New XDA Mini S - Too slow to use ...even in 'Corporate Mode'

[Garrington]

Hello

I have just purchased a new XDA Mini S - to replace my dying XDA II (which was giving me electrical shocks and starting to lose data).

Ash (an extremely knowledgeable and helpful O2 shop assistant in Uxbridge) directed me to this site so I could get the details required to to set-up and run my new PDA in Corporate mode.

After set-up was completed, I synchronised the Mini with my work computer (via Activesynch 4.1) - allowing me to download my calender, task and contact items.

And that's it so far!! ...no other memory-intensive applications installed, ...no massive ringtone files, ...nothing!!

However, the unit is running very slow in comparison to my old XDA II. When I am working in the Calender application and go forward several weeks, followed by selecting the 'return to today' icon, it takes about 10 seconds to react. Similar behaviour exists in 'Tasks', when returning to the 'Today screen', and when using the menus - so, basically, all of the time. My previous unit reacted instantly - and that was fully loaded with software.

What can I do? I love the new Mini and the upgraded spec it offers - but is is unworkable - as described above.

If I invested in a mini-SD card could I utilise the additional space as program memory rather than storage?

Hopefully somebody can help. I am reasonably I.T. savvy - but only as a user and not much experience at progrommer / developer level - so basic intructions my be needed!!

Thanks in advance

Gary

[Garrington]

I think my previous message was too long...

Basically, how can i speed up my XDA Mini S which is already running in Corporate Mode?

Thanks

Gary

[Zathras]

Soft-reset once a day? My Vario runs acceptably quickly after a soft-reset, but slows down over time.

[Garrington]

Hi Zathras

Thanks for the tip...

...but I have been 'soft-resetting' several times per day - and it doesn't seem to help.

I do have several years of appointments in my diary. Would reducing this to only 2 weeks of history help?

Thanks

Gary

[athorny]

Hi Gary,

I had a Magician before and also feel the 02 mini s (Wizard) is way slower.

I have read elsewhere that the Wizard has a silly anti-virus program that always runs in memory and will chew up memory.

The boards indicate that to use a different extended rom. The only problem is I cannot get a view on which portions of the o2 Rom should be deleted and which should be kept.

Let me know if you find a way.

Thanks

Adrian

[Karzi]

I have noticed a few times after running active snc on my mini s it slows right down till i soft reset.
could it be the same problem?

[Garrington]

Hi Adrian

Thanks for your help...

I'm not a programmer / developer - so wouldn't know where to start with ROM edits, etc...

Knowing my luck I would probably do something unrecoverable!!

Is there an easy way to do this? Is it done in the Wizard directly - or via the PC?

...and is it a file that's viewable in explorer?

Excuse my basic approach to all of this. Maybe there is a tutorial somewhere on the boards...

Thanks

Gary

[Karzi]

does it slow down after active sync has run ?

[knowsleyroader]

Goto to settings memory and make sure all your programs are shut down especially activesync as this seems to slow it down more than anything. Also download check notifications and remove any entries in red that have probably appeared especially if you have been soft resetting several times per day.

You really should see a speed increase if you complete the above. Activesync really does slow your wizard down and more than a few duplicate entries found and removed with check notifications will really help.

See if that helps.

[Garrington]

It seems to be the same before and after activesynch!!!

I closed down all running programs and the Calendar is still dead slow...

How do you 'download check notications'?

Thanks again

Gary

[ZeBoxx]

http://www.scarybearsoftware.com/ppc_cn_overview.html

[Garrington]

Thanks for your help

Do I need to install both 'Check Notifications' and 'Notification Clearfix'.

I am correct in presuming that 'Notification Clearfix' prevents future duplications whereas 'Check Notifications' lets you see all events, whether or not thet are offending?

Gary

[chakra]

try tweaks 2k2 there are some reg hack that help with peformance

[ZeBoxx]

I've installed the one that runs at startup, but it only helps clean up the list at startup - not after startup; so if you add alarms/etc., the list can get mucky again. So I've also got it under an icon to run from time to time :) Need to find a nice scheduling application that can run other applications - just have it run every 8 hours or so ;)

[knowsleyroader]

Try some other apps apart from your calendar, it could be that there is just too much info in there. You may just find its not as speedy as your last device, but thats just the way it is. Its a trade off and maybe if the speed is a big issue the wizard isnt for you.

