New Dell Laptop Losing Memory/System Cache on Shutdown

Hi,
I've just set up a new Dell laptop for my father in law and it seems to be losing its system cache (I think that's what it is anyway). Normally when I use a computer for the first time new software takes a while to boot up, but then after this the software boots up much more quickly.

This happens with this new laptop, except when you shut it down. Every time its shut down the programs (such as word, iTunes, chrome) etc take ages to start up again. However, if I close the program and restart it it opens up instantly, until I shut the computer down again. (it does not lose memory if I just close the lid)

I assume this is not normal behaviour (I use Mac, but have used Windows 7 in the past), and so is there something I can do to fix it?

Cheers

PS It's a Dell Inspiron 15 with a 4th gen 1.7GHz 3M Cache i3 processor with 6GB RAM

This happens with this new laptop, except when you shut it down. Every time its shut down the programs (such as word, iTunes, chrome) etc take ages to start up again. However, if I close the program and restart it it opens up instantly, until I shut the computer down again. (it does not lose memory if I just close the lid)

Click to expand...

When you first start an application the computer must read all of it's code and data from disk. That is slow. When you shut down the application all of it's code remains in RAM and the system will try to keep it there for as long as possible. This is the system cache. When you later run the application it will start much faster. But RAM is volatile storage so when you power down all of it's contents is lost and the system cache disappears. That is the way RAM works.

Does that explain your issue?

LMiller7 said:

This happens with this new laptop, except when you shut it down. Every time its shut down the programs (such as word, iTunes, chrome) etc take ages to start up again. However, if I close the program and restart it it opens up instantly, until I shut the computer down again. (it does not lose memory if I just close the lid)

Click to expand...

When you first start an application the computer must read all of it's code and data from disk. That is slow. When you shut down the application all of it's code remains in RAM and the system will try to keep it there for as long as possible. This is the system cache. When you later run the application it will start much faster. But RAM is volatile storage so when you power down all of it's contents is lost and the system cache disappears. That is the way RAM works.

Does that explain your issue?

Click to expand...

Yes and no to be honest as I've never noticed this before with any of my other computers in the past, or any other device such as iphone or ipad. Take word for example, the first time it ever opens on a system it's slow, I would expect that. But after this I would expect it to open much quicker, whether the computer's been shut down or not. I don't recall this happening with my old Dell running windows 7. I'll have to dig it out and see. It's not fair comparing it to my Mac as this has a SSD.

Maybe it's because my old Dell was relatively slow compared to current laptops and programs such as word always took a few seconds to load up, so the 'normal' loading time and the loading time from 'cold boot' weren't too disimilar. With this new laptop, once it's up and running and you've opened the program once it then opens up immediately, and so the delay after starting from cold boot is much more noticeable? Would you expect programs like word to take 3 or 4 seconds to open after cold boot, and then open up instantly after this then? Google chrome seems to be the slowest to load after cold boot, taking nearly 10s and showing the spinning wheel whilst doing so. After that it opens up instantly.

That machine will always run slow with Windows 8. If it ran fine with 7 on it. I would reload Windows 7 back on the machine. Also the i3 is a pretty slow CPU, compared to a i5.

Would you expect programs like word to take 3 or 4 seconds to open after cold boot, and then open up instantly after this then?

Click to expand...

YES

Over the years I have seen this countless times with different operating systems. All the way from Windows 95 to Windows 8.1 and just about everything in between. The system cache was designed to make this possible. But after a power down the system cache is gone and cannot help you.

broe23 said:

That machine will always run slow with Windows 8. If it ran fine with 7 on it. I would reload Windows 7 back on the machine. Also the i3 is a pretty slow CPU, compared to a i5.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I think you've misunderstood, Windows 7 was on my old machine. Windows 8 is on my father in law's new machine.

LMiller7 said:

Would you expect programs like word to take 3 or 4 seconds to open after cold boot, and then open up instantly after this then?

Click to expand...

YES

Over the years I have seen this countless times with different operating systems. All the way from Windows 95 to Windows 8.1 and just about everything in between. The system cache was designed to make this possible. But after a power down the system cache is gone and cannot help you.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I guess it's like I thought then, my old laptop with win 7 on must not have had the same level of difference and so I've not noticed it before.

Does Mac work differently then, or is it purely down to the SSD that programs will always open instantly?

snerkler said:

broe23 said:

That machine will always run slow with Windows 8. If it ran fine with 7 on it. I would reload Windows 7 back on the machine. Also the i3 is a pretty slow CPU, compared to a i5.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I think you've misunderstood, Windows 7 was on my old machine. Windows 8 is on my father in law's new machine.

Click to expand...

Those systems came with Vista pre-installed. They never were intended to be power horse's. Personally I would place 7 on it and forget about running 8. The unit will never be as fast as a i5 with Windows 8 or 7 on it.

It was built as a budget machine with very minimal spec's. You are never going to see it fly out of the gate, no matter how much you attempt to tweak the OS.

snerkler said:

LMiller7 said:

Would you expect programs like word to take 3 or 4 seconds to open after cold boot, and then open up instantly after this then?

Click to expand...

YES

Over the years I have seen this countless times with different operating systems. All the way from Windows 95 to Windows 8.1 and just about everything in between. The system cache was designed to make this possible. But after a power down the system cache is gone and cannot help you.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I guess it's like I thought then, my old laptop with win 7 on must not have had the same level of difference and so I've not noticed it before.

