Asus Zenbook UX32A WIN8 clean install - is my 24GB iSSD (IRST) caching properly?

runswithascript

There was a problem with the recovery partition on my ASUS Zenbook UX32A when it was running WIN7 so I have since run a clean install of that OS, upgraded online to WIN8, used the upgrade assistant to create a bootable USB installer for WIN8, and run a clean install of that OS - there are articles online how to activate a clean install of WIN8 using an upgrade product key which allows you to run WIN8 without your manufacturer's bloatware.

Since doing so I have had a hell of a time getting the 24GB iSSD to cache as it was before speeding up the HDD but I think I now have it sorted and I would appreciate if someone with a UX32A or UX32VD or similar specification laptop with an iSSD no larger than 24GB from any manufacturer on the forum could confirm this by comparing the screenshots or my settings running to their own.

I loaded the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver during the WIN8 install, created a 4096GB hibernate partition using diskpart.exe from elevated command prompt, installed Expresscache (not available from ASUS UX32A/VD support page) and configured it to mount the remaining visible 18.36GB of the SSD for caching, ran the Intel Rapid Storage Technology setup, and then installed Intel Rapid Start technology.

This is the output for Expresscache:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>cd "c:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\ExpressCache"

c:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\ExpressCache>eccmd -info
ExpressCache Command Version 1.0.86.0
Copyright® 2010-2011 Diskeeper Corporation.
Date Time: 5/10/2013 12:55:34:216 (SKYROCKET #23)

EC Cache Info
==================================================
==================================================
Mounted                   : Yes
Partition Size            : 18.36 GB
Reserved Size             : 2.00 MB
Volume Size               : 18.36 GB
Total Used Size           : 14.59 GB
Total Free Space          : 3.77 GB
Used Data Size            : 14.52 GB
Used Data Size on Disk    : 14.58 GB

Tiered Cache Stats
==================================================
Memory in use             : 1024.00 MB
Blocks in use             : 7959
Read Percent              : 1.55%


Cache Stats
==================================================
Cache Volume Drive Number : 1
Total Read Count          : 14053
Total Read Size           : 271.69 MB
Total Cache Read Count    : 4203
Total Cache Read Size     : 123.15 MB
Total Write Count         : 16085
Total Write Size          : 297.70 MB
Total Cache Write Count   : 26
Total Cache Write Size    : 432.00 KB

Cache Read Percent        : 45.33%
Cache Write Percent       : 0.14%

To display this output on your laptop you will have to run command prompt as administrator.

From Windows 7 please find command prompt by either searching for cmd.exe in the Start Menu, or locating it from the Start Menu >> Programs >> Accessories >> Command Prompt - once found please right click and run as Administrator.

From Windows 8 please hold down the Windows Key (bottom left of keyboard) and press F, then enter command into the search box and make sure you select Apps. Once it has found Command Prompt please right click it and select Run as administrator from the bottom of the screen.

In command prompt, for both version of Windows, please enter the following:

cd "c:\Program Files\Diskeeper Corporation\ExpressCache"

and then:

eccmd -info

Does your output look similar to mine? 18.36GB mounted? Please copy and paste or screenshot the full output if you can.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology

This can be found by searching Control Panel which is in the Start Menu for Windows 7, and for Windows 8 you press your Windows Key + I to get to access it.

Status. Notice there is no accelerate option or mention of RAID like on other laptops. It shows the SSD as 22GB, not 24GB which it actually is, not 18.36GB as is configured for express cache, and not 20 or 18GB which would be the full SD minus the 4GB hibernation partition configured for Intel Rapid START Technology?



Manage:



Performance:



Preferences:



Does it look the same for you?

runswithascript

Moderator please move this to the Laptops subforum where I meant to post it!

runswithascript

Bump.

Alanstrainor

UX32A output:

ExpressCache Command Version 1.0.86.0
Copyright® 2010-2011 Diskeeper Corporation.
Date Time: 6/1/2013 18:52:43:260 (ALANULTRABOOK #72)

EC Cache Info
==================================================
==================================================
Mounted                   : Yes
Partition Size            : 18.36 GB
Reserved Size             : 2.00 MB
Volume Size               : 18.36 GB
Total Used Size           : 15.59 GB
Total Free Space          : 2.77 GB
Used Data Size            : 15.52 GB
Used Data Size on Disk    : 15.59 GB

Tiered Cache Stats
==================================================
Memory in use             : 1024.00 MB
Blocks in use             : 8107
Read Percent              : 11.96%


Cache Stats
==================================================
Cache Volume Drive Number : 1
Total Read Count          : 295707
Total Read Size           : 16.65 GB
Total Cache Read Count    : 137287
Total Cache Read Size     : 9.05 GB
Total Write Count         : 377729
Total Write Size          : 13.45 GB
Total Cache Write Count   : 132940
Total Cache Write Size    : 4.42 GB

Cache Read Percent        : 54.33%
Cache Write Percent       : 32.86%

runswithascript

Alanstrainor wrote: »

UX32A output:

ExpressCache Command Version 1.0.86.0
Copyright® 2010-2011 Diskeeper Corporation.
Date Time: 6/1/2013 18:52:43:260 (ALANULTRABOOK #72)

EC Cache Info
==================================================
==================================================
Mounted                   : Yes
Partition Size            : 18.36 GB
Reserved Size             : 2.00 MB
Volume Size               : 18.36 GB
Total Used Size           : 15.59 GB
Total Free Space          : 2.77 GB
Used Data Size            : 15.52 GB
Used Data Size on Disk    : 15.59 GB

Tiered Cache Stats
==================================================
Memory in use             : 1024.00 MB
Blocks in use             : 8107
Read Percent              : 11.96%


Cache Stats
==================================================
Cache Volume Drive Number : 1
Total Read Count          : 295707
Total Read Size           : 16.65 GB
Total Cache Read Count    : 137287
Total Cache Read Size     : 9.05 GB
Total Write Count         : 377729
Total Write Size          : 13.45 GB
Total Cache Write Count   : 132940
Total Cache Write Size    : 4.42 GB

Cache Read Percent        : 54.33%
Cache Write Percent       : 32.86%

Thanks Alan. Can you confirm you did not install ExpressCache, it was just running already?

Also, please compare how Intel Rapid Storage Technology looks on your system to the screenshots above of my own. You can find it searching for Intel in the Control Panel.

Please find the correct Preferences tab screenshot below: