Need help diagnosing slow speed with Lenovo Ideapad 310

Greetings, Betty:

Exactly how new is this laptop (a few days or a few weeks)? If you've been using SSDs in earlier machines, this Lenovo's mechanical HDD will react more slowly by comparison.

Option 1:
Let the laptop 'settle in' - I'm not joking, but sometimes starting/restarting the machine several times over the course of an afternoon, say, will allow all the drivers to activate properly. Speaking of drivers:

Option 2:
Update all relevant drivers, via Settings, Update & Security and AMD's Catalyst app (if available). Updating the AMD CPU and graphics drivers is particularly important. While you're at it, run your anti-virus program.

Worst-case scenario:
Study your purchase details and contact Fry's for a possible refund/replacement unit.

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.

Hello, Betty:

a) If you are comfortable with Fry's customer service, that's probably going to be your best card.

b) An anti-virus program doesn't do anything in terms of performance but it will (hopefully) remove any harmful program that may mess with your computer's overall performance. I know you've just taken it out the box yesterday, but even after only 1 day of internet surfing, you'd be surprised at what people will do to infect your machine.

c) Drivers are very important, so do use Fry's helpdesk as much as you can. If at all possible, use the phone. This will allow Fry's to guide you step-by-step in real time, unlike forum posts. Better still, if you know someone with even rudimentary PC skills, it's always going to be a much more comfortable experience to have an actual person to help you.

d) I have a Lenovo Y50 which looks very much like your 310. Personally, I have had no problems with this machine, but like any other manufacturer out there, I know lots of people have. I don't think your 310 is badly designed or underpowered. But you might have gotten one of the few 'duds' that appear in all brands, even Apple.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

OK, Betty:

This could well be a long journey. In the following, every now and then I'm going to ask some questions that may sound either patronizing or stupidly self-evident. Please bear with me because I can't see your computer and what's around it. And you don't have to go through this list in one go.

1. Is the machine plugged into the wall, or are you using the battery? If it's on battery power, the computer will work at reduced speed to save power. (You're most likely using the power cable, but I have to ask).
1.1 Remove any USB sticks or HDMI cables from the computer. This includes the keyboard and mouse, if relevant.
1.2 From your previous post I assume you are now using a completely 'new' computer with a 'new' Windows 10 version installed.

2. In Windows 10: Open the Start menu and click the Settings app (a small gear cog). In the Settings menu, click Update & Security. This will show you the Windows Update page. Windows is set to download and install updates automatically, in which case you will see some dots drifting from left to right. This means the update process is active.

If it isn't, click the button/rectangle that says 'Check for updates'. Your computer will start searching for updates and install them. If you get a message prompting you to restart the machine, do so. This could potentially take several hours because your computer is brand-new and needs to catch up with the latest Windows 10 version available. Let the computer download and install until it says 'Your device is up to date...' You will most likely be asked to restart several times. This takes top priority!

After that:
3. Click the small gear cog again (upper left corner) or 'Home'.

4. Click Network & Internet, and next select 'WiFi' in the left menu. Make sure it's On.

5. Select Ethernet in the left menu. It should say 'Connected' next to the icon.

6. Open the Start menu, and click on the tile that says 'Microsoft Edge'. This launches Microsoft's new browser called Edge. Spend some time browsing some web sites you know. Make a note of the speed at which it opens pages, or how many tabs you can open at the same time.

7. Open the Start menu, and bring up All apps by clicking the 3 horizontal lines in the upper left corner. Scroll down to Windows System. Right-click the app called Control Panel and select Pin to Start. This app is just as important as the Settings app. We'll be using the Control Panel later on.
7.1 This is a link to a user's manual for your Lenovo 310 that you can peruse in your own good time:
https/www.manualslib.com/manual/324580/Lenovo-Ideapad-U410.html

8. Go to Tom's Hardware and tell me how you're getting along.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

Hello, Betty:

Re 2. If it says 'downloading' or 'preparing to install' or 'installing updates..' it means that the Update feature works, and that's good news. Even if it seemingly does nothing. 0 % after 20 minutes may be down to :
a) Your internet connection speed (I don't know how many Mbits/second you have), and
b) The fact that Windows is downloading 50 - 100 - 150 update files in one go.

As I indicated earlier, this could potentially take hours, maybe even most of the day depending on your internet speed. You don't have to sit and wait next to the computer, but check in on it every half-hour, and go and do something else less frustrating in the meantime.


Some background information on Windows 10:
I thought about some of your earlier comments about being able to run a computer right out of the box. Of course, that's what you're supposed to do, and mostly you can. But you were also using a different operating system, probably Windows 7 or older, and there are some very important and controversial differences between Windows 7 and Windows 10. One such difference is the Auto Update feature.

Before Windows 10, users had to check for updates themselves. With Win10, Microsoft decided that users shouldn't have to waste time on that and instead leave it to Win10 to do this automatically in the background. This sounds like a great idea, and for the majority of users, in the majority of cases, it works absolutely fine.

