running vista?..anybody

[Helm]

Folks I could use some advice....

My game PC finially died.  So its time for a new box.  I know skuzzy has posted many times about the evils of Vista, because i have read many of his posts on the subject.

Yet my vender is telling me he is a gamer running vista for a year now and has had 0 problems?

Vista seems like a plus for modern games, but it does not seem to get along with Aces High?

is anybody recomending Vista? ...the reason I am asking is most of the bad posts on vista are from 2007...thats a long time ago

are you using it?

has it caused you trouble?


I sure could use some input on the subject before I make a "bad" choice.....I was running XP home


Thanks for your help


Helm

[ImADot]

I'm running Vista 64-bit and have zero problems with AH2.  The key is to install the game anywhere other than the Program Files (regular or x64 [or whatever]) folders.  I created a folder called "C:\Games\" and have AH2 and a couple of other games in there.

Follow Skuzzy's tips about system processes - what you can shut down and what you might want to shut down.  That helps too.

[Denholm]

The main reason why people dislike it and have problems with it is because it takes away some user control and has a, "big brother" feel to it. For example, Vista's host file is a pain to modify, at least for my friend who has been working with computers since the first Windows. Plus out of the box Vista is a serious resource hog with programs designed to, "secure" you.

I personally would stay with XP pro unless you're like Chalenge and need Vista for DX10 games such as FSX (Which works with XP, just not in DX10 mode.) with a lot of memory to back it up. However, if you do decide to get Vista, make sure the person building your computer knows what works with Vista. Otherwise you might have some serious nightmares!

Come talk with us in the Hardware and Software forum and I'm certain we can help you find parts for a Vista-compatible system.

[Coogan]

   I have Vista Home Premium and have some issues when playing AH, like low frame rates when furballing.  If I understand correctly, I'm just using one core while playing, because of setting the compatibility mode to Windows 98.  If I'd known this thing had all these processes running at once, I'd have gotten something different.
   By capping my frame-rate to 45 fps, adjusting down the graphic detail a little, and lowering the resolutiong to 256, I find the game is actually quite playable. 
   Good luck on your decision.

Coogan

[ImADot]

Interesting...any reason for playing in compatibility mode?

I'm running both cores with fully-native Vista Ultimate 64-bit and have all graphics options maxxed out.  Having no problems with AH2 and have v-sync forced to 60fps and it never goes below 57.  I guess much depends on CPU/RAM/VideoCard.  I haven't checked lately, but I think I've got somewhere around 50 processes running.  The only troubles I have are ISP-related.

[Coogan]

   If I don't set the compatibility mode to Windows 98, I get the infamous spinning clipboard trouble.  I've played a couple times without setting it, but I'm only on for 10 minutes or so, then the game locks up.  In that little bit of time, however, the game played very good.
   I have an on-board chip set,  Nvidia 6150 SE.  That's not optimum, to say the least, for gaming.  Saving up for a good video card at the moment.

Coogan
 

[Chalenge]

Im not sure what causes the spinning clipboard issue but after switching to 98 compatibility mode that disappears. Vista has issues with audio so you want to make sure and get a quality sound card that is certified for Vista. When installing AH do not install it to the default folder unless you just love problems. You would do best to put it on another hard drive but at least move it to another folder. Also with Vista you will want the fastest hard drive you can find. A 7200 rpm drive with 32MB cache will be fine.

I went to Vista 64 for AutoCAD and not FSX but FSX came alive with Vista 64 and 8GB of RAM (Intel e8400 and GeForce 8800 GTs) but later I went to Intel 9660 16GB of RAM and Ati 4870x2 and AH did not improve. How could it? It was already maxed out. I upgraded so I wouldnt have to again for a long time. I got better performance with FSX on the 8800s then I do on the Ati 4870x2s.

I dont recommend Vista unless you need Vista 64 and its large memory addressing scheme for engineering or video applications. Its cheaper (the OS is) and with large memory dependant apps it is far more stable and reliable. You must NOT try to go cheap on any of your hardware or you will regret it later (IMO).

[Denholm]

Sorry about that Chalenge. Jumped to conclusions on that one since the 64-bit OS utilizes more memory than the regular 32-bit.