I heard a lot of people saying the wizard is slow before I bought one, but I found its speed fine for what I expect from the device. I find my uni much quicker, but again its that trade off, my uni is much bigger.

The wizard needs to be loved for what it is not for what you want it to be. :lol:

[Garrington]

I'm trying to love it - believe me !!!

...it is only the speed of the calendar searches that really annoys me - I can cope with the sluggish moments.

And I have just discovered something... when you cross one month to the next, the calendar freezes

If someone can do the following for me - it will verify whether it is specifically my unit that is at fault.

Open Calendar, switch to 'Agenda View', and then, using the directional keypad, arrow right until you cross over one month - say January to February. Does the calendar stop working?

When it rcovers, hit the 'go to today' icon. What happens?

I think there is a bug!!

Gary

[cbchong]

Got the mini s ab out a month ago from O2 shop. I just did a hard reset and didn't install any of the O2 crap. Is running quite fast and everything just seems fine. I have tried what you said on the calendar. I don't have any problem. The calendar program just keep running without stopping or anything. After I close the calendar, I pressed on the 'Today' button and everything seems fine.

[Garrington]

Thanks for trying for me - I appreciate it...

I just need to find a solution that works for me.

I already have the most basic install possible - corporate mode - so wonder if there are any more avenues to go down...

Cheers for now

Gary

[brykins]

And I have just discovered something... when you cross one month to the next, the calendar freezes....I think there is a bug!!

Just tried this on my Charmer in case it was a WM5 bug and I can't replicate it - all works fine.

[435nk9]

Try doing a hard reset, and then just when the little box comes up saying something like 'customising in 3 seconds' quickly press the soft-reset button.

Voila! - basic WM5 with no more o2 crap installed! You'll have to set up the gprs and mms yourself, but if you phone cust. sevices then they can e-mail you the instructions...

It should run faster than before.

[435nk9]

Try doing a hard reset, and then just when the little box comes up saying something like 'customising in 3 seconds' quickly press the soft-reset button.

Voila! - basic WM5 with no more o2 crap installed! You'll have to set up the gprs and mms yourself, but if you phone cust. sevices then they can e-mail you the instructions...

It should run faster than before.

[Garrington]

Thanks for that - but I think I'm already running in that mode as I don't have any of the O2 stuff on there.

Is this the same as 'Corporate'?

Thanks

Gary

[435nk9]

Its similar, but not EXACTLY the same...

The o2 extended ROM (what is run during the customisation) changes various settings such as clock format (12 vs 24-hr), date format and country settings.

It also adds some things like an o2 phone dialer skin (which also affects the SIM card pin entry screen) and a few other random little things like removing the battery icon in the system tray (because of the today plug-in that either of the o2 Active setups installs) and installing another today theme.

It also installs the o2 Active software to the device but it is never used in corporate mode. Even though all these things are small, they will affect the performance of the device to a degree.

On a personal note, i'm convinced that the o2 dialer skin messes with the software phone as i get all sorts of problems when using it :(

Hope this helps

[wilesd]

Try doing a hard reset, and then just when the little box comes up saying something like 'customising in 3 seconds' quickly press the soft-reset button.

Voila! - basic WM5 with no more o2 crap installed! You'll have to set up the gprs and mms yourself, but if you phone cust. sevices then they can e-mail you the instructions...

It should run faster than before.

Doing this on the UK O2 rom leves you without the actual MMS application not just the settings, do only do this if you don't want to use MMS

[435nk9]

Good point to the above poster.

I dont ever use MMS so i forgot about that bit :(

[IMate->WM2k5]

Thanks for that - but I think I'm already running in that mode as I don't have any of the O2 stuff on there.

Is this the same as 'Corporate'?

