Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Xasthur on October 19, 2008, 08:02:01 AM
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G'day fellas,
I've noticed my FR dropping lately and I can't be bothered re-formating my Vista machine.
I was running high 50s on max detail settings with Hi-Res consistantly but that has dropped a lot lately I need to utilise the Shift + F2 function quite often now.
I had great success with FSautostart on my old machine but I heard that this program is not compatible with Vista.
I came across what seems to be the new version of FSautostart, a program called 'Alacrity' which seems to do the same thing, just with Vista.
Has anyone heard of this program or, better yet, is anyone using it?
http://kensalter.com/downloads/ (http://kensalter.com/downloads/)
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I use it frequently but you should be aware of a couple of things. Dont try to use the auto-update function at startup. There is a dll (forgotten the name) that will cause issues and it is better off deleted IIRC. You should visit the AlacrityPC forum for details because Im no expert just being a user and having gone through the process once and getting it to work with a number of games. I can tell you that getting programs started before launching AH (like TrackIR and FRAPS) is a lot easier to setup now.
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Try enditall2. I think it is compatable with vista. It is easy to use.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1935,00.asp
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The article does not say vista but I researches and it does work with vista. Here is a link to manually shut most of your programs down.
Here is a nice link to manually shut programs down. Then you can let whatever software you decide to use take care of the rest.
http://www.dead-eye.net/services.html
You probably have many programs running in the background you never use. Read up on this and let me know what ya think!!!!
GL
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AlacrityPC is a whole lot easier to get along with... really.
When it starts up (for now until the updater is fixed) just answer No to the updater.
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen0.jpg)
AlacrityPC comes with standard profiles for Vista that makes it a lot easier to get started using it even without modifications. You should at least select the app you want to monitor (AHII) and replace the default app (notepad.exe).
I started by copying the default Vista profile to several different profiles for the games I would be using.
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen1.jpg)
When you click on the profile you want to use you can further modify the profile in detail.
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen2.jpg)
Notice that in the information window the startup folder for AHII is different then the default installation. I HIGHLY recommend this for Vista of ANY flavor.
Ignore the note about 'Wireless...' I use a wireless headset sometimes so I can leave the computer and still chat with the squad. I do think it causes discos and other issues and Skuzzy would hate the idea but...
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In the Services Tab you have two groups accesible to you. The first group is 'Action = Stop then Restart' and any services you have normally running after a boot up and that need to be shutdown and then restarted should be moved to this group.
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen3.jpg)
The second group is 'Action = Nothing' and allows services to be ignored (require no action before or after running AlacrityPC).
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen4a.jpg)
The Programs tab is just like the Services tabs except it is for running programs (from your startup menu items) and just like Services it has two areas 'Action = Stop Then Restart':
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen5a.jpg)
and 'Action = Nothing':
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen5.jpg)
I can see I have to do some maintenance here because I have installed some programs that should be shutdown and not in the 'Nothing' group.
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In the Optimization Window you want to set things up just like I have here to avoid slowdowns with Vista (wallpaper the 'Aero' thing and the Sidebar.
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen6.jpg)
The Autostart tab is really easy. You choose the program you want to 'Start before' and 'Monitor' (monitor the AH program to restart apps when AH ends).
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen7.jpg)
The final tab is the log tab which keeps track of the steps and errors along the way.
(http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq197/Chalenge08/Screen8.jpg)
It cant be any easier and it doesnt take any scripting this way. Enjoy!
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I also HIGHLY recommend rebooting after playing any game on Vista especially reboot before leaving a game and then starting AH. You will save yourself a lot of headache.
By all means (also) visit the forums for AlacrotyPC and stay up on where the program is and where it is going. That should help you avoid future issues that may crop up (like in FSX when the acceleration patch came out with a DX10 preview and all manner of problems came up with that game not related to AlacrityPC).
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I never understood the point behind these 'enditall' type things. It's far better to cut down everything unnecessary _permanently_ from your system, not just for starting a game.
And let's face it, if a process or two extra makes running your computer works too slow, killing them will make little difference and you're better off upgrading your hardware.
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In the world of flight sims the only thing that really matters is freeing up every last percentage of CPU you can muster and if you cant understand that then you arent really into flight sims.
AND this thread is about Vista which I know you would love to see eliminated altogether... so you should understand (as you have stated many many times how SLOW Vista is) why someone should want to shutdown processes automatically without having to go through a TEDIOUS 'by-hand' process.
Myself I would like to have computer profiles preset so I could chose 'FSX' or 'AHII' and finally 'CAD' and only the things I need for those programs to work well would be loaded... but DOS is long gone and MS isnt going to do things my way so I learn to live with it the best I can and I am thankful that individuals like Ken Salter go to the trouble of helping us out.
We cant all be system geniuses like you Ripley.
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Chalenge, you are an absolute champion. Thanks for that :salute
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looks like a nice program
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Believe it or not style permanent enditall: :D
(http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08431/perf475.png)
Notice how AH uses only a single core most of the time..
