Software Eulogy - This is One Ugly Posting

Netbook (noun): a small, lightweight laptop computer used especially for Internet access and e-mail.

They are essentially dead now, but that’s apparently my opinion, since you can still buy them for a few hundred dollars. A bit over a year ago I found one on sale and I convinced myself I had to have it, with some thought of turning it into the home computer for the kitchen. I think every room in the house deserves some sort of computer, and manufacturers agree with me.

Tricky things, netbooks. They don’t have enough power to do much of anything, and they don’t have enough memory to compensate for the lack of power. They have minimal drives, and small hard drives.  Size isn’t everything, they say, but performance counts!

So why in the world did I even want a netbook? It’s the SOFTWARE, not the hardware!

The SOFTWARE

Now you may not realize it, but your computer comes from the store loaded with BLOATWARE, a term indicative of unnecessary software installed after the hardware is put together and before it gets to the consumer. Most buyers don’t even bother to try and clean it off, and your system performance suffers for it, on almost any computer platform.

My unformed plan involved maximizing the performance of the netbook, then installing a form of unix and making it a quiet little, multi-function email and surfing machine.

 WARNING: This is a long and technical post. You can simply skip to the END if desired.

ACER ASPIRE ONE NETBOOK: SOFTWARE CLEAN UP

Uninstall some of the software that is pre-installed on the machine.

Uninstall (Programs/Uninstall Programs):

EBay worldwide (100KB)

Uninstall Norton Online Backup

Uninstall Google toolbar

Uninstall eBay worldwide

McAfee (Needs to go completely. Downloaded and ran McAfee Removal Program, which cleans out a bunch of little programs also. Reboot needed.)

AcerGames from WildTangent? Leave it for now.

Control Panel/Network & Internet/System & Security

Check the Firewall – all settings seem okay by default.

(Note: Other Admin tools are available here, like defrag)

Taskbar & Start Menu Properties

Auto hide taskbar, if desired

Use small icons, if desired

(Just set up the taskbar as desired)

Remove Netflix shortcut from desktop

Put Skype on the toolbar, remove the shortcut from the desktop

Leave Acer Games and MSOffice 60 day trial

Checked an online Netflix movie. Ran really well, smooth and clear.

Check for Windows updates if it doesn’t do it automatically.

Install Skype (this netbook has a built-in microphone and camera).

Microsoft Security Essentials

Google and go to Microsoft Link

Download and install (just tell it to Run)

Once installed it will run and update itself

Do Scan

MSE found nothing on my machine. (It shouldn’t. The machine is barely out of the box, but you never know.)

Download and run Tune Up Utilities (free trial)

It identifies a number of potential problems.

Problems:

Unique Identification of computer is possible, when videos and music from a website are played by Windows Media Player, a unique ID is transmitted to the website Provider. Recommended solution to the problem: disable the sending of a unique player ID

Administrative sharing enacted, Administrative Sharing allows network access to all drives on your computer. Even though the shared drives are not visible in the network environment, they can still be accessed by simply entering <drive letter>$ (for example “C$”) into the address bar.

Recommended solution to the problem: Disable administrative sharing

Other problem fixes:

Disable network access to the registry

C: never checked for file system errors (check drive for errors using Tuneup Disk Doctor)

Hardware & Software

Windows Live Messenger

Turn off Windows Search

IE # simultaneous connections HTTP 1.0 to 8, 1.1 to 4

Restart

Source for information: http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=&letter=E

RUN (Windows key + R)

MSCONFIG/ Startup tab

Services

Disable Bluetooth Support Service

Check Hide all Microsoft Services

Startup List

Acer Assist Launcher	Unknown	launcher.exe	U
Acer Video Conference Manager	Acer Incorporated	AcerVCM.exe	N
Adobe Acrobat	Adobe Systems Inc	Reader_sl.exe	N
ALPS Pointing-Device Driver	Alps Electric Company	Apoint.exe	Y*
DefaultSettingEXE Application	Unknown	PLFSetI.exe
EgisTec In-Product Service	Egis Technology Inc	EgisUpdate.exe	N
Intel® Common User interface	Intel Corporation	hkcmd.exe	U
Intel® Common User interface	Intel Corporation	igfxpers.exe	U
Intel® Common User interface	Intel Corporation	igfxtray.exe	U
Launch Manager	Dritek System inc.	Lmanager.exe	U
Microsoft Security Essentials	Microsoft Corporation	msseces.exe –hide -runkey	Y
MyWinLocker	Egis Technology Inc	mwlDaemon.exe	U
Power Management	Acer Incorporated	ePowerTray.exe	U
RAID Event Monitor	Intel	iaanotif.exe	U
Realtek HD Audio Manager	Realtek Semiconductor	RtHDVCpl.exe -s	N

Acer Assist Launcher: launcher.exe Acer Assist - program that provides information about new updates or notices from Acer

Acer video Converence Manager: Only Acer with Vista could come up with this baby. Not required if you don't video conference. Acer Video Conference Manager (VCM) is a application that is preinstalled on select Acer Aspire One models. Acer VCM enhances the Instant Messenger video call experience on the Acer netbook. Acer VCM works with Windows Live Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, and Skype and provides additional value to the instant messenger by allowing for crisper calls in high resolution.  Additionally, the Acer VCM software extends the functionality of the instant messenger to allow for Photo Sharing, Document Sharing, and Screen Sharing. Note: Acer VCM will only function if both the caller and the reciever have Acer VCM installed and used.

