calibre freeze whole computer on start

[kovidgoyal]

Just as a teaser, the new db backend I am currently working on got the startup time for a 22K book library down from 11.5 seconds to 8.5 seconds on my machine.

[DrChiper]

Just as a teaser, the new db backend I am currently working on got the startup time for a 22K book library down from 11.5 seconds to 8.5 seconds on my machine.

That is good news as calibre spends most of its time in the db area.

For the record: catroot (& catroot2) seems to be only involved in verifying driver signatures. For some reason that happened a lot during calibre startup.

However, catroot is not accessed anymore on my machine. And for the good part: I also do not encounter any freezes anymore and calibre (depending on the selected database size) quickstarts now in seconds. Go figure

@BetterRed: Yes, i did (ages ago )

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by DrChiper

However, catroot is not accessed anymore on my machine. And for the good part: I also do not encounter any freezes anymore and calibre (depending on the selected database size) quickstarts now in seconds. Go figure

@BetterRed: Yes, i did (ages ago )

Something in the innards of Windows must trigger the ferreting around in the catroot directories on a 'first opportunity, do once only' basis - ie a caching regime.

I start what many would say are too many programs during startup. To overcome erratic and often 'too long' Windows start times, I force most of them to start in a serial fashion - I use the Startup Delayer program to do this.

As a consequence, my windows start times are generally faster than they would otherwise be, and they are far more predictable in how long they take. I don't use the system until I know all the start up programs are up and running.

I suspect one of my startup programs triggers the process of Windows ferreting around in the catroot directories. This is probably why I've never experienced these wedges and long delays when starting calibre or other applications.

Doesn't explain exactly why Dr Chiper's system has suddenly and mysteriously started to 'behave' itself, but let's hope its also happened to the OP's system.

BR

[cybmole]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

To overcome erratic and often 'too long' Windows start times, I force most of them to start in a serial fashion - I use the Startup Delayer program to do this.


BR

be careful with that program, I used it for a while then observed that some programs were actually starting twice!. once as normal, then once again as delayed. The delayer program fails to "turn off" some start up launches. Logitech setpoint was one of the misbehavers, I think

some windows services ( in Win 7 anyway) can be set to auto+delayed which is a safer solution. Ccleaner will show you all your startup programs for free & lets you disable the useless ones .

even better is to replace "shut down" with sleep ! My main PC only goes off when needed for windows updates or when there's a power cut !

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by cybmole

be careful with that program, I used it for a while then observed that some programs were actually starting twice!. once as normal, then once again as delayed. The delayer program fails to "turn off" some start up launches. Logitech setpoint was one of the misbehavers, I think

some windows services ( in Win 7 anyway) can be set to auto+delayed which is a safer solution. Ccleaner will show you all your startup programs for free & lets you disable the useless ones .

even better is to replace "shut down" with sleep ! My main PC only goes off when needed for windows updates or when there's a power cut !

Been using SD for a few years with no problems such as a those suggested. It's true that some programs don't like being delay started by SD - so I don't use the delay feature on them. And it's possible to have a program started twice, just as it is in vanilla windows.

I use SD because I dislike erratic startup times - I don't care much how long it takes, as long as its more or less the same today as it was yesterday. With SD that's what I get, without it I don't. As I said I start a lot programs at boot time - 29 to be exact, 17 of which on delay.

Startup Delayer does not 'manage' Services and Services Manager does not 'manage' applications - so IMO they are not alternatives.

BR

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by cybmole

be careful with that program, I used it for a while then observed that some programs were actually starting twice!. once as normal, then once again as delayed. The delayer program fails to "turn off" some start up launches. Logitech setpoint was one of the misbehavers, I think

some windows services ( in Win 7 anyway) can be set to auto+delayed which is a safer solution. Ccleaner will show you all your startup programs for free & lets you disable the useless ones .

even better is to replace "shut down" with sleep ! My main PC only goes off when needed for windows updates or when there's a power cut !

Updating to Windows 8 will reduce Windows start up delays to next to nothing, even on older machines, and also reduce delays in application start ups.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

Updating to Windows 8 will reduce Windows start up delays to next to nothing, even on older machines, and also reduce delays in application start ups.

Just remember though that it's important that the machine has sufficient resources (especially memory). While Microsoft state 1 GB for the 32 bit version, they have always understated the need for memory. If at all possible add additional RAM to a machine (if possible up to the 3 GB maximum that is supported by Windows 8 in 32 bit mode).