[Chalenge]

No your fine. FSX did enter my mind at the time so you were partly right but I wouldnt move to Vista just for gaming. Someone else feeling differently might decide to go against what I recommend which they are free to do. As you pointed out the way it handles memory could be a deciding factor and I didnt mean to discredit your post at all.

[drdeathx]

   I have Vista Home Premium and have some issues when playing AH, like low frame rates when furballing.  If I understand correctly, I'm just using one core while playing, because of setting the compatibility mode to Windows 98.  If I'd known this thing had all these processes running at once, I'd have gotten something different.
   By capping my frame-rate to 45 fps, adjusting down the graphic detail a little, and lowering the resolutiong to 256, I find the game is actually quite playable. 
   Good luck on your decision.

Coogan

Cougan you running dup core optimizer? If I am not mistakin the duo core optimizer takes care of spinning clipboard.

http://www2.hitechcreations.com/ahhelp/faq/faqframe.html

There are two parts in this answer. The first one is a more generic, and requires a comfortable knowledge of working with the regedit program, notepad, general adding and removing of software, and navigating around in the Windows Control Panel. Most of the information in this first part was garnered from another forum. I made every attempt to make it easy to read and understand.

The second set of instructions deals specifically with the dual core AMD CPU and should be easier to handle for most people.

MAKING THE MOST OF A DUAL CORE CPU

Warning: If you chose to follow the next set of instructions, it should be known you do so at your own volition. These are very high risk operations you are about to perform. Any error or problems resulting from the use of these instructions are not the responsibility of HiTech Creations, Inc. These instructions are being provided on an "as is" basis.

In order to make use of these instructions at all, your computer must be running:
- Windows XP (Home, Pro, MCE) with Service Pack 2 (even when using Apple Bootcamp, NOT Virtual PC) or
- Any system (desktop or notebook... even Apple's MacBook's) with multi-cores, multi-processors, multi-logical processors (Hyper-Threading) or
- Intel: Pentium 4 w/ HT, Pentium D, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo, Dual Core Xeons or
- AMD: Athlon 64 X2, Turion X2, Dual Core Opterons

Before proceeding, if you are running a computer which relies on battery power, then following instructions can have an impact on how long the computer will run on the battery. Please pay attention as you go through the instructions.

1) (for Intel CPUs) Check to see if the mandatory Windows XP Hotfix Patch: KB896256 (NOT automatically downloaded with Windows Update) is installed. You do this by going to the "Add/Remove Programs" ICON in the Control Panel and review the list of installed software.
If the patch is not listed as being installed, then download KB896256 XP patch and install it.

1) (for AMD CPUs) Check to see if the mandatory Windows XP Hotfix Patch: KB896256 (NOT automatically downloaded with Windows Update) and the AMD CPU drivers are installed. You do this by going to the "Add/Remove Programs" ICON in the Control Panel and review the list of installed software.
If the patches are not listed as being installed, then download KB896256 XP patch , AMD CPU Drivers and install them. (for AMD Dual Core Optimizer info read Note 2)

Note 1: Only install the AMD Driver if you have an AMD CPU.
Note 2: The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer was AMD's answer to Microsoft's Multi-Core fix. AMD released their Optimizer to give the public (with AMD dual core CPUs) a way to properly utilize both cores. If you install the AMD Optimizer and it works without problems, then you would NOT have to install the the WinXP hotfix.
On BSOD's (Blue Screens of Death).... If you own a Clevo D900K (A.K.A. Sager 9750, Alienware Aurora m7700, etc) notebook, DO NOT install the AMD Dual Core Optimizer as it is incompatible. So if you experience BSODs (on any computer) after the AMD Optimizer is installed, then go into Safe Mode and uninstall it. You will still have optimized dual core as long as you do the rest of the guide.

2) From the Windows desktop go to Start->Run. Type REGEDIT and press <ENTER>. The registry location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Con
trol\Session Manager should have a key named Throttle there, if not make it by right clicking, point at New->Key... name it Throttle.

