topic Re: Ram problems on Arc S in XPERIA archive

Ram problems on Arc S

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:16:42 GMT

On 1 May 2012 bought my first smart phone.... the Arc S (after reading loads of good reviews) first few days it was great and i down loaded close to 200 Apps... but now the Arc S feels very very slow and sluggish... it doesn't feel like it has 1.4 ghz cpu.

When try to swipe the touch screen it takes forever....

I've checked how many Apps are running in the background and there are loads (almost every one I down loaded)... I don't think the cpu is at fault but i suspect it lack of ram...as I have 44k left....

Tried to move loads of Apps to 8gb SD card but its no use Arc S still feels slow.

When the phone get hot thats when it also really slows down.....

Overall I suspect its too many apps trying to access to little ram = slow Arc S

According to - http://www.xperiablog.net/2011/12/12/link2sd-guide-never-worry-about-internal-memory-limits-again/#more-3673

The ram can be sort of increased by partitioning part of the SD card...

I am an IT pro and use to using Unix and Linux at root at work....

How do I get root access on the Arc S with out wrecking my warranty ?

Also how can I permanently kill those apps running in the back ground ?

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

slimshaddy — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:20:52 GMT

if you want root access , it may void your warranty.

check this thread,

http://talk.sonymobile.com/message/188332#188332

how do you close the applications ? by pressing the back key right ? you should not pres the home [middle] button to exit any application or it will consume RAM.

also , just restart your phone every 3-4 days.

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:29:55 GMT

I'm still very new to the Arc S but to me it feels like a mini PC and I treat it that way hence my questions...

Micro SD card isn't ram.... its = to HDD... which is a bit slower than ram..but If I can get 1-2gb of "virtual ram" on the SD card that will make the Arc S run faster....

Its a huge pity smart phone designers never allowed users to add more ram later on (like you can to a PC or laptop)...

I close an app either by the left key or by using an App Start up Manager to kill them.

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:55:08 GMT

I just read that thread... very useful.... if i touch the boot loader then my warranty is void but I guess if I just want to increase the ram and get "virtual ram" I should be ok.

I'll need to copy and paste that in to MS Word and high light the useful bits so when I go root ... I don't screw up as I like the Arc S a lot ... better looking than iphone or the new samsung SIII

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

AlanH — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:44:41 GMT

I would suggest not to unlock your bootloader as you will loose DRM keys, unlock bootloader only if you want to load custom kernels.

moving your apps into SD won't help you on the RAM. What uses RAM are those apps running on background or running as service. These are handled automatically by Android, it kills apps when it runs out of memory. Rooting would give you control on which app runs on background. You can remove them from system/app folder so they won't run. Or use Titanium backup to freeze them.

Note there are apps that are safe to disable and there also not as they really need to run on background.

With ICS you can select what app you want to freeze, no rooting needed.

Check this as it has some discussion about apps

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1089470

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Fri, 04 May 2012 20:44:49 GMT

I tried all the root links but my version of gingerbread can't be rooted with out breaking the boot loader.....

I've only had this phone for 3 days and it has a 2 yr warranty from Sony.... I ain't blowing that just for some "virtual ram"....

If i sent the phone back to Sony could they give me some "virtual ram" under warranty ?

I've just seen this - http://androidadvices.com/install-apps-sd-card-android-rooting/

Will that blow my warranty ?

That may get around the lack of ram... if this allows me to move all the apps to SD card then I'll have plenty of ram to run the phone on....

As the CPU is a fast single core .....

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

AlanH — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:29:29 GMT

since your phone is still under warranty, you have to go the official updates from Sony, rootings and unlocking bootloader will void your warranty. ICS has a better way of managing apps running in RAM, you can disable them so they won't load up in RAM. You can ran PC Companion or Sony Update Service, when ICS is available on your phone it will prompt you.

The links you gave above only manages internal memories so you only save there internal memory space.

When you go to Settings >> Applications >> Running Services you will see there your RAM used and available (free) and all Apps that are loaded and running in your phone. When the memory reaches below 24MB then android decides which App to kill to free up space.

