[Nook Color General] Blue6IX:
Step by Step Procedures

Thread Navigation:

Post 01 - Introduction, what this thread is about.

Post 02 - Benchmark Software, Memory Specifications.

Post 03 - Hardware: Computer, MicroSD cards, and Adapters/Readers.

Post 04 - Step by Step Procedures.

Post 05 - Results: Initial Test

Post 06 - Results: Test 2

Post 07 - Results: Averages

Post 08 - Results: Averages: SanDisk

Post 09 - Review/Questions/Notes.

Post 10 - Reserved

(Link to single post, reference purposes. Post 01 to reload whole thread.)

Topics in this post: (post contents)

-Computer Preparation Procedure

-Card Preparation Procedure

-Run Test Procedure

-Result Naming/Organization.

-Result Processing.

Computer Environment, Quick Overview:

- Windows XP Service Pack 3, fresh format and install.

- Installed on drive C.

- Crystal Disk Mark (v. 3.0.1) is the only program installed.

- A few settings changed in XP to optimize for testing (see Computer Prep Procedure)

- Networking disabled at the hardware level. Computer never networked during the testing.

- Wireless also disabled by toggle switch on the front of the laptop.

- No open networks within WiFi range of test location.

* - Always re-installed fresh, starting with the format of laptop drive C:, before starting a new test.

Computer Preparation Procedure:

01 - Boot to WinXP install CD.

02 - Format drive C: using the NTFS file system, full format. (NOT quick) Install Windows XP.

** - Choose 'Not Right Now' when prompted about automatic updates during install.

03 - Copy HP 4510s drivers folder from cd, install all system drivers. Reboot after each one.

04 - Copy Service Pack 3 Install.exe (redistributable) from cd, install SP3. (reboot)

** - Choose 'Not Right Now' when prompted about automatic updates on reboot.

## - Edit WinXP Settings:

05 +- Go to "Device Manager" and disable: Wireless Nic, Wired Nic, Modem, Webcam.

06 +- Go to "System Properties, Advanced Tab, Performance Settings": "Adjust for best performance"

07 +- Go to "System Properties, System Restore Tab": Turn off for all drives.

08 +- Go to "Power Options, Power Schemes Tab": Set "plugged in" to "Never" for all.

09 +- Go to "Display, Screen Saver Tab": Set to "None".

10 - Reboot.

11 - Install CrystalDiskMark (v. 3.0.1) from CD. (Say no to promo offer during setup)

12 - Delete: Copied Drivers install folder, SP3 install exe.

13 - Reboot

14 - Run "Disk Cleanup". All boxes checked.

15 - Run "Disk Defragmenter" on drive C:

16 - Reboot.

* - Laptop prepped and ready, environment as sterile as possible.

## - Next Procedure: Card Preparation.

Notes on the Computer Preparation Procedure:

- Chose to install drivers, etc... from CD to avoid attaching any usb devices not used in testing. Limits variables.

- Drivers always installed in the same order, and logically so (first chipset, second video, third audio, etc.. down the line of importance)

- Reboot = Save. No install is finished until the computer reboots. Always finish one task before moving on when accuracy is important.

- Reboot = Fresh Start. All RAM is cleared on reboot. Any processes, cached results, ghosts of previous benchmark results, or whatever are cleared from RAM upon reboot. Also ensures that the same amount of RAM is available for each individual benchmark, as much as can be.

- Average reboot time is 43 seconds, from clicking "reboot" until the system is loaded and ready to use. (Averaged of 50 recorded reboots in this exact setup.)

- This 16 step procedure should ensure that each test is run in the same operating environment, as much as is possible.

Card Preparation Procedure:

01 - Boot Nook without MicroSD card into it's stock, 1.2 configuration.

02 - Insert MicroSD card into Nook.

03 - Go to "Device Info, SD Card": Format card. (or unmount and format, if necessary)

04 - Unmount and remove MicroSD card.

05 - Using a MicroSD-to-SD Adapter, insert into laptop.

06 - Go to "My Computer": right-click on and format the MicroSD card. (full format, not quick. Default options, no label (leave it blank))

07 - Go to "Safely Remove Hardware": Safely Remove MicroSd Card.

08 - Reboot.

09 - Repeat for each card being tested.

10 - Reboot computer when finished.

* - All MicroSD cards ready, prepped as identically as possible.

## - Next Procedure: Run Test

Notes on the Card Preparation Procedure:

?- Why format in the Nook first? Isn't that just extra... (card wear, time, an extra step, etc...)

+- All noted and weighed against one heavy fact: Windows XP is lazy. It tries to cut corners, and that's it's job...all in the name of serving you more quickly. Faster to load from cache then generate new, etc...

+- Making XP format the card coming from the Nook, it has to actually do something to format it. The result is not going to look just like it did before it started. This ensures XP formats the card, and also provides windows with the same thing to format every time. (As much as possible.)

+- 'Extra step' taken for variable control. Formatting the same information on each card is an attempt to ensure each card is programmed as identically as possible. ...what you start with can effect what you end up with...

- Make sure to use the same MicroSD to SD Adapter for each MicroSD card formatted.

- Using the same MicroSD to SD adapter for Card Preparation is also about variable control.

Run Test Procedure:

Pre 1 - Perform Install Procedure on the computer.

Pre 2 - Perform card preparation procedure on each MicroSD card to be used during the test.

