Resolved USB and DVD Transfer Rate

Given the system I have, are the transfer rates experienced below reasonable?

I have a folder containing 6181 files in 281 folders totaling 202 MB.

Drive G: is a factory original USB plug on the system unit containing an 8 GB flash drive (HPv125w) plugged in to it.
Drive E: An internal HP 20x CD/DVD RW drive. This is not the factory original HP SATA but very similar HP SATA drive I just used to replace the defective original a couple of days ago.

Drive E: had a new blank DVD-R, formatted with the Windows Live File System in it when I started the tests below.

Test 1: I used the Windows drag and copy to copy the 202MB folder from the USB flash drive to the blank formatted DVD. It took about 1000 seconds with a reported transfer rate in the range of .32-.15 MB/second. (It slowed down as it went.)

Test 2: Copied the same file from the flash drive to the desktop. It took about 91 seconds and the reported transfer rate was in the range of 2.2 - 1,7 MB/sec, more or less.

Test 3: Copied the same file from the desktop to the DVD. It took about 360 seconds with a reported transfer rate of 2.2 - .7 MB/sec.

Other than running Process Explorer, I didn't have any applications running, though I did not turn off Norton. Thinking Norton might be slowing things down, I turned it off and reran test 3, renaming the folder, and copying to the DVD that now had the one folder on it.

Test 3A: Turned off Norton and reran Test 3. Took 310 seconds with reported transfer rate of 2.7 - .45 MB/sec. (It slowed down even more.)

Do these transfer rates suggest something is badly out of whack (i.e., broken) ? If the results are more or less reasonable, I will just lower my expectations and move on.

..Paul..

 

See if you can update the chipset drivers
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...hipset+Software+Installation+Utility&lang=eng
You can try the link in the section "Run this easy to use Intel® Driver Update Utility and it will "automatically" tell you if you need to update your chipset INF file. "

Did you get the update for the Intel Storage Matrix driver I suggested in your other thread?

For your info, here are the specifications for your computer
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...dlc=en&lc=en&os=2093&product=3437575&sw_lang=
See if there is information to update your WindowsBBS user profile (My System).

Check the file system for errors, this is from (Vista) Help and Support

Check the C: (Windows) drive, see the last part, you will need to do a restart.

You can also run error checking on your USB drives. Do you always use "Safely Remove Hardware" to disconnect them?

Do you have plenty of free-space on your C: drive? I suggest 20% is the minimum. Go to Control Panel -> Internet Options and delete the temporary files. Do a disk clean-up (see Help and Support).

After that, do a disk defragmentation.

Matt

 

Apart from the above, have you run a memory diagnostics? See "How do I know if my computer has a memory problem?" in Help and Support.

 

Did the check disk with auto fix after restart. First 4 stages showed no apparent errors. Last stage ran for several hours and I didn't see it end before restart so I don't know what it reported. The C: disk is about 75% free so that is not issue. I did a defrag a few weeks ago. Regarding the "safely remove hardware." I do use it on the USB thumb drives. However, the "safely remove hardware" icon always appears in the system tray after reboot. It names three drive letters which are part of the factory installed multiformat flash memory reader which, as far as I know, I have never used. It is an irritant to have it always there.

..Paul..

 

Ran the memory test and it showed no problems. I reinstalled the "Hardware Diagnostics Tests" from the recovery partition. It disappeared some months ago for unknown reasons. It is an HP OEM version of PC-Doctor. Ran all the tests using that and no problems were uncovered. I think I checked (against the HP web site) all the previously mentioned drivers to see if they were current. Some were actually more recent than what is shown as current on the HP support site.

I was checking my email and my system seemed very sluggish -- as if the hardware interrupt problem that had consumed about 50% of CPU had reoccurred. I launched process explorer to see and it turned out Apple Mobile Device Service was consuming right at 50% of CPU though the load was not all on one core. I launched task manager to see what it would show. It showed the very high total CPU usage but none of the applications showed high usage. I went back to process explorer and "access denied" is what I got when I tried to kill Apple Mobile Device Service which was still at 50%. I decided to kill iTuneshelper.exe thinking it might be related and did kill it and the CPU usage dropped to the low single digits.

I am getting quite frustrated. New problems are appearing faster than solutions to the old problems that I started with. Since I can generally do Word, Excel, Firefox, IE, and Thunderbird, maybe I should accept the fairly rare CPU storm (which is fixed by a restart) and the mediocre flash drive and DVD burn which really don't slow me down much.

..Paul..

 

Intel directs me to system vendor. According to the HP support site, I have the latest graphics driver update.

..Paul..

 

I couldn't find any reference using Device Manager to Intel Storage Matrix. If I have it, I don't know where to find the date or version to see if it is current.

In Device Manager Under Network Adapters there is a "!" next to Microsoft ISATAP Adapter. I found many references to this but it seems it is a known problem that doesn't need to be fixed. At least, that's the way I understood it.

..Paul..

 

I expect that means that you got new drivers from the Windows Update website. I stopped getting drivers from the Windows Update website (they are under the heading "Optional ") a long time ago, when they didn't work on my sister's HP computer. I always prefer to get the drivers from the hardware manufacturer (HP drivers should work correctly or the "best ").

You can run the installer for the Intel Storage Matrix drivers. Intel drivers will stop the installation and tell you they are the wrong ones, if that is the case. You won't have any trouble trying to install them.

A diagnostics suggestion I would make is to go to the PCPitstop website. The last time I was there it was hard to find the free diagnostics, but it should still be free. Test your drives and see if they can make a guess as to why they might be slow.

Matt
PS The Microsoft explanation about the Microsoft ISATAP Adapter drivers doesn't inspire me with confidence
On a Windows Vista-based computer or on a Windows Server 2008-based computer, the Microsoft ISATAP adapter appears with a yellow exclamation mark next to it in Device Manager, and you also receive an error message In other words, as we say over here, "No worries, she'll be right mate ".
At the very least, if I see a yellow exclamation mark, I uninstall the driver and reboot in case that might correct it.

 

I found Intel Storage Matrix. The version of Intel Storage Matrix I have is the one HP shows as current so I'll stick with that even though Intel shows more recent versions. This is based on the premise that the system vendor (i.e., HP) knows best.

I'll reinstall the Microsoft ISATAP to see if it changes anything.

I'll check out PCPitstop. It would be nice to have some tools to measure performance of individual components.

I'll start another thread on another topic -- how to suspend all of Norton. Then I'll retry the thumb drive to host to DVD transfer rate test.

..Paul..

 

You seem hesitant to install new drivers. I rip them out and replace them as soon I suspect a driver problem.

Try extending beyond your "comfort zone ". You can make System Restore points before you change drivers. Windows can revert some drivers.

If you don't get out of your comfort zone, you won't learn how Windows works.Take a few chances, but see if you can retrace your changes if things go skewed.

You need to experiment to build your experience level. Experience doesn't make itself.

In one way or another, I was in your situation. I said to myself that I would not let it defeat me.

See if you can "look behind the scenes" and use your own intuition to find out what is happening.

Read any (error) messages carefully.

Personally, from the way you are replying, you should rely on yourself. You might be giving us suggestions in the future

Something you might need encouragement for is to uninstall and reinstall drivers. The latest version of drivers is not necessarily the best.

Matt

 

Good points, Mattman. I uninstalled the ISATAP driver. On reboot, there was no evidence of that driver anywhere. I guess I didn't need it.

The PCPitstop analysis was fine. Nothing looked like a problem related to transfer rate. They don't provide much detail unless you buy the product.

It's not clear that anything is broken. I'll run some more transfer tests using different combinations of USB flash drives, USB ports, DVD, CD, and hard disk. That will take a while but I'll post the results.

I understand that flash drives get tired and have a limited life. I don't know much about this. Maybe the transfer rate drops off before actual death. Anybody know about this?

..Paul..

 

You have a good attitude. Even if I can't solve a problem, every minute of trying is more experience for me.

Get SiSoftware Sandra (Lite)
http://majorgeeks.com/SiSoftware_Sandra_Lite_d92.html
You can run Read benchmarks.

! Do you happen to have more than one antivirus software running? That will kill your drive speed. Only have one antivirus (antimalware) program running at a time, you can have an extra one for a second opinion, but it needs to be completely shut down and you run it manually (it is better to use an online virus checker, eg., TrendMicro Housecall).

Matt

 

I downloaded the SISoftware and it looks terriffic based on the menu of testing options. Seems to be just what I need to dissect the elements of the transfer performance issues. Thanks. I'll start making some runs.

I only have NIS for virus, etc.

On the flashdrive fragmentation issue. There are many firmly held and contradictory opinions out there from various sources. The most expert-sounding opinion talked about page size issues in flash memory and the reduced performance from fragmentation. He gave a 50% reduction in performance using a worst cast file. However, the way fragmentation occurs in flash is different than in traditional hard disk. That leads to the question of what defrag tool actually deals with the special circumstances of flash memory.

..Paul..

 

If I suspect a problem with a memory drive I would move the data off, reformat the drive then the data can be moved back. I only ever use them for transporting files, so I wouldn't have much hesitation. If the drive has any special software you will need to reformat using the manufacturer's information. (I prefer to remove any software/special-formatting anyway.)

Symantec antimalware has been known to be problematic in the past. I sometimes will uninstall it and reinstall it, especially if there seems something wrong with the drives (drives' speed). If it was me I would uninstall/reinstall, if nothing else, it would refresh the program and all the relevant updates for it. If you like you can check or ask at the Symantec forums.

Matt

 

As I get time, I'll run some additional transfer performance tests and report the results in a new thread. Till then, I'll consider the issue solved.

 

Thanks for your attention.

The thread won't be closed in the near future, so if you get it finalised it would be best to post it here.