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

slimshaddy — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:00:37 GMT

which android version you are using ?

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Sat, 05 May 2012 08:32:16 GMT

Since we spoke the phone slowed down so much with all those apps running in the background etc that I had to reset it to Settings Reset option....

Then I deleted the SD card and my down loaded apps off the phone and their icons.... but there is one down loaded app which refuses to be uninstalled...

I had McAfee Anti Virus on it (which I got with the phone) but I accidently deleted that....

But after all this the phone feels as fast the day I got it.....

Arc S's down side is lack of usable ram.....

If this had been a PC I would have got Norton Ghost or Acronis to save all the Apps etc.... but you can't get this for Android.....

I will be doing stuff from the link I sent (as it won't blow my warranty as I'm not going in to root)....But its very very long winded and complex....

I just want all the down loaded apps to stay on my SD card and have as much ram as i can to use....

Even if I had the dual core Samsung SII or Sony Xperior S I'd have the same probs as they also run gingerbread .....

I don't want a million apps running at the sam time just one or two (Anti Virus and what every app I'm using at the time) .....

I have a quad core PC with 4gb of ram + Windows 7 but even on that I only have 2-3 programs running at the same time.... Arc S will be used in the same way.

This phone is my first smart phone and so far I don't like the "Android" experience as you don't have root access.... you can't use Norton Ghost etc to clone and restore the phone incase bad stuff happens.....

If you change OS you can't down grade to your old one and thats a real pain.....

I heard ICS is designed for dual core so it could slow down my single core....hence why I haven't upgraded yet....

Warranty from Sony puts you in jail as you can't do what you want..

I now regret buying the Arc S due to the above.... but I can't take it back and change it as the shop manager won't allow it....and for my budget the Arc S was the best Pay as you go phone you can get so far....

I also got the Arc S as its said to have one of the best 8mp camera and 720 HD camcorders around...

Hope you guys can help.....

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Sat, 05 May 2012 08:33:15 GMT

Its Android 2.3.4

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

slimshaddy — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:35:43 GMT

oh sorry , please mention the firmware \ build number also.

if its 0.62 you cannot root , you have to flash to 0.42 then root. flashing will also void warranty.

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Sat, 05 May 2012 08:39:56 GMT

build no = 4.0.2.a.0.62

base band version = 8x55a-aaabqoazm-203028d-64

kernal verson = 2.6.32.9-perf semcuser@semchost#1

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

slimshaddy — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:21:40 GMT

yeah build 0.62 cannot be rooted.

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

uliwooly-wooly — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:27:01 GMT

you could root .62 either 1) by unlocking your bootloader (BAD idea) 2) changing kernel or 3) just downgrade to .42 -> root with super one click -> turn on your wifi -> settings > about phone -> software update -> you will get .62 rooted

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

uliwooly-wooly — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:29:58 GMT

.42

http://talk.sonyericsson.com/message/130711#130711

SuperOneClick

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Sun, 06 May 2012 03:14:26 GMT

But with - 3) just downgrade to .42 -> root with super one click -> turn on your wifi -> settings > about phone -> software update -> you will get .62 rooted

won't that blow my 2 yr warranty if I do it that way ?

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

uliwooly-wooly — Sun, 06 May 2012 03:16:32 GMT

flashing "could" void your warranty even rooting could void your warranty

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Sun, 06 May 2012 03:29:38 GMT

Then I'd rather not take the risk..

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

uliwooly-wooly — Sun, 06 May 2012 03:32:22 GMT

at the end is your decision

Re: Ram problems on Arc S

Sun, 06 May 2012 04:04:18 GMT

I've checked out other sony phones and all before Xperior arc have 512mb of ram and 320mb of usable onboard storage after the OS..... thats crazy as it sets the number of apps you can have...

The Xperior S has 1-1 1.5 gb of ram so they'd be no need for to do what i want to do in this thread...

Sony designers made a great Arc S but screwed up big time on the ram side....