(http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08431/tasks595.png)
Yo what ended them all?
Notice how I still have unnecessary bloat running in background such as CCC.exe (catalyst control center) etc.
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Believe it or not style permanent enditall: :D
(http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08431/perf475.png)
Notice how AH uses only a single core most of the time..
(http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08431/tasks595.png)
Yo what ended them all?
Notice how I still have unnecessary bloat running in background such as CCC.exe (catalyst control center) etc.
so your cool and the rest of us with sigle cores are heathans still living in the stone ages. thats wonderful to know.
challenge from one heathan to another, i downloaded the program and spent 6 hours trying to set it up properly to no avail.
it runs fine and shuts off everything that i tell it to, but i cant get it to stop shuttin g off my internet connect. i have tried everything i can think of including reading all the how to stuff at the web sight for it.
i am running XP SP3 not vista.
any idea which service is the hidden culprit?
thanx
FLOTSOM
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I've been running AlacrityPC for several months on my coal-fired Prescott-AGP-DDR2 klunker under Windows XP Pro. ;) I like the program.
Flotsam, when I created my AHII profile, I created a new file and had it inherit from the default XP profile. You should do the same with the Vista default. Then, when you go to the "services" tab for the new profile, you have to be *very* careful. You *must* know for certain all about each service you want stopped. Maybe this is where you shot yourself in the foot? You might try posting your profile up on the AlacrityPC web site. While Mr. Salter is not likely to personally help you, there seems to be a pretty large number of good samaritans on that BBS.
Hope this helps. :salute
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Six hours? Wow! I think I spent like 20 minutes but I only added two processes to the 'Stop then Restart' list.
Like Bino said I would probably start over with the default profile.
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I've been running AlacrityPC for several months on my coal-fired Prescott-AGP-DDR2 klunker under Windows XP Pro. ;) I like the program.
Flotsam, when I created my AHII profile, I created a new file and had it inherit from the default XP profile. You should do the same with the Vista default. Then, when you go to the "services" tab for the new profile, you have to be *very* careful. You *must* know for certain all about each service you want stopped. Maybe this is where you shot yourself in the foot? You might try posting your profile up on the AlacrityPC web site. While Mr. Salter is not likely to personally help you, there seems to be a pretty large number of good samaritans on that BBS.
Hope this helps. :salute
we are running the same system.
could you send (pm) me a list of the services you have listed as action "nothing" .
i am sure it is just shutting off my ip address. i have a hardware profile set up exactly as my alacrity profile and it the internet is working fine. so it has to be something that gets loaded then shuts off, not something that is just missing altogether otherwise the hardware profile would suffer the same issue.
it will turn out to be something dumb, i can bet on it. but im sure it will take forever to find it, it always does. like looking for your glasses when they are on top of your head.
thanks
FLOTSOM
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PM sent.
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I CAN'T READ GERMAN.... lol :D
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CALLENGE THIS LOOKS COMPLICATED COMPARED TO ENDITALL2. Is is better or do you get the same results.
Enditall you simply padlock what programs you do not want "ended". I downloaded it and it brought up my dos screen and I hope that wasn't like a bios flash.
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CALLENGE THIS LOOKS COMPLICATED COMPARED TO ENDITALL2. Is is better or do you get the same results.
Enditall you simply padlock what programs you do not want "ended". I downloaded it and it brought up my dos screen and I hope that wasn't like a bios flash.
other than figuring out what im shutting off that is killing my internet, something hidden that my router needs i think. this program works better than enditall2 because it shuts down the program without killing it. it allows the program to do its normal shutoff sequence whenever possible. it also tells you what other services are relying upon any given service you intend to stop. with enditall you could shut off a program that effectively is killing another that you need running.
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Six hours? Wow! I think I spent like 20 minutes but I only added two processes to the 'Stop then Restart' list.
Like Bino said I would probably start over with the default profile.
Start with a copy of the unadorned default profile. Run it and verify that you're OK. Then add ONLY ONE process that you think you can safely shut down. Run the profile and verify that you're OK. Then add ONLY ONE process that you think you can safely shut down. Run the profile and verify that you're OK... and on and on until you are done.
It *is* a slow process, but it *will* work.
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Start with a copy of the unadorned default profile. Run it and verify that you're OK. Then add ONLY ONE process that you think you can safely shut down. Run the profile and verify that you're OK. Then add ONLY ONE process that you think you can safely shut down. Run the profile and verify that you're OK... and on and on until you are done.
It *is* a slow process, but it *will* work.
that is what im doing now.
it is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwww
but ill find it
THANX
FLOTSOM
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Thanks Bino. I'm not being a smartie but doesn't enditall2 do the same? It's not as complex. Maybe Challenge can explain the benefit to running this. I have it downloaded
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I've used both. With enditall, it ends programs you want stopped, much like going thru the task manager, but less intimidating.
