Vista: Performance Hints and Tips

[mipoikel]

I found interesting problem with Vista.

I cant find any screenshots and films. It seems that they dont exist at all.

I think that Vista dont allow create files to program files folder, I saw this problem also with one of my customer, who is software developer... Vista creates "virtual files" to somewhere else, not to program files folder.

Is there any config files for screenshots and films? If we could create different creating path for them, it could work?


OK, now I found it. There really is virtual folder:

C:\Users\Mikko\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\HTC\Aces High II

If you open HTC folder by clicking "computer" > "program files" etc, you cant see screens and films. Same thing if you use "explorer".

This path: (C:\Users\Mikko\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\HTC\Aces High II) gives you the right place!

[Skuzzy]

Good find!  I have not tried it yet.  I wonder if it is tied to any particular service?

[dmf]

Heres the trick for saving pictures on vista, MAKE YOUR OWN FOLDERS! set your browser up to ask where to save a picture, video, etc, and manually save it. I had a time with my camera pictures till I figured that out.

[mipoikel]

More info:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927387

Scenario 2: You cannot find the file or the folder that you just created
When you use an application for which virtualization is enabled, you create data files in virtualizable locations of the file system. When you use another application or Windows Explorer to access these newly created files, you cannot find them. For example, if you save a file in a photo editing application in the %programfiles%, %systemroot%, or %programdata% folders, you cannot locate this file.

Resolution

Scenario 2
To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:

 • Click the Compatibility Files button that appears on the Explorer bar to view virtualized files in the folder. The Compatibility Files button appears only if there are virtualized files in the folder.



• Look in the C:\Users\User_name\AppData\Local\VirtualStore folder to locate files and folders.  

• Save your application's data in a folder under your user profile.  




http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/5538

[mipoikel]

Originally posted by dmf
Heres the trick for saving pictures on vista, MAKE YOUR OWN FOLDERS! set your browser up to ask where to save a picture, video, etc, and manually save it. I had a time with my camera pictures till I figured that out.

This is not the point in this case.

[dmf]

So How come I don't have these problems? Is it because I have home basic and not premium or above?
I just made folders on my c drive and save pictures there, video in the video folder, and since I use FF as a browser I have ACDSee set to view that folder and I can save pictures to the picture folder from there.

[mipoikel]

There is no problems with pictures in general.

I suppose you have AH installed and you play it?

Start your AH and take some screenshots by pressing  ALT+S.

Go to your HTC folder and try to find that picture.

It is not where it used to be in XP! Same thing with films. In HTC/AH folder there should be "films" folder but it doesnt exist!

[dmf]

Oh ok the AH pictures, ok next time I find a room worth playing in I'll try that and see where they go.

[Skuzzy]

Problems with file sharing.

It appears in order to be able to share files within your workgroup/domain, you now have to have the Windows Firewall service enabled.  

Typically, I shut this down, as I do not need any local software firewall and let all that be handled by an external firewall.

Anyone found a way around this problem?

[dmf]

Turn off ALL the security software including the stuff you don't see, place everything you want to share in the public folder and allow it to be shared over the network.

You guys really should have got vista home basic, all it is is xp with a paint job and some stuff rearranged.

[Eurisko]

Roy buddy!
I just want to start off by saying thanks on behalf of the community.
This is way above & beyond the call of duty. Thank You.

I went through your entire diet plan for Vista. I was so excite to try
this out because I'm just furious with those monopolizing facists at
Microsoft. I don't understand. Why a new oppressive system every
few years? I was still using my old Windows '95 computer until just
a few months ago. It was lightning fast with zero bugs or problems!
The down side was less and less programs will run on it now. With
my limited background in computers I was able to keep it running
way better than everyone else, even with their new systems they
buy every other year or two. They had no choice. It ends up getting
so bogged down and hyjacked - it's almost worthless!

My harddrive started to go so I thought since its tax refund time,
what the hell, I'll get new computer. Love that new 'puter smell.
I bought another HP system but with an AMD this time:

HP Pavilion a1748x
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Duel Core 3800+ 2.0 GHz
1gig RAM DDR2
32bit Vista Home Premium
nVidia GeFORCE 7600GS 512mb PCI Express DDR2
19" Widescreen Monitor
Speakers & Sub  (old)
Saitek X52 HOTAS & TrakIR

Now when I went through your tutorial - my Base Score went from:
4.1 to 4.2
My question is - is this normal? Doesn't seem much like a boost.
I followed everything to a T. Read this entire thread 3 times. As you
know the score is the lowest one, which is still my 'Graphics' = 4.2
Can that be right when I spent all that money on a Graphics card???

My Frame Rate with everything maxed out and Animated Water OFF,
is about 60 (really good) and plumits to the teens (unplayable) when
I'm low over forest OR have Animated Water ON and flying higher.

Question 1 - Base Score 4.1 to 4.2, ok?
Question 2 - Thoughts on getting another 1gig of RAM?
(why is RAM so expensive now? new op sys Vista?)

Thank you so much again for your time sir. Stay cool!

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by dmf
Turn off ALL the security software including the stuff you don't see, place everything you want to share in the public folder and allow it to be shared over the network.

You guys really should have got vista home basic, all it is is xp with a paint job and some stuff rearranged.

Because Ultimate has all the bells and whistles and I have to deal with it.

All the security stuff is off, that Vista will allow to be turned off.  And I cannot simply share a folder.  I have to be able to share a drive.  Oh, and another intersing thing.  It seems you cannot share "Program Files" no matter what you do.

Interestingly, the "Windows Security" client still wants to run at boot time.  It is not listed anywhere in the msconfig, Startup, or Services list as being enabled.  I have to yet hack my way through the registry to find where Microsoft decided to hide the startup for it and for other things they may not be disclosing.
---
Eurisko, do not expect much of a change in the score Vista doles out.  The program is based on algorithms MS instilled in it and not an actual load test.

On my X1600XT, my frame rate went from 30's-50's to hitting 75 (sync rate limit).

I still have a long way to go on this "hints and tips" thread.  Still trying to figure out why there are over 430+ threads always running, when no applications are open.  XP Pro had about 210+ threads.

[mipoikel]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Problems with file sharing.

It appears in order to be able to share files within your workgroup/domain, you now have to have the Windows Firewall service enabled.  

Typically, I shut this down, as I do not need any local software firewall and let all that be handled by an external firewall.

Anyone found a way around this problem?

I disabled windows firewall and then enabled sharing. No problems!  I have also ultimate.

[Skuzzy]

Very wierd.  I can enable sharing.  I can set the access permissions just fine, but no one can access anything without getting a share violation.

My first though is I have shut down something Vista needs, which XP did not need.  Vista itself appears to be preventing me from accessing "Program Files" on any share.

Thanks mipoikel.  I'll start turning thinsg back on again and see what is causing the issue.  This is going to take a while.

[mipoikel]

I dont know if this is important but..

Computer 2, what I use to test and explore computer 1 files,  has also Vista installed. (enterprise version)

I haven't tried xp or w2k.