Beta 2 problem: computer performance degrades with Virtual PC up

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sergey M
  • Start date Start date
S

Sergey M

Hi,

This was working fine on Beta 1. After getting Beta 2 installed
(Windows Defender) the computer performance with Virtual PC is
terrible. The considerable slow down occurs when VPC starts loading a
virtual machine. The only way to work around it for me is to stop
'Windows Defender' service.

My 2Ghz PC has Windows XP SP2 installed with 1Gb of RAM and plenty of
free HD space. Virtual PC 2004 SP1 virtual machine files are stored
and loaded from an external HD, which is connected to PC via firewire.

I really hope to see this fixed if not soon at least in time for the
release. Thanks.
 
Is this a desktop or laptop machine?

Thanks for this report--you might consider repeating it in the appcompat
group. I've got VPC on a laptop with Windows Defender in it and have not
yet tried the combination--I'll do so.
 
Thanks for this report--you might consider repeating it in the
appcompat group. I've got VPC on a laptop with Windows Defender in
it and have not yet tried the combination--I'll do so.
Click to expand...

Yes, a laptop with new generation fast HD. As I mentioned earlier, it
used to work fine with Beta 1 installed. Will repost. Thanks.
 
Ahh--I did want to inquire about whether you'd loaded the patch to handle
power management/centrino related issues in VPC. I found VPC nearly
unusable on my Dell Inspiron 600m before adding that patch. Let me see if I
can find the reference. This may not be your issue, but it could be
helpful, if you haven't got it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899525/en-us

is what I am thinking of, I believe. You have to phone PSS to get access to
this, but it is free. The installation needs some care--there are two
alternate files depending on whether SP1 was integrated or applied after
installation.

--
 
Bill,
This may not be your issue, but it could be helpful, if you haven't
got it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899525/en-us
Click to expand...

I could be wrong but it doesn't look like it's related to my case:

"SYMPTOMS
When you run Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 on a portable computer that
uses the Intel Centrino 915 chipset, Virtual PC performance is reduced
when compared to its performance on portable computers that use older
Centrino chipsets."

My laptop has P4-M processor and Intel® 845MP Chipset.
 
Perhaps not then. Your original description brought my experience on first
trying VPC on the laptop to mind--

OK - I've tried out VPC--and found that I was running the expired 12/31
version of Microsoft Antispyware on the Windows 2000 image--will update that
to .701 if I can and keep it for reference purposes.

I had some trouble finding enough ram to run VPC--I've only 512, so it is
tight. And, I would say performance is slightly decreased--probably because
of the ram constraint. I ditched OneCare's firewall and antivirus to try to
gain some ram--I'm behind a router at the moment--but I suspect that my
performance change can be tied to the change in ram availability. Once
booted, the VPC OS is quite responsive.

--
 
I've now had some hours running the VPC with WIndows Defender active on the
host PC, and not seen any significant issue with it.

I'd post your issue in the public VPC related group--I still wonder whether
it might be related to power management issues on your particular chipset.

--
 
I had some trouble finding enough ram to run VPC--I've only 512, so
it is tight. And, I would say performance is slightly
decreased--probably because of the ram constraint. I ditched
OneCare's firewall and antivirus to try to gain some ram--I'm behind
a router at the moment--but I suspect that my performance change can
be tied to the change in ram availability. Once booted, the VPC OS
is quite responsive.
Click to expand...

You are a brave man trying to run it on 512Mb. <g> I was testing VSTS
VPC image they had available way back and it would barely load on my
1Gb setup. Regular tests work fine though. I normally allocate 512Mb
to the virtual machine, which is more than plenty for my needs.
 
I've now had some hours running the VPC with WIndows Defender active
on the host PC, and not seen any significant issue with it.
Click to expand...

Odd that it'd slow down my PC that much. They must've changed
something between betas (as I've had no issues with Beta 1). I'll try
VPC group as well. Thanks for your help.

BTW, anyone on Microsoft side cares to comment? Common, don't be
shy...
 
Beta2 is re-written from scratch in a different language--it has very little
in common with beta1.

--
 
Beta2 is re-written from scratch in a different language--it has
very little in common with beta1.
Click to expand...

I see... Considering that and the fact that little has changed on my
side but Beta 1 to Beta 2 transition, wouldn't that point the finger
back at Windows Defender as oppose to hardware or VPC issue?
 
It might--or it may be that the extra load of another real-time process tips
something, in terms of how power management and performance interact. I
sure don't know enough about this stuff to guess.

I would recommend posting your machine spec in a public VPC related group to
see whether you can find other users of similar chipset machines and see
what their experience has been. If you need a pointer to finding that
group, let me know and I can dig it up.

--
 
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