Looking for an alternative to Windows Update for Windows 8

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by roger_m, Dec 25, 2014.

  1. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    My sister gave me her laptop (an Asus VivoBook S200E) to look at as it was running very slowly at times. The main problem was that it only has 2GB of RAM installed. With so little RAM, the memory usage was becoming very high when Windows Update was running due it using so much RAM. Sadly, no more RAM can be added to this laptop as the RAM is soldered to the motherboard. I baffles me as why Asus would produce a laptop which not only comes with way too little RAM installed, but also can not be upgraded.

    I have disabled Windows Update, and with it disabled, memory usage is fairly low. As a result, performance is better. Since it is not ideal to not update Windows, I am wondering if there is an alternative to Windows Update which can run automatically. I don't want something which has to be run manually.

    The laptop is currently has Windows 8 installed, but I am going to get her to update to Windows 8.1 from the Windows Store.
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2014
  2. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Try http://www.pcwintech.com/cleanmem - it is designed for purposes like this, it might help a little.
    I have notebook with 2GB - 1,7 GB usable and I have even disabled pagefile and it runs just fine.
     
  3. Pilou42

    Pilou42 Registered Member

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    Wow. What's wrong with this CleanMem everywhere ?!!
    1) don't install a RAM cleaner
    2) never disable pagefile (some programs need it for whatever reason; deleting pagefile will cause instabilities)
    3) No, there are no alternatives to Microsoft Official updates, even if I agree it seems really not optimized (if not buggy because of some updates).
     
  4. J_L

    J_L Registered Member

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    1) If you don't bother doing the research, I don't see how you can substantiate your claims of CleanMem being just another RAM cleaner.
    2) Maybe ancient programs that I doubt runs well in Windows 8.
    3) There are manual update installers, you can probably schedule downloading/installing them.
     
  5. FOXP2

    FOXP2 Guest

    I like WinUtilities Pro and their Memory Optimizer is in there and it's quite good. I use it on my old clunker E8400 test rig that's got 2MB RAM. It performed flawlessly with Win10-TP for the week or so I was playing with it. On that same system I re-installed Win7x64 from the Techverse ISO and I use that optimizer full time. It was running while Windows Update did the 194 (!) updates. BTW, I also have a Custom initial/maximum 4056/4056 MB paging file configured.

    While WinUtilities Pro is currently at v11.3.1, the optimizer is v6.2. I don't know if the free version has the optimizer or not.

    You can download the stand-alone Memory Optimizer v6.0 free here.
    http://www.ylcomputing.com/content/view/348/151/
    It should serve sister well.

    BTW, CleanMem rocks.
    http://www.pcwintech.com/cleanmem
    It's more like a surgeon's knife than an optimizer running in the background. But if you're willing to take the time to configure it, it can't be beat.

    But since that computer is not yours, Memory Optimizer would seem to be your choice.

    Asus soldered in that RAM so your sister could afford it. :D More likely in that sockets don't make for slim ultrabooks.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 25, 2014
  6. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    Roger,

    From memory there are about 80 Windows updates that need to be done before you can update to Win8.1 and then numerous more updates to eventually get Win8.11.
     
  7. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    All of the updates required to install 8.1 are already installed, and upgrading to Windows 8.1 is an option in the Windows Store.
     
  8. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    @FOXP2 I installed Memory Optimizer, and set it to automatically clean the RAM unless there's high CPU use. It did help somewhat, but memory usage still became close to 100% briefly at times. As a result, I have uninstalled it, and disabled Windows Update again. But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

    I know that the RAM was soldered to save money. But, surely Asus could have upped the RAM to 4GB.
     
  9. Mayahana

    Mayahana Banned

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    CleanMem is the defacto standard in the business.

    It works.
     
  10. FOXP2

    FOXP2 Guest

    Yes. When it gets close to 100% is when it works it's best. :rolleyes: Somewhat help is all you can expect from anything on a 2GB system.

    Asus and anyone else selling systems with 2GB.

    Quite true. But it's a geek tool and it's his sister's computer.
     
  11. Mayahana

    Mayahana Banned

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    You can install CleanMem, and forgot about it. Nobody will even know it's there.
     
  12. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    I have used it years ago. But, with just 2GB of RAM, I don't think it is going to help much. Windows Update is using up to a gig of RAM.
     
  13. Pilou42

    Pilou42 Registered Member

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    Really ? So you're all paid for these messages I hope ?!!

    Please don't say things like that. It is installed by nobody, fortunately. And you have more chance to be fired by your business company for using not recommended applications by your Business IT team.

    I also repeat my answer to the OP: there are no alternatives, Windows Update uses a lot of resources, and there's no other way.
    The only thing you can do is disable the service when you don't want it to kick in when you do other stuff, but sometimes you'll have to reenable it to do updates.
     
  14. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Is it just install and forget, by default it recovers an unused RAM every 15 minutes. I install on every computer to replace faulty Windows memory management.
     
  15. Mayahana

    Mayahana Banned

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    Pretty normal to do this, and I agree - it essentially is an improvement for Windows Memory Management (trigger). I am unsure why Pikachu is so adamant against it, when it's been proven for a long long time, on probably hundreds of thousands of machines. Fortunately for me, I am the IT - and the MSP Controller, and we vet what we use. CleanMem has been vetted.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2014
  16. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    Re CleanMem: I have never used it, or seen anyone use it in business (yet). I will give it a try shortly. If it works, the fact that it works says dreadful things about Windows memory management though. Think about it - if you're having to make Windows API calls every 15 minutes to make sure Windows is properly freeing deallocated memory, the kernel is not doing its job properly.

    Granted that the Windows NT kernel is getting rather long in the tooth, I have trouble believing the defaults are that bad.

    Re Windows Update, you could try WSUS Offline Updater:

    http://download.wsusoffline.net/

    It is not any faster, but lets you archive updates in an installer for later use (possibly on multiple machines).
     
  17. J_L

    J_L Registered Member

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    Never replied to any of my challenges, and provides no evidence whatsoever.

    At this point, I'll just recommend the OP to rethink CleanMem and there are ways of automating offline installers (won't recommend any due to lack of personal experience).
     
  18. Pilou42

    Pilou42 Registered Member

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    I don't reply to your challenges because I am completely different than you. I use none of the applications you use/recommend except µBlock.
    You provided no evidence at all either. We're both persuaded we're right. No need of discussion. I just prevent you to make free ads for (what i think is) a useless product.
    Anyway guys, please don't hijack threads with this product whereas it does not answer at all the OP. You mention it in a lot of threads for no reason just because you know/like the dev.
    But don't be surprised if I ignore your post, we're clearly different and I've registered on this forum just to follow µMatrix (HTTPSB) progress at the origin.
     
  19. J_L

    J_L Registered Member

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    @Pilou42: Fair enough, for your first sentence.
    Another baseless claim, funny that you think I'm making free ads for a "useless" product. Why should I spoon-feed evidence when you can't bother following your own advice and Google it yourself?
    The only one hijacking is your needless boycotts of CleanMem, hence generating more "free ads".
    Never was surprised, except that you've somehow deviated from your original purpose.

    @roger_m: Have you tried WSUS Offline Updater or something similar? The problem with those, if I remember correctly, is that they need the Windows Update service turned on.
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2014
  20. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Well actually the only one, who went offtopic was you. I "ignored" you, because when someone asks, what is the best AV, I just provide my opinion and I do not bash other commentators for for what they recommend, I let the poster decide. The topic was about finding solution to failing Windows update because of insufficient RAM.

    P.S.: If you want to further discuss this, send me PM or write here: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/cleanmem-experimentation.371695/
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2014
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