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Just remember though that it's important that the machine has sufficient resources (especially memory). While Microsoft state 1 GB for the 32 bit version, they have always understated the need for memory. If at all possible add additional RAM to a machine (if possible up to the 3 GB maximum that is supported by Windows 8 in 32 bit mode).

While I agree with the sentiment as a general statement, it could be inferred that your post refers specifically to Windows 8. Microsoft also state 1GB as the minimum requirement for 32 bit Windows 7 too.

In effect Windows 8 hibernates the kernel session (this results in a far smaller file than, say, a Win 7 hibernate if one wanted to compare with a Win 7 start from hibernation) and this is written to disk not to RAM. Therefore apart from matters common to Win 7 as well, I don't see that RAM size will have much effect on Win 8's fast boot - Win 8 will boot faster that Win 7 on machines of same RAM (and, as an aside, CPU too as Win 8 uses all CPU cores for boot, Win 7 does not).

Again, I am not disagreeing with more RAM is good, just the possible inference (which may not have been intentional) that Win 8 may not realise its fast boot advantages against Win 7 without it.

John

[BetterRed]

Just a reminder this thread is about slow start and system 'freezes' when Calibre starts

My post about my Windows starts was to offer a clue as to why I don't see what Dr Chiper saw on slow Calibre starts and system 'freezes' - when it appeared that Calibre was accessing the windows/system32/catroot & catroot2 directories.

As I said

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Something in the innards of Windows must trigger the ferreting around in the catroot directories on a 'first opportunity, do once only' basis - ie a caching regime.

cybmole offered another & better clue

Originally Posted by cybmole

some windows services (in Win 7 anyway) can be set to auto+delayed

The Services I have on Automatic (Delayed Start) are shown the attachment, the Windows Update Service (WUS) is one of them. Pretty sure that's the factory setting.

The catroot directories that Dr Chiper saw as apparently being accessed by Calibre contain all the Windows Updates - they're there so you can selectively uninstall them. I think it's reasonable to assume that WUS accesses those directories when it starts

Auto Delayed is 'reputed' to delay the start of a service until the system is 'stable', see http://superuser.com/questions/28565...indows-service

But on my system the Google Update Service doesn't start until I fire up Chrome or Earth and the NET 4.0 Services don't start until I load VS or a .NET 4 program

So I'm guessing that the slow speed and freezes experienced by the OP and Dr Chiper may be the result of WUS starting in the middle of a calibre start because of some indirect trigger from calibre. This would explain why it only happens after a reboot. I doubt there is anything Kovid can do about this.

Perhaps one of the 29 programs I have in my Windows start triggers the starting of WUS, because by the time my system is ready to use WUS has started. Or it might be because I have WU set to look for updates at 03:00 in the morning when the computer is powered down, so it has a look when I turn it on around 07:00am - I'm assuming WU uses WUS.

@jation if you are still around, have a look to see if WUS is running immediately after a reboot, if it isn't try starting it in Task Manager - wait a wee while (I would anticipate your pointer will show a spinner) and then start Calibre.

If that 'fixes it' then you could set WUS to start Automatic, then the delay will be in Windows startup rather than application startup. You might also want to check out Control Panel->Windows Update->Change settings

BR

[CrazyDutchwoman]

Sorry but I thought it better to bump this thread than begin a new one. if you prefer me to to begin a new one I will.

I have been using calibre for a few years now. The last few months I am using my laptop for a while and then when i start calibre I know in a few seconds everything will freeze. I know that when I double click on calibre to open my mouse will not work, nor my keyboard and once it is there, or nearly there? I can use everything.

Now even though I have used calibre for 5 year or so I am not very knowledgable about it.

Now that I think of it the last time I had to change the way calibre works is when my counting pages did not work and I had to do some changes.I had to customize the plugin count pages and I think edit columns.

What I could try is see if that is the problem why this freezing is happening?

Once calibre has opened and I close it and then re open I do not have the freezing. Only when I open it for the first time

My msi laptop has an i5 processor and 4gb memory and now use avira (could be because of avira, before I used another free av program)

If there are any tops how to change calibre or antivirus scan settings. I use calibre 1.4

[theducks]

1.4? Are you running XP? An i5 W/4G is sure up to running curren 2.X calibre


Configure the Avire (or other brand) to Exclude the Library folder for active scans (the books have been scanned before you ADD)

Defrag your HD , THEN defrag the Pagefile (get that Sysinternals tool from MS).
ckeck your Windows Virtual memory settings. It should not be OFF or overly small (meet or exceed suggested or Let Windows Manage)

If it was not for the second start works, I might have suspected a corruption in the Calibre config

Do you have any NETWORKED DRIVES or Cloud backup configured?