Adobe Acrobat: Reader_sl.exe is part of Adobe Reader. "SpeedLauncher" loads part of Adobe Reader application, even if you are not using it, so, when the Adobe Reader is loaded it will be faster, however it will use resources like, memory, time processor, disc access, etc.
Not required for Adobe Reader to function properly. reader_sl.exe uses excessive system and memory resources with no corresponding benefit. Applications such as these should be disabled to improve overall system performance.

ALPS Pointing-Device Driver: Apoint.exe Touchpad software for laptop PC's. For instance it is found on the Panasonic and Sony Vaio machines and allows part of the touchpad to be used for document or Web-page scrolling. Required for proper functioning of the pointing software but not required for the laptop to work. Apoint.exe is a component of the drivers for the Alps Touchpad. This process should not be removed to ensure that your touchpad works properly. apoint.exe  is required by third-party software or hardware and should not disabled.

DefaultSettingEXE Application: PLFSetI.exe has been found with Acer's Laptop. Many users has been disable it noticing nothing unusual. plfseti.exe  uses excessive system and memory resources with no corresponding benefit. Applications such as these should be disabled to improve overall system performance.

EgisTec In-Product Service: EgisUpdate.exe Software updater for Biometrics Solutions and Data Security products from EgisTec Inc

Intel® Common User interface: hkcmd.exe is part of the drivers for boards with Intel 81x graphics chips. Allows you to define hotkey combinations to change video resolutions. This is not something that most users do often, and it can be done through Control Panel (Intel Graphics icon) or Desktop Properties pretty quickly. We recommend stopping this task to save resources and prevent accidental use of the hotkey feature. hkcmd.exe uses excessive system and memory resources with no corresponding benefit. Applications such as these should be disabled to improve overall system performance.

Intel® Common User interface: igfxpers.exe provides access to the control panel via a System Tray icon for graphics based upon the Intel chipsets (ie, i810). Also available via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. igfxpers.exe uses excessive system and memory resources with no corresponding benefit. Applications such as these should be disabled to improve overall system performance.

Intel® Common User interface: igfxtray.exe - Provides a tray icon for quick access to features of some Intel graphics chips, such as the ability to change color depth and resolution. Since Windows itself offers easy access to most of this functionality, we recommend that you remove this program from startup using MSCONFIG. igfxtray.exe uses excessive system and memory resources with no corresponding benefit. Applications such as these should be disabled to improve overall system performance.

Launch Manager: LManager.exe Acer Launch Manager - manages configuration of the multimedia keys on their range of notebooks, netbooks and desktops. LManager.exe - Dritek multimedia keyboard application. If not running, customized keys will revert to default configuration. lmanager.exe  is required by third-party software or hardware and should not disabled.

Microsoft Security Essentials: msseces.exe System Tray access to a notifications from Microsoft Security Essentials which "provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software"

MyWinLocker: mwlDaemon.exe System Tray access to MyWinLocker encryption software from EgisTec Inc. If disabled, you can still encrypt and access encrypted files, with notifications being displayed in the System Tray - but you will have to access the "Yo-Safe" via the main console under Start → All Programs or via the desktop shortcut

Power Management: ePowerTray.exe Acer® PowerSmart Manager power management utility included on some models in the Aspire range of notebooks. Also appears as the Packard Bell PowerSave power management utility included on some of their notebook models - as Packard Bell is now owned by Acer

RAID Event Manager: Iaanotif.exe Part of Intel® Matrix Storage Manager (formally known as Intel® Application Accelerator and Intel® Application Accelerator RAID Edition). Used in conjunction with the event monitor service (IAANTMON - Iaantmon.exe) to display event notifications (such as RAID volume status changes, HDD I/O errors or HDD SMART event) via a System Tray icon when an event occurs. Via this icon you can then choose to launch the Intel Matrix Storage Console or ignore the current alert. iaanotif.exe is part of the Intel Application Accelerator. Used to notify of disk failure in a RAID array. Depending on how you configure it, RAID helps optimize the performance of the computer. It has facilities to partition and back up data. iaanotif.exe  is a user invoked program and a normal part of PC operations. No action required.