Pre 3 - One at a time, insert any USB devices to be used in the test, with no MicroSD card in the device. This allows Windows to recognize and install any drivers necessary. Make sure to "Safely Remove" each device, and before rebooting. Reboot when finished.

01 - Power on computer, Reboot if already on. Wait until fully loaded and ready before next step.

02 - Insert MicroSD card into Adapter/Reader.

03 - Insert Adapter/Reader into computer.

04 - Run Crystal Disk Mark. Make sure to select the right type of test to run on the MicroSD card. (example: 5 x 50MB)

05 - Save results to Notepad file.

06 - Go to "Safely Remove Hardware": Safely Remove Adapter/Reader.

07 - Physically remove Adapter/Reader from computer.

08 - Physically remove MicroSD card from Adapter/Reader

09 - Reboot computer.

Choose:

10a - Repeat steps 2 through 9 for next Adapter/Reader using the same MicroSD card.

10b - If no next Adapter/Reader, repeat steps 2 through 9 on the next MicroSD card. (Make sure to test Adapters/Readers in the same order as the previous card.)

10c - If no next Adapter/Reader or MicroSD Card, Proceed to step 11.

11 - Insert USB thumb drive, copy notepad benchmark files from the computer.

* - End of Test.

* - Compile results.

Notes on the Run Test Procedure:

- Always "Safely Remove" Adapter/Reader from computer. Never just pull it out. DO NOT 'eject' from "My Computer" window.

- Always "Safely Remove" before a reboot, so Windows isn't expecting hardware that may not be there the next time it's powered on. (..and it won't effect the ram for the next benchmark.)(Start fresh, each time.)

- Make sure to always reboot when called for. Single greatest measure of variable control during testing. Prevents any contamination of RAM from the last benchmark, or anything else.

- Make sure to always use the same physical USB port on the computer for all benchmarks run. Uses the same physical circuitry pathway for each result, more variable control.

- Do not insert USB thumb drive, or any other devices, into the computer until the last Crystal Disk Mark result is recorded from the Test. Simply plugging it into the computer introduces irrelevant information to the computer environment, possibly contaminating benchmark results. Once all benchmarks have been recorded for that Test, it doesn't matter any more since the computer itself will be reformatted before the next test.

Result Naming/Organization:

- From step "02" to "09" represents one segment of a test.

- Each segment produces a Crystal Disk Mark result.

- Seperate segments are identified by number (Segment 1, Segment 2, etc...)

- Each segment is labelled afterwards, name edited in to replace the link in the generated result.

- Each segment is labelled with the name written backwards, so it's name starts with itself. (see example below)

- From step "Pre 1" to "11" represents one whole test.

- Seperate tests are identified by number (Test 1, Test 2, etc...)

- Each test is run on a fresh format/install of Windows XP on the computer.

- Each test starts with the MicroSD cards formatted the same.

- Neither the computer or the MicroSD cards are formatted again during the Test.

- Multiple tests are grouped by series.

- Seperate series are identified by name (Series:Initial, Series:Sandisk, etc...)

- A series represents one complete benchmark that includes the results from all MicroSD cards and Adapters/Readers tested.

- Multiple series are grouped under the identifier "(date)Benchmark: (test type)"

- (date) is the completion date of the Benchmark.

- (test type) is the type of test run by Crystal Disk Mark.

Naming convention examples:

Correctly written full name. Order and style used on charts of results. Individual results stay together when sorting on the computer.

1 - Example full name of an individual Crystal Disk Mark result from today, the date of this posting:

05.29.2011Benchmark:5x50MB, Series:Initial, Test 1, Segment 1

(result)

2 - Example full name of an individual Crystal Disk Mark result from February 1st of next year:

02.01.2012Benchmark:5x50MB, Series:PNY8GIG, Test 3, Segment 4

(result)

On the individual results themselves, generated by Crystal Disk Mark, I wrote the names backwards, declaring the record itself and working up to what test it was a part of.

Reason being: When you are browsing the source records, knowing the segment of the test is more important information then what test it was a part of. It makes it much easier and quicker to browse the results from the human perspective.

1 - Example of the label as it would appear on the result itself, from 1 above:

Segment 1 of Test 1, Series:Initial

(result)

2 - Example of the label as it would appear on the result itself, from 2 above:

Segment 4 of Test 3, Series:PNY8GIG

(result)

Don't worry if it sounds confusing, the next post has the test results in it. Dive into the numbers and it'll all make sense. You can always refer back here later.

It'll make more sense the first time I update the results with new data.

Results Processing:

- The Crystal Disk Mark result is copied to a notepad file. In the top of the result, the link is replaced with the name of the result in testing.

- Notepad results are saved by MicroSD card. Name = Tag heading in spreadsheet.

- All the test data was copied from the notepad files into an Excel spreadsheet. I checked for errors, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. The original notepad results from Crystal Disk Mark are included, along with the spreadsheets in case anyone wants to look.

- Post an error if you find it so I can correct it - Thanks!

- I let Excel do all of my computations. When it averages beyond 3 decimal places deep I truncated the results before taking the next average. I did not round anything. The data is there anyone wants that information, I don't think it's the right way for the test... educate me if i'm wrong.

- All Excel Spreadsheets are saved with the cursor in cell A1 of each sheet used.

- When posting a test, post starts with test details then presents results in code blocks by memory card.

- Code blocks are further organized with the read and write speeds of each adapter/reader listed under the cards average.

- Zip file of test folder with notepad/spreadsheet included with posting of test.