Why does FH run at variable speeds?

AnneEast · Post by **AnneEast** » 12 Mar 2012 13:40

I'm suspecting this is just something to do with my computer but thought I'd post it here in case its a more common problem.

I run Windows XP with all the updates and Family Historian 4.1.3.

My problem is that I never know how FH will run. Some days it speeds along with no problem but other times it is slow to respond to entering new data. Some days the program opens almost immediately and others it can take up to a minute to open. I always open it by clicking on the FH icon on the desktop and selecting the project I want to open from the first window. On the slow days I do wonder if its ever going to open! Its not a 'getting worse' problem - just a random, intermittent one (the worst kind!)

I don't have problems of slowness with other programs so I'm wondering if its just me or do others have the same experience? I also wonder if its still a problem with McAfee after the mess up last year.

Anne

ID:6006

johnmorrisoniom · Post by **johnmorrisoniom** » 12 Mar 2012 14:48

Does the speed at which the program runs at depend on which project you are running (if you have more than one)?

how long has your computer been on before running FH?
I know that my XP machine takes about 30mins before it will run at a decent speed and its a 2.4Ghz quad core

Post by **tatewise** » 12 Mar 2012 14:54

Do some of your Projects have many more linked Multimedia images than others?
Is it usually the ones with the most Multimedia images that are the slowest to start?

If so then it may be the Auto-load Thumbnail Images When Opening Project option.
Use Tools > Preferences > General tab > Advanced... button, and clear that option.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 12 Mar 2012 15:29

If you still have McAfee installed, check it's not simply that you have it scheduled to do scans in the background.

Use the Windows task manager and the proceses tab, sorted by CPU% to see if it's Family Historian which is using the processor so some other program, such as McAfee or Google search or similar. If FH is running at inconsistent speeds for the same project, I would strongly suspect another program on the PC of being the problem.

AnneEast · Post by **AnneEast** » 12 Mar 2012 17:53

Thanks for the suggestions

I have 3 projects. One has 10,000 individuals (a one name study) but hardly any media attached. The other two are mine and OH's families with some media attached. However it doesn't seem to be that because any of the three can have a 'go slow' on any day .... or not!

The length of time the computer has been on does make a difference in general but I usually start it up early and leave it on so I don't think it is that.

I think you are right Jane and its something else in the background. Although the inconsistency is not during a session using FH. What I mean is ... if it starts slowly (taking ages to actually open) then it stays like that. If, on another day, it starts up quickly then its going to be a 'fast' day. Very strange!

Anne

gerrynuk · Post by **gerrynuk** » 12 Mar 2012 18:24

Don't forget that Windows, Norton/Macafee and other programs may sometimes download updates etc in the background without giving any obvious indication of what is going on. Follow Jane's suggestion of using Task Manager to check what programs are running in the background.

AnneEast · Post by **AnneEast** » 17 Apr 2012 15:53

Thought someone ... anyone? ... might be interested to know that I have proved the intermittent slowness I have had with FH was due to the 'real time scanning' from McAfee. Thank you McAfee for a poor experience! Needless to say I turn it off while using FH and no more problems.

Anne

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 17 Apr 2012 16:25

Glad to hear you sorted it.

Another option is to exclude the FH Program folder from the real time scanning.

Ed · Post by Ed » 21 Apr 2012 14:10

My FH also loads pretty slowly on XP. But only for the first time I load it. If during a session on my computer I close FH down and re-open it later on in the session, it always loads much faster. The slowness only occurs the first time in a session that I open it.

Can anyone suggest why this may be and what I need to do to make it load faster the first time?

I use Microsoft Security Essentials and have XP SP3 with 2gb RAM and a 1.86 ghz processor.

YouTube · Post by **Jane** » 21 Apr 2012 19:23

It's most likely another program which is running at the same time. Probably a Anti-Virus scan or similar, especially if you still have a single core processor. Check the windows Task manager to see what's going on.

Ed · Post by Ed » 22 Apr 2012 12:24

Thanks Jane. I've traced the cause of the problem to my AVP (Microsoft Security Essentials). I've added the FH and Calico Pie folders to MSE's list of excluded folders. FH now fires up straight away first time.

Thanks again.

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