3) (Still in registry) Inside Throttle key: should be a DWORD called PerfEnablePackageIdle with the value of 1. If it is not there, right click, point to New->DWORD... name it PerfEnablePackageIdle.
[/i]*** Note: You should type 1 in the Value data box to enable the performance state policy behavior (increases performance) at the expense of some battery life, if you are running a battery powered computer.[/i]

4) Quit Registry.

5) Now let's review your boot.ini to make sure that the command /usepmtimer is there. Using your mouse, right-click on My Computer go to Properties, click on the ADVANCE tab, then under Startup and Recovery click on Settings, then click on EDIT....make sure your boot.ini has the /usepmtimer in there (located in the last line), if NOT then just copy and paste /usepmtimer in there.

Note: If you have an AMD dual core and installed the AMD drivers, the /usepmtimer would be inserted into your boot.ini for you.
Note: The /usepmtimer in the BOOT.ini is a "switch" that forces the system to use a steady clock in place of the CPU frequency... for certain timing functions. Thats as basic as you can explain it.

6)Go to File and then Save (to save the changes to your BOOT.ini).

Restart your computer.

AMD DUAL CORE CPU's and the AMD OPTIMIZER PATCH

******NOTE: If you opted to follow the preceeding instructions, then you DO NOT need to do the following.******

There is a problem with dual core AMD CPU's in Windows XP Home and Professional which causes several problems in the game.
These issues do not appear to be a problem with Windows 2000. Only Windows XP and Vista.

To work around the problem, do this.

1. Right-click on the Aces High II startup ICON.
2. Select "Properties" from the popup menu.
3. Select the "Compatibility" tab.
4. Check the check box to run the game in Windows 98/ME compatibility mode.

Or, you can download a patch from AMD which addresses this, and several other issues related to dual core CPU's. Follow this link to obtain the patch.

Please note, Windows Vista and laptop users will need to put the game into Windows 98/ME compatiibility mode as there are no patches currently available to correct the dual-core issues.

To switch the game to compatibility mode. Right-click on the Aces High II start-up ICON and select "Properties" from the menu. Then select the "Compatibility" tab. Check the option to enable the compatilibity mode and select Windows 98/ME.

The game should run after this.

[Coogan]

   Yes drdeathx, I'm using the AMD dual core optimizer.  I'm still unable to run AHII without using compatibilty mode.  I will check that link you posted to make sure that is the same thing I'm using.

Coogan

[Denholm]

Coogan, ask Skuzzy for the specifics on why you can't use two cores with AH even with the Dual-Core optimizing patch installed. There's something he has mentioned in the past which prevents you from running the game outside compatibility mode with the patch and there appears to be no way around it as of now.

[Coogan]

Will do Denholm. 
Thanks.

Coogan

[Skuzzy]

All AMD dual core CPU's have a compatibility bug in them, which Aces High II happens to hit.  This problem does not exist with Intel dual-core desktop CPU's, but could be an issue with the laptop version of the dual-core CPU depending on the laptop manufacturer.

There is no patch to correct this issue under Vista as Microsoft has mandated no one outside of Microsoft may patch the kernel.  The upshot is, there will never be a fix for Vista users using a dual-core AMD CPU.  The only way to get around the problem is to force the game to run on one CPU.  Setting the game to run in Windows 98/Windows ME compatibility mode is just an easy way to force the game to run on one CPU.

Ironic as the game is one of the few games which is actually natively multi-threaded.

Under Windows XP there are some patches available which should take care of the problem, but it depends on which version of Windows XP you have.  Also, while AMD has the patch issued, there are two other potential patches from Microsoft which must be installed *BEFORE* the AMD patch is or the AMD patch will not work.  Again, it depends on the release version of Windows XP you have.

[Zeagle]

I run AH on Vista Ultimate 32 running a quad core AMD Phenom 9850 on an Asus M3N-HT motherboard with 4GB Ram and an Nvidia 9800 GTX.

I turned User Account Control off.

No problemos. Not one. Ever. No patches or any other tricks required.

Nuff said.

And I run my antivirus stuff (Iolo) all the time, as well as using TrackIR and listening to playlists through Windows media player while flying.