Does Mac work differently then, or is it purely down to the SSD that programs will always open instantly?

Click to expand...

Yes Mac OS works differently. It is built on a BSD kernel. If OS-10.x.x is running on a newer unit. It will always blow away that older Dell.

broe23 said:

snerkler said:

broe23 said:

That machine will always run slow with Windows 8. If it ran fine with 7 on it. I would reload Windows 7 back on the machine. Also the i3 is a pretty slow CPU, compared to a i5.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I think you've misunderstood, Windows 7 was on my old machine. Windows 8 is on my father in law's new machine.

Click to expand...

Those systems came with Vista pre-installed. They never were intended to be power horse's. Personally I would place 7 on it and forget about running 8. The unit will never be as fast as a i5 with Windows 8 or 7 on it.

It was built as a budget machine with very minimal spec's. You are never going to see it fly out of the gate, no matter how much you attempt to tweak the OS.

Click to expand...

I'm confused why you say it came with vista? It's a new machine shipped brand new from Dell with Windows 8.???

Once the system is up and running it's plenty fast, just that initial launch of programs. Granted I don't know what it would be like with programs like Photoshop or a Final Cut equivalent, but my father in law only uses it for internet and syncing iphone/iPad.

Not that I'm thinking of doing it but I assume adding a SSD would help speed up program start up?

Give this a try. Right click the Start Orb and select System. Then go to advanced system settings. Click the Advanced tab and then Settings under Performance. Now select Adjust for best performance, apply and OK, and see if it helps any. If it doesn't you can always go back in and set it to Let Windows decide.

snerkler said:

broe23 said:

snerkler said:

Thanks. I think you've misunderstood, Windows 7 was on my old machine. Windows 8 is on my father in law's new machine.

Click to expand...

Those systems came with Vista pre-installed. They never were intended to be power horse's. Personally I would place 7 on it and forget about running 8. The unit will never be as fast as a i5 with Windows 8 or 7 on it.

It was built as a budget machine with very minimal spec's. You are never going to see it fly out of the gate, no matter how much you attempt to tweak the OS.

Click to expand...

I'm confused why you say it came with vista? It's a new machine shipped brand new from Dell with Windows 8.???

Once the system is up and running it's plenty fast, just that initial launch of programs. Granted I don't know what it would be like with programs like Photoshop or a Final Cut equivalent, but my father in law only uses it for internet and syncing iphone/iPad.

Not that I'm thinking of doing it but I assume adding a SSD would help speed up program start up?

Click to expand...

Regardless if Dell loaded it with 8. That machine series came out when Vista was released. The platform is not intended to run Windows 8. It would perform better with Windows 7.

Windows will automatically adjust for best performance. You could add an SSD in place of the hard drive. But it is not going to change the fact that the CPU cannot handle the load that Windows 8 places on it.

broe23 said:

snerkler said:

broe23 said:

Those systems came with Vista pre-installed. They never were intended to be power horse's. Personally I would place 7 on it and forget about running 8. The unit will never be as fast as a i5 with Windows 8 or 7 on it.

It was built as a budget machine with very minimal spec's. You are never going to see it fly out of the gate, no matter how much you attempt to tweak the OS.

Click to expand...

I'm confused why you say it came with vista? It's a new machine shipped brand new from Dell with Windows 8.???

Once the system is up and running it's plenty fast, just that initial launch of programs. Granted I don't know what it would be like with programs like Photoshop or a Final Cut equivalent, but my father in law only uses it for internet and syncing iphone/iPad.

Not that I'm thinking of doing it but I assume adding a SSD would help speed up program start up?

Click to expand...

Regardless if Dell loaded it with 8. That machine series came out when Vista was released. The platform is not intended to run Windows 8. It would perform better with Windows 7.

Windows will automatically adjust for best performance. You could add an SSD in place of the hard drive. But it is not going to change the fact that the CPU cannot handle the load that Windows 8 places on it.

Click to expand...

i3 cpu were not around when Vista was released ,when first released they would have had win7 on then.

and my opinion your grandfathers laptop is performing just as it should when first turned on ,you my be just so use to the speed of your mac

I am not stating that the i3 was around when Vista was out. The laptop series that the OP is inquiring about. Has been around since Vista came out. It was never intended to be a powerhouse laptop. Always was to be nothing more then a budget line for those who did not want a Netbook, but still wanted a laptop.

They either are going to have to load Windows 7 to see significant speeds out of it. Or like you stated Caperjack. Realize that it is not the same hardware as their Mac.

broe23 said:

I am not stating that the i3 was around when Vista was out. The laptop series that the OP is inquiring about. Has been around since Vista came out. It was never intended to be a powerhouse laptop. Always was to be nothing more then a budget line for those who did not want a Netbook, but still wanted a laptop.

They either are going to have to load Windows 7 to see significant speeds out of it. Or like you stated Caperjack. Realize that it is not the same hardware as their Mac.

Click to expand...

sorry ,I miss under stood,i get it now "the series of laptop ",yes budget laptops you get what you pay for ,a web browser toot,
,iam and away from home right now using a acer one netbook[atom cpu,and win7 starter] at the moment,and iam not even sure i got what I paid for ,lol