Thanks

Gary

Hi Mate,

The maximum performance I'm aware about is partially given above, i.e. hard-reset your device [Clear storage] and soft-reset immediately when "Customizing in 3 sec" message appears
1) Disable all unneeded sounds notifications
2) Disable all unused "Today Items" (Start->Settings->Today->Items->uncheck unneeded)
3) Disable predictive text input (Start->Settings->Input->(Second tab) something like 'Suggest Words'->Disable....word suggestion)
4) Turn off irda connectivity if you don't use it (Settings->Connections->Beam->Disable incoming beams)
5) Install system-related software (today items and etc) to local storage and unrelated (like games) to miniSD

[advanced]
*) Check your "\windows\startup" folder for unneeded features by step-by-step removing items
**) Check your registry HKLM\Init and \Services directives for unneeded features by step-by-step removal
***) Disable add-on components that are integrated into windows as "Send by MMS" and other context extensions, if you don't use them

[wilesd]

I've noticed that if I activesync on my home PC on which I only sync contacts I don't have any problems but when I sync at work on which I sync Mail/Contacts and Calendar my Mini S slows to an unuseable crawl.

I'm using office XP at work but Office 2003 at home so it could be a problem with activesync 4.1 and Office XP.

Anyway my Mini S is completely unuseable after synching at work until I soft reset then it is fine again. Never found a cure so only synch minmal data at work now.

It could be that the amount of calendar and mail your synching across is not leaving enough memory free. I've noticed that if mine goes below 15Mb it really starts to struggle. Do you really need to have two years worth of calendar entries synched? If you could cut this down to a couple of weeks previous and a coulple in front it may well sort your issues?

If you must have that calendar data available to hand at all times for reference or something you could try what I do now and export the calendar data to an xls/csv file and copy it to your Storage card.

Don't give up on the Mini S though, I've tried about all the HTC PDA Phones now and despite it's shortcomings the Mini S is by far the best I've used. HTC have finally designed a device that you can actually use single handed like a normal phone.

[Garrington]

I'm so impressed with the speed and quality of the responses on this site.

I've only been a user for a few days - and have never found anything like before

Thanks to everyone who replied and helped me with this problem

Cheers for now

Gary :lol:

[Kenji776]

Is your device back up to speed now? What helped best? My Vario is also very slow. On the one hand I am impressed of how certain games run (it has quite a lot of power) but I get annoyed If I use calendar and have to wait seconds for a response (former Palm user - maybe that's my problem).

isnt it the type of memory used in the vario? When it loses power you won't lose any data - but I read somewhere that this type of memory is slower, so it takes more time for loading stuff.

[Ineedtoys]

Everybody seems to have missed the point that the only reason the Wizard is slower to load programs than the XDA and Magician is because it keeps the data in non-volatile Flash memory, not the SDRAM found in pre-WM5 devices. Data transfer times are much slower with this type of memory. That's the price you pay for having your data stay intact when your batteries die.

It's nothing to do with anitvirus progams (that's only on the K-Jam, and has now been witdrawn). Neither is it due to the the CPU. I have a large PIM databases too, and the 524MHz XDA Exec is just as sluggish to load them as the Wizard.

[Garrington]

Hello Again

I have managed to make some significant steps forward.

The maximum benefits were achieved from this snippet...

The maximum performance I'm aware about is partially given above, i.e. hard-reset your device [Clear storage] and soft-reset immediately when "Customizing in 3 sec" message appears
1) Disable all unneeded sounds notifications
2) Disable all unused "Today Items" (Start->Settings->Today->Items->uncheck unneeded)
3) Disable predictive text input (Start->Settings->Input->(Second tab) something like 'Suggest Words'->Disable....word suggestion)
4) Turn off irda connectivity if you don't use it (Settings->Connections->Beam->Disable incoming beams)

...and this...

It could be that the amount of calendar and mail your synching across is not leaving enough memory free. I've noticed that if mine goes below 15Mb it really starts to struggle. Do you really need to have two years worth of calendar entries synched? If you could cut this down to a couple of weeks previous and a coulple in front it may well sort your issues?

...and the final summary to help me understand why it happens...

Everybody seems to have missed the point that the only reason the Wizard is slower to load programs than the XDA and Magician is because it keeps the data in non-volatile Flash memory, not the SDRAM found in pre-WM5 devices. Data transfer times are much slower with this type of memory. That's the price you pay for having your data stay intact when your batteries die.

It's nothing to do with anitvirus progams (that's only on the K-Jam, and has now been witdrawn). Neither is it due to the the CPU. I have a large PIM databases too, and the 524MHz XDA Exec is just as sluggish to load them as the Wizard.


I now have limited the calender to 2 weeks of history and things are much better.


Thanks to all who contributed - and those who may have more to say on the topic later!!