Realtek HD Audio Manager: RtHDVCpl.exe Realtek HD Audio Manager, installed with the Vista drivers for on-board Realtek HD audio codecs. Unless you have the default (but optional) System Tray icon enabled, the only purpose this entry serves is to detect and allow you to configure any devices plugged into the jacks - such as headphones and a microphone. With the System Tray icon enabled it will also inform you when devices are removed and give you access to the Sound Manager and other multimedia functions. The Sound Manager is also available via the Control Panel and this entry is therefore only required if you regularly change sound schemes.  RtHDVCpl.exe is a file contained in the Realtek driver packages for Windows Vista, Windows 2000, XP, and Winx64. rthdvcpl.exe  is a user invoked program and a normal part of PC operations. No action required.

Start up time is a bit less than 50 seconds from button to mouse available.

RUN (Windows key + R)

SERVICES.MSC

Acer ePower Service	Leave AUTO
Background Intelligent Transfer Service	Change to MANUAL (BITS, Windows Update,  Cryptographic Services, Event Log)
Base Filtering Engine	Leave AUTO (Base Filtering Engine, IKE and AuthIPsec Keying Modules, Internet Connection Sharing, IPSec Policy Agent, Routing and Remote Access, Windows Firewall)
COM+ Event System	Change to MANUAL – VERIFY
Cryptographic Services	Change to MANUAL (BITS, Windows Update,  Cryptographic Services, Event Log)
DCOM Service Process Launcher	Leave AUTO
Desktop Windows Manager Session Manager	DISABLE – loss of nice windows thingies
DHCP Client	Leave AUTO
Diagnostic Policy Service	Leave AUTO
Distributed Link Tracking Client	Change to MANUAL – VERIFY
DNS Client	DISABLE - VERIFY
Dritek WMI Service	Leave AUTO
GRegService	Leave AUTO **
Group Policy Client	Leave AUTO
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules	Leave AUTO (Base Filtering Engine, IKE and AuthIPsec Keying Modules, Internet Connection Sharing, IPSec Policy Agent, Routing and Remote Access, Windows Firewall)
Intel® Matrix Storage Event Monitor	DISABLE (for RAID) - VERIFY
IP Helper	Leave AUTO
Microsoft Antimalware Service	Leave AUTO
Multimedia Class Scheduler	Leave AUTO
Network Location Awareness	Leave AUTO
Network Store Interface Service	Leave AUTO
Plug and Play	Leave AUTO
Power	Leave AUTO
Print Spooler	Leave AUTO
Raw Socket Service
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Leave AUTO
RPC Endpoint Mapper	Leave AUTO
Security Accounts Manager	Leave AUTO
Security Center	Leave AUTO
Server	Leave AUTO
Shell Hardware Detection	Leave AUTO
Software Protection	Leave as is
Superfetch	DISABLE
System Event Notification Service	Leave AUTO
Task Scheduler	Leave AUTO
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper	Change to MANUAL – VERIFY
Themes	DISABLE – loss of nice windows thingies
User Profile Service	Leave AUTO
Windows Audio	Leave AUTO
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder	Leave AUTO
Windows Event Log	Change to MANUAL (BITS, Windows Update,  Cryptographic Services, Event Log)
Windows Firewall	Leave AUTO (Base Filtering Engine, IKE and AuthIPsec Keying Modules, Internet Connection Sharing, IPSec Policy Agent, Routing and Remote Access, Windows Firewall)
Windows Management Instrumentation	Leave AUTO
Windows Update	Change to MANUAL (BITS, Windows Update,  Cryptographic Services, Event Log)
WLAN AutoConfig	Leave AUTO
Workstation	Leave AUTO

Enable AutoLogon

RUN (Windows key + R)

control userpasswords2

Choose the account for automatic logon (click on it)

Unclick the box for “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”

Confirm this by entering the password a couple times and you’re good to go

Start up time is STILL a bit less than 50 seconds from button to mouse available.

Upgrade RAM from a 1GB chip to a 2GB chip: for this model of Acer you can get a 2GB DDR2 PC2-5300 which works fine.

For this Acer Aspire One changing the memory chip is a straightforward task. When flipped over there is a small door held with a single small Phillips screw. Remove the screw and carefully pry the small door up. There are four indented clasps for this door, so be careful that you don’t break any of them. A thin bladed knife and some judicious prying should easily get it open. Remove the existing memory and insert this memory. Replace and screw the small door closed and you are finished.

Start up time is STILL a bit less than 50 seconds from button to mouse available.

END:

I optimized the machine, but couldn’t tell a difference in start-up times. I certainly wasn’t able to make it fast enough to interest me in using it like I use the iPad, which is instant-on.

Comment: Though I like my iPad, I am not totally enamored of it. I got the keyboard and tried to use it as a portable, but, honestly, the lack of a mouse hampered me. I make too many mistakes and am constantly using the mouse to go correct them. Using my finger (oh, so much more intuitive – please!) got pretty tiring after a while. <End of Minor Rant>

I ended up giving the computer away to someone who will put it to better use than I could.

Wait a minute, now there are flash hard drives…

I’m good for now, thanks. Sometimes I have to tap my head and shake odd thoughts out. It’s the software, you see.