In your case, initial setup and first update run, the Auto Update turned on in the background, downloading all the files deemed necessary and relevant - without asking you. Some of the update files are (very) large graphics drivers and cumulative updates that will hog a sizeable portion of your internet connection. If you're browsing the internet at the same time, you will experience reduced speed. And that's just the download phase.

Next, Win10 will install all these update files, and if you're working in some office programs with 1 or 2 browser tabs running and maybe even some music, you will experience reduced speed because Win10 is using a sizeable part of your processor capacity. And finally, you will be asked to restart the computer for some of these update to take effect.

The silver lining is that the initial setup/first update run is going to be the worst experience - after that, updates will trickle down at a reasonable pace and in reasonable sizes, and from then on you are unlikely to notice the Auto Update feature (there are bound to some exceptions, of course).

Hello, Betty:

At this point I'd like to know a bit more about Firestorm. Is this the program you're referring to:
http/www.firestormviewer.org/

If so, could you please tell me some more about it - I confess I've never heard of it. Also, when you started the Lenovo, did you download Firestorm from this web page, or did you install it via a USB?

I've been looking at this web site, and although it says that Firestorm will run on Windows 10, there are some restrictions to consider. Chiefly the fact that it mentions Intel, but says nothing about AMD (the processor brand your Lenovo uses). But if you could send me a few words on what Firestorm is and how you typically use it, I'd get a better idea of what to look for.

Yes, I know I keep talking about drivers and they are essential to any computer. They may also turn out to be at the core of your Firestorm issues. But now that we know Windows Update works, you're on the path to improving your computer's intended performance. (Note: Click the 'Check for updates' button regularly, at least that way you'll have some control of when the computer updates).

Thanks for the extra information on the Samsung, helps a lot.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

OK, we're getting closer. Can I assume you downloaded Firestorm 4.7.9? And which of the 3 links did you choose? I'm looking at this specific page:
http/wiki.phoenixviewer.com/downloads#supported_operating_systems

There's a reference to ATI video drivers at the bottom of the page, recommending users to upgrade their AMD drivers. Go to this web site:
http/support.amd.com/en-us/download/apu?os=Windows+10+-+64

... and download the latest driver for your AMD processor (Edition 16.9.2 from October 5, 2016). I'm using an Intel processor myself, so I can't guide you through all the steps, but it is very important. And if you've ever installed a program before, they all use basically the same interfaces and dialog boxes. If possible, you might consider inviting a friend over to assist you.

When you're done, open the Settings app and click 'System' in the upper left corner. Then select About at the bottom of the left menu. This will give you some specific system information about the computer. Please tell me what it says about:
OS build:
System type:
I just want to make sure that the Firestorm file matches your system type, 32 or 64-bit.

I hate to admit defeat as much as anyone else, but if we can't get the Lenovo to run Firestorm, I completely understand your frustration with this device. Short of resorting to the 'worst-case scenario' mentioned earlier (returning the Lenovo), I do hope that a solution will present itself very soon. I don't know how long you can hold on to the Lenovo (purchase details), but between Windows 10 and the AMD processor I suspect there are still dozens of drivers that need to be installed.

GreyCatz

1. You have the 64-bit Firestorm version 4.7.9.
2. I may have mistyped, but I'm referring to the (full) 299MB Radeon file.

GreyCatz.

Hello, Betty:

Any improvements?

GreyCatz.

Hello, Betty:

I am so glad to hear that!

Best wishes,
GreyCatz.

Hello, Betty:

You have 2 graphics cards now. One is built into the processor (it's called Intel HD 530, and this is referred to as an integrated graphics processor or IGP) and the other is the dedicated or discrete graphics card from Nvidia. It's called GTX 940MX. They are 2 separate manufacturers. In the Lenovo, AMD manufactured both the system processor and the graphics processor.

The error message you received suggests that your computer only uses the IGP which has about the same power as your AMD unit in the Lenovo 310. You need to tell the computer to use the more powerful GTX 940MX graphics processor instead.

- Open the Start menu and click All apps. Scroll down and expand Windows system. Right-click on the app called Control Panel, and click Pin to Start.
- Open Control Panel and click Hardware and sound. At the bottom of the page click 'Nvidia Control Panel'.
- In the menu to the left, click 'Set PhysX Configuration'. Under 'Select PhysX processor' you have 3 options. Select 'GeForce GTX 940MX' and click Apply.
- Next, in the menu on the left, click 'Manage 3D settings'. This will bring up 2 tabs: 'Global Settings' and 'Program Settings'. Select 'Global Settings'.
- Under 'Preferred graphics processor' click the small down-arrow. This brings up 3 options. Select 'High performance Nvidia processor' and click Apply.
- Restart the computer.

For future reference, this is likely going to happen every now and then, especially following a major Windows update run. If you experience lag or sluggishness, the Control Panel and the Nvidia Control Panel are useful places to look.

I hope this helps.
GreyCatz.


Edit: I almost forgot: What's the name and model of your new computer? Do you have a link to the web site where you bought it?