

 

http://otb.manusoft.com/2007/09/autocad-2008-slow-startup-fix.htm

 

I don't know if it can be disabled.

 

Have a good one.

Shawndoe

[Lee Mac]

Hi,

 

Take a look for WSCommCntr1.exe in your task manager. I don't know what it is but it was installed with AutoCAD and I have found it to be a real hog.

 

You might try this

 

http://otb.manusoft.com/2007/09/autocad-2008-slow-startup-fix.htm

 

I don't know if it can be disabled.

 

Have a good one.

Shawndoe

 

Thanks Shawn,

 

that is quite interesting.

 

I have done a defrag, and it took forever, but didn't seem to make a difference.

 

I think I have pinned down the problem - it occurs when I log on to the laptop, after about 10 mins, the laptop seems to be back to how it was, but when I log on it goes absurdly slow... in and out of Non-responsive all the time.

 

I am thinking of checking the start-up through msconifg, maybe AutoCAD has chucked something nasty in there..

[Lee Mac]

My activity light seems to be always on now, as if the laptop is constantly processing something.

 

Although looking at the task manager, it seems the only major process is the System Idle Process. i.e nothing.

 

Am thinking of uninstalling this damn thing

[Shawndoe]

Did you try the fix at the manusoft site?

 

If not give it a try.

 

have a good one.

Shawn

[Lee Mac]

It seems that LOADCTRLS was already set to zero

[Freerefill]

*shakes his head* Lee, I feel your pain. *taps his heart* Right here, brother. AutoCAD 2009 for a few months myself, and I was never happier to be rid of it.

 

I don't know what happened, but AutoCAD did a Wile E. Coyote after 2008.

 

Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Oh well. Maybe next year.

[Lee Mac]

*shakes his head* Lee, I feel your pain. *taps his heart* Right here, brother. AutoCAD 2009 for a few months myself, and I was never happier to be rid of it.

 

I don't know what happened, but AutoCAD did a Wile E. Coyote after 2008.

 

Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Oh well. Maybe next year.

 

Haha...

 

I still hold '04 is the best release...

[Shawndoe]

Lee, are you running a 64bit OS? I use 2k9 64bit and it actually seems pretty good.

 

That said, 2002 and 2004 are the most stable versions I've used. 2007 is standard for the moment where I work though I still keep 2004 on a machine, because I hate 2007 so much. 2007 loses my user profile on a regular basis, and you can't get it back. You end up having to rebuild the entire user.

 

My favorite version was 2002. I loved cold grips. I could select a group of object, then add and remove an object to enable the grip for use as base points for move, mirror, and copy operations from the cold grip. Once I learn ObjectARX I may even try to code a replacement.

 

Truth is ever version of ACAD requires... getting used to.

 

Shawndoe

[Lee Mac]

Lee, are you running a 64bit OS? I use 2k9 64bit and it actually seems pretty good.

 

Hi Shawn,

 

I'm running a 32bit system, in fact, here are my specs:

 

Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1)

Dell Studio 1535 Laptop

Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 @ 2.1GHz

3GB RAM

32bit OS

[ReMark]

You never answered my question regarding the graphics card/chip.

 

The hard drive activity light can be on due to Windows indexing (I think the default is set at every two hours) or hard drive "churning" which I believe means the hard drive might be ready to fail. Look in the Control Panel, System, Device Manager and find out the drive maker and model number. Go to the manufacturer's website and download the hard drive diagnostics program (a freebie) they have and run it. That should tell you if it is ready to up and die or if it has errors that can be fixed.

[Lee Mac]

You never answered my question regarding the graphics card/chip.

 

The hard drive activity light can be on due to Windows indexing (I think the default is set at every two hours) or hard drive "churning" which I believe means the hard drive might be ready to fail. Look in the Control Panel, System, Device Manager and find out the drive maker and model number. Go to the manufacturer's website and download the hard drive diagnostics program (a freebie) they have and run it. That should tell you if it is ready to up and die or if it has errors that can be fixed.

 

Thanks ReMark - I will check both of those out.

 

But, also - would an Error check on the disk not check for this also?

[ReMark]

Are you referring to CHKDSK?

 

The diagnostic tools are more robust since they were developed by the manufacturer specifically for their products.

[Lee Mac]

Are you referring to CHKDSK?

 

The diagnostic tools are more robust since they were developed by the manufacturer specifically for their products.

 

Yes, CHKDSK - I shall look into the diagnostic tools - thanks for your help mate

[ReMark]

I'll make it easy on you. After you get the info start with this link. Look at the top part of the webpage. Most of the major hard drive manufacturers are listed along with links to their dignostic programs.

 

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

[Lee Mac]

On a side note, what is interesting:

 

I looked at the Reliability and Performance Monitor in Vista, and looked at the Hard Disk usage - (everything else seemed pretty low tbh), and I found this:

 

 

AutoCAD seems way up top above everything else - and the it wasn't even running at the time....

[ReMark]

If you are looking for a lean, mean, cadding machine I'm afraid full-blown AutoCAD will not fill the bill. It has to be right up there with all the Microsoft Office products in terms of sheer size. Read 'em and weep. Best to start thinking about a high-end laptop or a mid-range desktop. If you start charging for all the code you give away here you could afford a new computer in no time flat.

[SEANT]

On a side note, what is interesting:

 

I looked at the Reliability and Performance Monitor in Vista, and looked at the Hard Disk usage - (everything else seemed pretty low tbh), and I found this:

 

 

AutoCAD seems way up top above everything else - and the it wasn't even running at the time....

 

 

That sounds like some aspect of the AutoCAD Vault methodology. What happens if you set the SQL Server startup type to Manual?

[Freerefill]

If you start charging for all the code you give away here you could afford a new computer in no time flat.

 

>.>

 

<.>

 

 

ssssshhhhhhhhhh....

[TheNewGuy]

Yea, don't give him any ideas Remark!

I noticed the same thing with Acad2009, it was a LOT slower than the 2002 I switched from. 2 notes though when I activated it it got better.(as I installed a trial first then bought the code) And when I turned off "quick properties" it got better. Now it is slow to load but not that bad to operate. But the problems you are having when it is not running are a mystery to me. (my guess is it is related to the fact that it is a trial.)

Anyway, I am going to try and limp along with you all and learn ARX. I will be the one asking for clarification and help all the time! I am currently teaching myself VBA for an excel workbook I am making and from what I understand ARX is near VBA, So, we will see.... Oh yea, I got the "autocad bible" for 2008 from a used bookstore last night I am hoping it will help.