Slackware 12.0 on Dell Latitude C840 Laptop -- Slow
 

Hello:

I installed Slackware 12.0 (used the default "huge" and "SMP" kernel on the bootable DVD) on a few different computers such as ASUS P5GDC-V motherboard, Toshiba laptop A205/S5812, etc. They all installed properly and worked fine.

However, for Dell Latitude C840 laptop with 2.0GHz CPU and 512MB memory, after the installation of Slackware 12.0, it is extremely slow to copy files from one directory to another (in 1KB/s - 500KB/s range) on the local drive (I have only single IDE type local drive of 100GB, 2.5", 4200 rpm, FUJITSU MHU2100AT, Firmware 00000008), to log into the computer, to do "ls" to list directories, to "du" to get the size of a directory, to start Gnome desktop, and to open each program in Gnome, etc. However, once logged in to an account, the log in again to the same account is fast. It is also the case once "ls" or "du" for a directory, to "ls" or "du" the same directory again is fast. This is the same for all other programs mentioned above, including Gnome and applications there. I also notice if I copy from an external USB drive to the local IDE hard drive, it is very fast (in about 6MB/s). However, if I do the opposite, it is extremely slow (in the KB/s range). It seems to me that the read process from local drive is very slow, that could explain why it is slow to "ls" a local directory or to start Gnome. But when "ls" again, it will be fast. It seems as if the computer has some memory to what have been done and thus do them fast when repeated the second time. I turn off (use loopback) the networking with the hope to solve the problem, but it does not. I also check the BIOS to see if any Power management may interfere, I have not found any.

To identify the problem, I installed the Slackware 12.0 with only "a" (basic) series. After the installation, the copy operation is fast as expected (about 6MB/s). However, when I install with more programs such as "ap", "d", ..., the problem above starts again.

I also reinstalled the older Slackware 10.0 to the Dell Latitude C840 under the same computer and BIOS conditions, and found there is no problem mentioned above.

Therefore, I suspect that the default setting of Slackware 12.0 is interfering with the read function of the local hard drive of the Dell Latitude c840.

I would appreciate if you could give me some hint on possible place to check the settings in Slackware 12.0 to solve the problem.

Looking forward to getting answers from you.

Thanks.

Sincerely,

From Luut