Cheers for now

Gary

[Ineedtoys]

I now have limited the calender to 2 weeks of history and things are much better.


Thanks to all who contributed - and those who may have more to say on the topic later!!

Cheers for now

Gary
Glad to hear it's improved Gary. Incidentally, there other steps you can take to make things more productive.

1. Use an "intelligent" task manager like GSPocketMagic++ or MagicButton to keep your most used apps in memory, and close the others completely to keep memory available. (WM's default behaviour is to keep everything loaded.)
I keep Calender, Contacts and Messaging in all the time so switching to them is almost instant.

2. Have a look at alternative PIM apps like Pocket Informant and PocketBreeze. Once started, these keep dates either side of Today cached in memory so looking for a time slot a couple of weeks away is faster.
Personally I think PI (and its main rival Agenda Fusion) is far too bloated now with stuff most people don't need. PocketBreeze is superb though, enabling you to do virtually everything from the Today page, quickly, and highly customisable to get it looking and working just the way you want.

HTH, more stuff to play with :)

[cizake]

Thank you for all those tips.

Works better for me!!

Thanks

[Roland]

My Tip: Intsall TMobile ROM (8/12/05) 1.6.2.4 My Dopod 838 realy improves on speed and also reliability!. Good ROM

[colonel]

I'm having great difficulty buying the fact that the wizard is slow.
I find mine very fast, I have been demonstrating games and runnings films in things like TCPMP, and it runs at full speed in good quality with no jerks. I have also compared the wizard to my dem x50v (624mhz) and in most programs there is no discernable difference.

The two things you should bare in mind are:

1. WM5 uses static memory which is slower. When i tested the universal I found the same pauses and fits and starts when opening, closing and switching between applications.

2. activesync 4.1 is full of bugs. 1 out of 4 times I use it, it locks up my wizard and i have to reset. reading other forums for wm devices, like aximsite, and you will see that it is an issue for all activesync 4.1 users and not restricted to the wizard.

In summary, i am waiting for activesync 4.2 with bated breath. In the meantime, if you use o2, using the basic setup is the best. There is not much you can do to make the device go faster, most of the hacks mentioned are a waste of time (pleceabo hacks) and it seems to run all my games fast enough (try the Anthelion 2 demo on pdamill.com if you don't believe me).

[colonel]

I'm having great difficulty buying the fact that the wizard is slow.
I find mine very fast, I have been demonstrating games and runnings films in things like TCPMP, and it runs at full speed in good quality with no jerks. I have also compared the wizard to my dem x50v (624mhz) and in most programs there is no discernable difference.

The two things you should bare in mind are:

1. WM5 uses static memory which is slower. When i tested the universal I found the same pauses and fits and starts when opening, closing and switching between applications.

2. activesync 4.1 is full of bugs. 1 out of 4 times I use it, it locks up my wizard and i have to reset. reading other forums for wm devices, like aximsite, and you will see that it is an issue for all activesync 4.1 users and not restricted to the wizard.

In summary, i am waiting for activesync 4.2 with bated breath. In the meantime, if you use o2, using the basic setup is the best. There is not much you can do to make the device go faster, most of the hacks mentioned are a waste of time (pleceabo hacks) and it seems to run all my games fast enough (try the Anthelion 2 demo on pdamill.com if you don't believe me).

[colonel]

I'm having great difficulty buying the fact that the wizard is slow.
I find mine very fast, I have been demonstrating games and runnings films in things like TCPMP, and it runs at full speed in good quality with no jerks. I have also compared the wizard to my dem x50v (624mhz) and in most programs there is no discernable difference.

The two things you should bare in mind are:

1. WM5 uses static memory which is slower. When i tested the universal I found the same pauses and fits and starts when opening, closing and switching between applications.

2. activesync 4.1 is full of bugs. 1 out of 4 times I use it, it locks up my wizard and i have to reset. reading other forums for wm devices, like aximsite, and you will see that it is an issue for all activesync 4.1 users and not restricted to the wizard.

In summary, i am waiting for activesync 4.2 with bated breath. In the meantime, if you use o2, using the basic setup is the best. There is not much you can do to make the device go faster, most of the hacks mentioned are a waste of time (pleceabo hacks) and it seems to run all my games fast enough (try the Anthelion 2 demo on pdamill.com if you don't believe me).

