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Wink is Slow

 


1 Introduction

While you have adhered to our recommendations concerning computer hardware in utilizing Wink (view Minimum System Requirements ), there still may be situations in which the software is running below desirable standards. We have listed a few troubleshooting methods in an effort to help self-remedy your Wink Performance issues.

 

2 Basic Troubleshooting | Suggestions

2.1 Close WINK

Close as many programs on your PC as possible all of which are sharing your computer's

Limited RAM memory??  Close WINK >> close all unecessary programs >> relaunch WINK.

2.2 Your antivirus is likely slowing WINK down.  

Your anti-virus "job" is to slow down applications like WINK (to check for virus').  Therefore, add "WINK" to the "List of Exceptions" in your Anti-Virus. Your IT person or your anti-virus supplier will know how to do that. Here is the description of the process for doing so in Kaspersky Antivirus.

2.3 Restart your computer.

While it may be common practice for staff/personnel to leave their computer running for days at a time, it is quite common for computer performance to decrease steadily, the longer it remains on. Rebooting/power-cycling your workstation is the quickest and easiest way to resolve performance issues.

2.4 Close excessive open software windows and tabs

Wink already utilizes a lot of system resources when it comes to utilizing its many functions. So, to use Wink, along with open browsers with numerous tabs open, your accounting software, and your Microsoft Word software running simultaneously, computer performance will suffer. Multiple tabs open in a browser such as Google Chrome alone, will consume a lot of your PC’s resources and RAM. Close any open software you have open, and try using Wink again to see if the performance improves.

 2.5 Change your Power Plan (Please see caption below).

When you first purchase a computer, 99% of the time your computer will be set to Balanced Mode. This will either throttle the computer speed based on use. So when a computer goes for a period of time without being used, energy-saving methods will kick in, putting some components to sleep, dimming your screen, etc.

You will want to make sure your computer is set to High Performance to take full advantage of your computer full speed and performance capabilities.

Be aware that for laptop/Windows tablet users, changing your power plan to High Performance will negatively affect your battery life, and cause your device to generate more heat.

 

2.5.1 To change the power plan in Windows 8/8.1/10, perform these actions:

  1. At the desktop, click the Search the web and Windows box and type "sleep".
  2. Select Power and Sleep settings, then select Additional power settings at the bottom of the screen.
  3. The Power Options window appears.
  4. Select High Performance

 

2.5.2 To change the power plan in Windows 7, perform these actions:

  1. Click on "Start."
  2. Click "Control Panel"
  3. Click "Power Options"
  4. Click "Change battery settings"
  5. Select High Performance

 

2.6 Change to a Physical Network Connection

While a WiFi connection can prove more versatile in terms of mobility, a physical network connection is easily 3 times faster. There are different factors that affect WiFi speed, including signal strength, interference with other wireless devices, WiFi encryption, type of WiFi router, and where you are in relation to said router. If you are experiencing WINK performance problems, connecting an Ethernet cable into your network port will greatly improve performance. The caption below will indicate what the network port and ethernet cable (the cable can be black, blue or grey) will look like, and where it’s located at the back of your computer. For a laptop, the network port will be either at the laptop’s rear or sides.



2.7 Change your Network Profile

    

When your computer connects to a new network, or restores one due to a sudden power outage, most of the time it will choose a Public network profile. On a Public network profile, your computer will block most network connections- and will adversely affect any program that rely on having unrestricted network access.
Therefore, you have to change it to a Private Network for Windows 8/8.1/10; or for Windows 7 users, either a Work or Home network profile.

      

2.7.1 To change your network location in Windows 8/8.1/10, perform these actions (please view captions  below as reference):

i.> Open the Windows 10 settings app by pressing the Windows Key + i or open the settings app from the start men  

ii.> Click on Network & Internet. Click on either WiFi or Ethernet in the subcategory on the left, depending on what shows there. This is based on your current network connection. If you have simultaneous network connections (both WiFi and Ethernet), both options will appear.

 

iii.> Check the switch "Find devices and content". If it is off, then it means you are set to "Public". To set to "Private", click on the switch and it will turn blue.

 

2.7.2 To change your network location in Windows 7, perform these actions (please view captions  below as reference):

  1. Choose Start→Control Panel and, under the Network and Internet heading, click the View Network Status and Tasks link. Windows shows you the Network and Sharing Center.
  2. In the box marked View Your Active Networks (see caption below), click the link that mentions the network type you now have. In this case, we’ll click the Public Network link to change a public network to a home network, so we click the Public Network link. Windows shows you the Set Network Location dialog box.
  3. Choose the type of network you want to use. In this case, choose either Work Network or Home Network.



2.8 Disable User Account Control (UAC)

      UAC creates potential roadblocks and pop-ups that prevent administrative access, which      

      most software, including WINK requires.

