TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Windows 7 Superfetch

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I’m about 2/3 of the way done with writing the Windows 7 tweak guide. I’ve come across an issue that I need some help with. It applies to SSD’s. During my research I found these 2 statements:

“In Windows 7, SuperFetch is automatically enabled for disks that have a low Windows Experience Disk Score and disabled for disks that have a high score.”
Performance Testing Guide for Windows

and

“If the system disk is an SSD, and the SSD performs adequately on random reads and doesn’t have glaring performance issues with random writes or flushes, then Superfetch, boot prefetching, application launch prefetching, ReadyBoost and ReadDrive will all be disabled.” Engineering Windows 7 – Support and Q&A for Solid-State Drives

One problem with the above 2 statements. I have an SSD disk (specifically the Intel X25-M Generation 2). My Windows Experience score for Primary hard disk is 7.7 (out a possible 7.9). This was a clean install to this disk, not a clone or image. According to the above statements Windows 7 should have disabled Superfetch. Windows 7 did not disable the service nor adjust the registry settings. It is visable via Task Manager (SysMain) and is actively using system resources.
I’m interested if anyone has had Windows 7 disable this as they claim.
I would also like to know what qualifies as a high “Windows Experience Disk Score” according to Microsoft. (not really expecting an answer on this)

iTunes 9.0.2

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About iTunes 9.0.2
iTunes 9.0.2 adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility.
System Requirements
* Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, 32-bit editions of Windows Vista, or 32-bit editions of Windows 7
* 64-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7 require the iTunes 9.0.2 64-bit installer

Download iTunes
Be sure to see: Ed Bott – Slimming down the bloated iTunes installer

Firefox 3.5.4

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Mozilla Firefox 3.5.4 has been released.

v.3.5.4, released October 27th, 2009
* Several security issues.
* Fixed several stability issues.
* Added the ability to re-submit crash reports (bug 378528)
* After using Clear Recent History some SSL sites would not load all images and styles without pressing reload (see bug 480619)

CCleaner v2.25.1025

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v2.25.1025
——————————————–
– Improved Windows 7 jump list cleaning.
– Improved Windows 7 thumbnail cache cleaning.
– Added support for Windows Server 2008 R2.
– Improved 64-bit support and performance.
– Fixed issue with Windows 7 task scheduler.
– Fixed issue with Startup tool, displaying incorrect folder contents.
– Added support for AVG Antivirus 9.0.
– Added support for ExcludeKey in INI files.
– Improved support for wildcards and RECURSE/REMOVESELF.
– Fixed minor GUI bugs in non-English versions.
– Fixed minor GUI usability issues.
– Improved input validation.
– Lots of minor bugs fixed.

Download CCleaner (slim)

New Intel SSD Downloads

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*IMPORTANT UPDATE
Intel has pulled the firmware update. It seems it is cause no shortage of problems for people (thankfully it didn’t bite me. yet…).
See this thread at the Intel forums.

Intel SATA SSD Firmware Update Tool v1.4
This firmware update tool provides the latest firmware for the following Intel SSDs in all capacities:
– Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) – updates to FW version 8820
– Intel® X25-E SATA SSD on 50nm (black case) – updates to FW version 8850
– Intel® X25-M/X18-M SATA SSD on 34nm (silver case) – updates to FW version 02HA

Intel Solid-State Drive Toolbox v1.1
The Intel® SSD Toolbox provides a set of applications to easily manage the health and optimize the performance of your Intel SSD. The Toolbox includes a powerful set of management, information, and diagnostic tools, and is designed to work best with 34nm Intel® High Performance SSDs.
The Intel SSD Optimizer utilizes the new ATA Data Set Management Command (Trim Attribute) to help maintain performance of the 34nm Intel® High Performance SSD at out-of-the-box levels and is specifically designed to run with Microsoft Windows 7*. Intel SSD Optimizer also works with Windows Vista* and XP* through the use of the Intel SSD Toolbox.

*edit – Anandtech has benchmarks and more info: The SSD Improv: Intel & Indilinx get TRIM, Kingston Brings Intel Down to $115