[colonel]

I'm having great difficulty buying the fact that the wizard is slow.
I find mine very fast, I have been demonstrating games and runnings films in things like TCPMP, and it runs at full speed in good quality with no jerks. I have also compared the wizard to my dell x50v (624mhz) and in most programs there is no discernable difference.

The two things you should bare in mind are:

1. WM5 uses static memory which is slower. When i tested the universal I found the same pauses and fits and starts when opening, closing and switching between applications.

2. activesync 4.1 is full of bugs. 1 out of 4 times I use it, it locks up my wizard and i have to reset. reading other forums for wm devices, like aximsite, and you will see that it is an issue for all activesync 4.1 users and not restricted to the wizard.

In summary, i am waiting for activesync 4.2 with bated breath. In the meantime, if you use o2, using the basic setup is the best. There is not much you can do to make the device go faster, most of the hacks mentioned are a waste of time (pleceabo hacks) and it seems to run all my games fast enough (try the Anthelion 2 demo on pdamill.com if you don't believe me).

[colonel]

I'm having great difficulty buying the fact that the wizard is slow.
I find mine very fast, I have been demonstrating games and runnings films in things like TCPMP, and it runs at full speed in good quality with no jerks. I have also compared the wizard to my dem x50v (624mhz) and in most programs there is no discernable difference.

The two things you should bare in mind are:

1. WM5 uses static memory which is slower. When i tested the universal I found the same pauses and fits and starts when opening, closing and switching between applications.

2. activesync 4.1 is full of bugs. 1 out of 4 times I use it, it locks up my wizard and i have to reset. reading other forums for wm devices, like aximsite, and you will see that it is an issue for all activesync 4.1 users and not restricted to the wizard.

In summary, i am waiting for activesync 4.2 with bated breath. In the meantime, if you use o2, using the basic setup is the best. There is not much you can do to make the device go faster, most of the hacks mentioned are a waste of time (pleceabo hacks) and it seems to run all my games fast enough (try the Anthelion 2 demo on pdamill.com if you don't believe me).

[colonel]

I'm having great difficulty buying the fact that the wizard is slow.
I find mine very fast, I have been demonstrating games and runnings films in things like TCPMP, and it runs at full speed in good quality with no jerks. I have also compared the wizard to my dell x50v (624mhz) and in most programs there is no discernable difference.

The two things you should bear in mind are:

1. WM5 uses static memory which is slower. When i tested the universal I found the same pauses and fits and starts when opening, closing and switching between applications.

2. activesync 4.1 is full of bugs. 1 out of 4 times I use it, it locks up my wizard and i have to reset. reading other forums for wm devices, like aximsite, and you will see that it is an issue for all activesync 4.1 users and not restricted to the wizard.

In summary, i am waiting for activesync 4.2 with bated breath. In the meantime, if you use o2, using the basic setup is the best. There is not much you can do to make the device go faster, most of the hacks mentioned are a waste of time (pleceabo hacks) and it seems to run all my games fast enough (try the Anthelion 2 demo on pdamill.com if you don't believe me).

[bsterngillet]

:shock:

Hello multiple posts!!!

[colonel]

sry :oops: the web site appeared to crash and then my post came back multiple times

[Kenji776]

Where exactly did you select this? In activesync? I recall seeing an optiion there. I thought it only syncs the last two weeks (but after doing that for a year I assumed you'd have a full year in pda).

I now have limited the calender to 2 weeks of history and things are much better.

Gary

[dave_logic]

I had big problems to start off with...After reading stuff on here, I hard reset the device, soft reset before the 02 sofware installed and now it runs about twice a fast (thats what it feels like anyway)...The only downside is having to set up GPRS manually, the loss of MMS and some other tools like SIM Tools I think.....I've set GPRS up ok but there is no MMS icon now available....either way....Its MUCH faster now...

[stegz]

Ok, I'm down to just pocketbreeze (still slow to flip) on my today screen, and IRDA off, and predictive text off, and it does seem a bit faster to be fair.

Now, is there any way to just sync, say, 6 months or 1 year of appointments in the future? As far as I can see you can only define how far "back" you can go.