 

2.8.1 To turn off UAC:

  1. Click the Start menu. In the search field type UAC.
  2. Click "Change User Account Control settings."
  3. In the window that comes up, move the slider down to "Never Notify."
  4. Click OK and then restart the computer.



2.9 Set Compatibility Mode for Windows 7 and ‘Run As Administrator’

Another method to try in getting WINK to operate more smoothly is setting WINK to run in compatibility mode for Windows 7, as well as enabling the “Run As Administrator” flag. Perform the following steps to run WINK in compatibility mode:

 

2.9.1 Right-click on the WINK icon and select Properties

  1. You can do this from the WINK shortcut on the desktop or by navigating in Windows Explorer to the EXE file.
  2. Select the Compatibility tab, then check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" Select Windows 7 from the drop-down box
  3. Check off Run This Program As Administrator checkbox
  4. Hit Apply- then run WINK and see if this fixed your issue.

 

 



3 Advanced Troubleshooting | Suggestions

3.1 Enable RAM (memory) Monitoring in WINK

    1. In the WINK main menu screen, in the search box, type "ram" and press enter.
    2. A progress bar will appear with text like this: "X free of Y/Z"
      1. If Y is less than 500:
        1. Close WINK
        2. Click on Start >> type "Notepad" >> Right click on the Notepad icon >> Run as administrator
        3. Click on "File" >> Open >> bottom right, make sure "All Files" is selected
        4. Click on "C:" >> Program Files (x86) >> Wink Technologies Inc >> WINK >> WINK.ini
        5. Go to the line that begins with: "Virtual Machine Parameters=-Xincgc -Xms300M -Xmx1000M",
        6. Replace the "-Xms300M", with "-Xms1000M"
        7. Click Save >> Close
        8. Relaunch WINK
      2. If Y is equal to Z, and X is much smaller by comparison:
        1. Contact WINK customer support to request a 64 bit version of WINK.
        2. Email:        support@downloadwink.com
        3. Telephone:  1-888-764-4318

 

3.2 Disable Real-Time Protection and/or Cloud Protection feature for your antivirus

While the goal of every antivirus software is to protect you from computer viruses, malware, ransomware and network attacks, they all take different approaches in doing so. For instance, the Real-time protection feature in Windows Defender will perform very differently to another antivirus vendor, such as Avast Antivirus.

With that said, sometimes these Real-time protection features (or extra antivirus features), can affect and hamper WINK’s performance and functions. Disabling the feature altogether is the easiest way to temporarily remedy the situation, if all prior resolution attempts has failed.

Sometimes, the method in disabling the Real-time protection feature for your antivirus product is straightforward, and other times, it's a lot harder to find; and in some cases, the settings could be cloud-based. And in other cases, your practice could be managed by an IT provider or service that could possibly install a managed antivirus service- where in this situation, you would have to consult your IT service provider for assistance. While it is difficult to anticipate what antivirus product a practice may have, the easiest and most common way to disable to the real-time protection feature, is by right-clicking on the antivirus icon in the bottom-right corner of your main screen (next to where your system date & time is).

 

3.2.1 How to disable Real-time protection (Example- Refer to caption for reference)

  • Navigate to the bottom right-hand corner of your main screen

  • There will be an arrow pointing up. Click on it to reveal the hidden icons
  • *Search for your antivirus icon (it will look similar to the antivirus icon on your desktop)
  • Right-click on the appropriate icon, and a sub-menu will appear, similar to the caption above. Search for any option that resembles Real-Time Protection to disable the feature
  • Close and relaunch WINK and test different functions to evaluate performance
 

 

*Note: As mentioned before, not all antivirus software allow you to disable Real-Time Protection feature using this method. Some are managed by your IT service provider or system admin, so you would have to consult with them in disabling this feature. In other software, the Real-time feature could be hidden in the “Settings” or “Advanced Settings” of the software; thus finding and disabling the feature would be different on a case-by-case basis. And recently, some antivirus software now have their settings in the cloud; which means you would have to logon to a website to get access to said settings.

 

4 Last Resort Suggestions

4.1 Adhere to our Minimum System Requirements  

Review your network infrastructure and environment, and update as necessary. Also, contact your IT service provider if you require assistance in this area. There is no work-around for slow computers or slow internet. Click here for WINK's Minimum System Requirements. Share them with your IT specialist and ask him/her to recommend improvements.

A minimum of 8GB RAM is neccesary if you have more than one WINKsync Catalog.



4.2 Contact WINK for support or suggestions

As always, we are here to help. Feel free to give us a shout if you are unable to resolve your WINK performance issues on your own.

VIA phone: +1.888.764.4318

VIA email:   support@downloadwink.com

VIA WINK Support box in the WINK software

 

 

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