Windows 10 Upgrade Issues Part 2

After my upgrade to Windows 10, my laptop (Toshiba L875D-S7232) seemed sluggish, and no matter what I did, nothing seemed to fix it. So I decided that I would try a clean install of Windows 10. Unfortunately, it did not improve the situation.

Here are the steps that I used to fix it:

1. Set the virtual page size
1. Start -> All apps -> Windows System -> Control Panel
2. Click "System"
3. Click "Advanced system settings"
4. Select "Advanced" tab
5. In the "Performance" box, click the "Settings" button
6. Select "Advanced" tab
7. In the "Virtual Memory" box, click the "Change" button
8. Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
9. Set a reasonable custom size (I used 2048) in both initial and maximum
10. Click "Ok" three times
2. Disabled all notifications
1. Start -> Settings
2. Click "System"
3. Click "Notifications & actions"
4. Turn off all Notifications
3. Don't Disable Windows Search
1. Open task manager (Start -> All apps -> Windows System -> Task Manager)
2. Click "More Details"
3. Select "Services" tab
4. Click "Open Services" on the bottom
5. Right Click "Windows Search"
6. Click "Properties"
7. For "Startup type" select "Automatic"
8. Click "Start"
4. Remove All Live Tiles from the start menu
5. Uninstall unused windows apps
1. Open an administrator powershell
1. Click "Start"
2. Click "All apps"
3. Open "Windows Powershell" Folder
4. Right Click "Windows Powershell"
5. Click "Run as administrator"
2. Run the following commands one at a time
1. Get-AppxPackage *OneNote* | Remove-AppxPackage
2. Get-AppxPackage *BingWeather* | Remove-AppxPackage
3. Get-AppxPackage *XboxApp* | Remove-AppxPackage
4. Get-AppxPackage *Zune* | Remove-AppxPackage
6. Install updated video card drivers to the Crimson 16.2.1 Beta drivers (amd)
7. Installed updated chipset drivers to the Crimson 16.4.2 drivers (amd)
8. Disabled Raptr and Plays.tv
1. Open task manager (Start -> All apps -> Windows System -> Task Manager)
2. Click "More Details"
3. Select "Start Up" tab
1. Right Click "Plays.tv Video Recorder by Raptr"
2. Click "Disable"
3. Right Click "Raptr Desktop App"
4. Click "Disable"
4. Select "Services" tab
1. Click "Open Services" on the bottom
2. Right Click "Plays.tv Update Service"
3. Click "Properties"
4. For "Startup type" select "Disabled"
5. Click "Stop"

However, even after all these changes, my start menu can still be sluggish at times, but the other apps perform much better.

Windows 10 Upgrade Issues

As I have recently upgraded my laptop (Toshiba L875D-S7232) to Windows 10, I went about setting it up. However, I came across some issues.

AMD Quick Stream Licensing Issue

Everytime I started my computer, it would complain that AMD Quick Stream could not find its license. Luckily, simply uninstalling the AMD Quick Stream fixed the error message from popping up. I then updated the video drivers from AMD's website that included Quick Stream and I no longer seeing the error.

Touchpad Mouse Scroll Issue

When I went to switch the two-finger scroll to the scroll zone using Synaptic Pointing Device Properties, the zone would show as activating, but no scrolling would happen. So I went to Toshiba's website and downloaded the latest driver (which was actually a downgrade v19 to 16.2.10.5). But when I went to install it, it complained that a newer version was already installed and to uninstall it first. Unfortunately, when I tried to unistall it, it said that it could not because a DLL could not be found. To get around this I went into device manager and uninstalled the driver. Unfortunately, it still would not install using the install. However, I was able to update the driver thru Device Manager, by having it search for the driver in my User/AppData/Local/Temp folder. And great news, I am able to scroll using the zone! Now, Windows Update wants to install the newer version again, so onto the next issue.
Update: After Windows reinstalled  19.0.16.3, I just had to re-do my scroll settings and it works fine now.

Restoring Control Panel

As I wanted to hide the update to prevent my computer from re-installing it, I thought that I could hide it in the traditional Windows Update. To my suprise, when I went to Control Panel, it was EMPTY!
In order to add the icons back I followed these steps (source):

1. Start -> type "gpedit.msc" -> select the program
2. Select "User Configuration" -> "Administrative Templates" -> "Control Panel" 
3. Double Click "Prohibit Access to Control Panel" -> Select Disable -> Click Ok
4. Double Click "Show Only Specified Control Panel Applets" -> Select Disable -> Click Ok
5. Close any open Control Panel windows
6. Open the Control Panel

Unfortunately, even after the icons appeared, there is no Windows Update one, and so far I have been unable to get one to appear.

Start Menu will not open

Windows 10, randomly began to not open the Start Menu by either clicking on it or pressing the Windows Key.
To fix I followed the following steps to repair corrupt Windows files (source):

1. Open Task Manager (by right clicking on taskbar or pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del
2. Click "File" -> "Run new task" -> check "Create this task with administrative privileges" -> type "powershell" -> Click Ok
3. At the command prompt type "sfc /scannow"
4. Wait as this will take a long time

Toshiba L875D-S7232 Review

Here are my thoughts on my newly purchased laptop, a Toshiba L875D-S7232. Overall I am very happy with my purchase, but will definitely be looking to upgrade to a SSD at some point.

Pros:

• 17.3" 1600x900 screen
• A8-4500M Processor
• 6GB of 1600MHz RAM
• HD 7640G Graphics (defaults to 512MB use)
• The Silver and Black color makes the laptop look professional
• Good Windows Experience Index Scores (scale 1.0 to 7.9):
• Processor: 6.7
• Memory: 7.0 (out of the box; 7.2 after updates)
• Graphics: 6.7
• Gaming Graphics: 6.7
• Hard Disk: 5.9
• 3DMark 06: 4693
• Price: $479.99 + tax at Staples
• Boot Time is 2-3 minutes including login and browser launch

Cons:

• No Hard Drive Activity LED (I replaced with a software one: http://sourceforge.net/projects/activityindicat/ )
• The shiny black plastic surrounding and under the keyboard shows dirt and fingerprints easily
• Norton 30 day trial - I uninstalled and replaced with Avast Free Home - http://www.avast.com/en-us/index
• Power Plug does not have a separate ground 
• No Spot for a second hard drive
• It appears that video driver updates must come thru Toshiba instead of AMD, but this seems to be common with notebook APUs

Other Thoughts:

• Toshiba Software Update Page
• Island Keyboard may take some getting used to
• Function keys (F1-F12) default to their function use (change screen brightness/volume etc.)
• Was able to change this behavior thru the pre-installed Toshiba HWSETUP Utility
• Comes with Office Starter (ad supported Word and Excel)
• On Med/High settings at 1600x900 I get between 40 and 60 FPS (capped by vsync) in DDO
• On High settings at 1600x900 in Battlefield Play 4 Free I get ~30FPS
• Side exhaust does get quite warm
• Battery Life seems to be around 2.5-3 hours

Update 2016-07-06:

• Toshiba disabled virtualization in the bios. I am disappointed that they did this on a mid-range laptop to try to force more high end laptop sales.