Also, magic button isn't quite doing it for me - seems awkward to set ignores, and instead of hiding them they are still displayed (e.g. closing a number of windows takes me to the phone window which was not active to start with). Pocket Plus is too much bloat - so is wisbar advance. I just want a close button with a small memory footprint (pref. with a hardware button actionable ok/close) where I can designate what apps to "smart minimise". Any ideas?

[wilesd]

I had big problems to start off with...After reading stuff on here, I hard reset the device, soft reset before the 02 sofware installed and now it runs about twice a fast (thats what it feels like anyway)...The only downside is having to set up GPRS manually, the loss of MMS and some other tools like SIM Tools I think.....I've set GPRS up ok but there is no MMS icon now available....either way....Its MUCH faster now...

Don't soft reset after the hard reset. let the extended rom kick in and choose basic mode, then just remove the 2x O2 icons from the windows\startup folder. runs just the same but you have MMS as well.

[Ineedtoys]

. I just want a close button with a small memory footprint (pref. with a hardware button actionable ok/close) where I can designate what apps to "smart minimise". Any ideas?
Try GSPocketMagic++. Combines customisable task manager with enhanced start menu but is still small and fast.

[dave_logic]

. I just want a close button with a small memory footprint (pref. with a hardware button actionable ok/close) where I can designate what apps to "smart minimise". Any ideas?
Try GSPocketMagic++. Combines customisable task manager with enhanced start menu but is still small and fast.

I;ve tried that which works but you get a very anoying "You have installed in Basic mode, please reinstall using Personal mode....." error every time I boot up.....Anyway, as far as it goes so far the device is working 110% for the first time....I'll setup the GPRS manually and it that works - I;m happy..If it still doesn't - I'm still happier than before however, if I find no way to get the GPRS back I'll try the Basic install again...

I must note that SPD Pocket Plus and / or Wisbar etc really slow the whole thing down...I've decided to dump these and stay with the speed..

[wilesd]

. I just want a close button with a small memory footprint (pref. with a hardware button actionable ok/close) where I can designate what apps to "smart minimise". Any ideas?
Try GSPocketMagic++. Combines customisable task manager with enhanced start menu but is still small and fast.

I;ve tried that which works but you get a very anoying "You have installed in Basic mode, please reinstall using Personal mode....." error every time I boot up.....Anyway, as far as it goes so far the device is working 110% for the first time....I'll setup the GPRS manually and it that works - I;m happy..If it still doesn't - I'm still happier than before however, if I find no way to get the GPRS back I'll try the Basic install again...

I must note that SPD Pocket Plus and / or Wisbar etc really slow the whole thing down...I've decided to dump these and stay with the speed..

Try basic mode but with the O2 stuff removed fromwindows\startup folder.

[bsterngillet]

Go corporate using code 0506. Works a treat for me and is defo quicker than basic.

[dave_logic]

Go corporate using code 0506. Works a treat for me and is defo quicker than basic.

In choosing corporate, does this still install GPRS / MMS??

[bigone225]

see this maybe it can help some guys....

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=37911

Regards

[bsterngillet]

Go corporate using code 0506. Works a treat for me and is defo quicker than basic.

In choosing corporate, does this still install GPRS / MMS??

Certainly does.

[sion]

Ash'e here. told how good the chaps here where, however there are still one or two faults in WM5 I have reoload mine with a standard edition HTC ROM and it now runs like greased lightening, the hardware is essentially fine just like any new operating it has a few flaws eventually in there own good time as Usual O2 will release an update that will fix these speed bugs.

Up untill then I am afraid that you guys will just have to stick to a few workarounds to make your Wizards managable,

Regards Ash'e

[MrJoshua]

I think mine is very usable now that I've put it into corporate mode and have disabled animated menu's, enabled G wifi and whatnot.

As I've said before, if I hadn't have found this forum, I'd have sent the phone back to O2, as it was unusable with the O2 software installed.

[Garrington]

Thanks Ashe

Keep me posted with the 'potential' O2 update...

Thanks

Gary

[athorny]

hey garrington and 435nk9,

Thanks for your help. Doing a hard reset and then a soft reset before it installs the customisations has been the answer.

My miniS has speeded up unbelievably. I also noticed the battery life is better because whatever programs were running in the background are not.

Now it is useable and a great phone. It was close to the bin beforehand.

Thanks very much. Garrington - hope you came right as well.

Cheers