With FSAutostat/Alacrity PC you set up a profile once. After I set my profile, I would then click my desktop icon. The program would then shut down everything I had requested, defrag my ram, and then start the game. When I closed out of the game it would restart all of the programs I requested to be restarted.
The difference is that when using my computer as a web design station I need certain things running, as a cartoon pilot, I need other things. With this program I can configure the computer better to which ever task I'm looking to do WITH OUT rebooting it all the time.
....oh and Mr Ripley, not everyone can afford to upgrade their computer when ever they want, and this program is a nice cheap (free) work around to get the job done. It has gotten me an extra year or two on some of my old computers.
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that is what im doing now.
it is slooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwww
but ill find it
THANX
FLOTSOM
Go here: http://www.blackviper.com/
Look down the left nav bar:
Windows Service Configurations!
Includes explanations of each service and advice on which services you can safely disable.
They give you 3-4 service profiles (default, safe, optimized, etc.). Just compare to what you have running and you'll find it a lot quicker.
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Just as a sidenote you don't need to be _extremely_ careful when shutting down processes - if you mess up and the puter won't boot it's very simple to boot from cd again and do a repair install.
Of course if you have only 1 computer which holds every family treasure possible and no backups - you shouldn't mess with it at all.
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....oh and Mr Ripley, not everyone can afford to upgrade their computer when ever they want, and this program is a nice cheap (free) work around to get the job done. It has gotten me an extra year or two on some of my old computers.
I believe my system is (today) one of the fastest available to a PC user and I will continue to use AlacrityPC not because it does anything much for me in AH for frame rate but because it will keep things like the sidebar or scheduled tasks from escaping my memory and 'popping up' on me. Its a whole different game in FSX where even with such a fast hardware profile AlacrityPC can make a big difference in frame rate.
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Just as a sidenote you don't need to be _extremely_ careful when shutting down processes - if you mess up and the puter won't boot it's very simple to boot from cd again and do a repair install.
...
Quite true, the repair install *is* very simple and easy. But I think you might be surprised to learn how many "joe the plumber" computer users are absolutely *terrified* of that Windows install screen. Certainly none of the home-office users that I support are anything like comfortable with it. Not that I have anything at all against plumbers, you understand. ;)
And to your earlier point, I agree that it is always preferable to throw better, faster hardware at a performance issue. But there are some CFOs out there who simply will not cut that check, demanding that you leverage existing assets. Like my wife.
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I believe my system is (today) one of the fastest available to a PC user and I will continue to use AlacrityPC not because it does anything much for me in AH for frame rate but because it will keep things like the sidebar or scheduled tasks from escaping my memory and 'popping up' on me. Its a whole different game in FSX where even with such a fast hardware profile AlacrityPC can make a big difference in frame rate.
If you see so much trouble getting absolute high-end hardware why you keep things like sidebar, task scheduler etc. installed on the computer in the first place? You should narrow the processes down to an absolute minimum.
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Well just as an update to all involved in this issue.
i have found my problem, through trial and error and by setting up multiple profiles and systematically running them one after the other. i found that because i use windows one care live for my protection program it automatically takes over my internet firewall.
one care live is a good generally non invasive protection program. it has never given me an issue working with other programs in the past, but what i did not realise was that by starting it up it was taking control of my internal firewall and controlling my link to the router. by turning off the firewall i would lose the encrypted connection with the router and could not recover it until the firewall was restarted. so i now leave on the firewall (which is simple to set up allowing any program i want to pass threw it), but shut off all the other supporting subplots of one care live. its a really good system and user friendly, i would suggest it to any of the non-computer guru's looking for a simpler less invasive anti-virus system.
Eagle, i did have separate hardware profiles set up on my computer, Black Viper is awesome! he is thorough and very simple in his description of all services running on all versions of windows. what i like most is that on his BBS if you have a question he will try to answer it personally. (he is alot like our Skuzzy here in that matter) using separate hardware profiles, in this instance, was exactly what was causing me all the grief. while setting alacrity up to match my gaming profile my rational was simple, these settings work great in the hardware profile, so it should work great here as well.
well as i mentioned above, once one care was allowed to start and shutting it of after (in the alacrity profile) i lost my router connection, but in the hard ware profile it is never allowed to start at all so the connection never gets encrypted, so i never lose the connection by shutting off the program controlling it.
so i spent hours chasing my tail! but due to the information gleamed in this thread and the support i found on Black Viper's BBS (by the way the informational support provided by alacrity is Black Vipers page) and a little trial and error i found a set up that works very well and transitions very smoothly without having to reboot my system to change to a profile and then to get out of it after.
so, many thanx to all of you!
<SALUTE>
FLOTSOM
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The only problem with onecare is that it ranks to bottom 10% in all reliability tests I've seen.
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If you see so much trouble getting absolute high-end hardware why you keep things like sidebar, task scheduler etc. installed on the computer in the first place? You should narrow the processes down to an absolute minimum.
First you recommed high-end hardware and then think its trouble to get it? I must not understand what you meant and I think you jump way to quick to the conclusion about what I must do. I think I am doing all I need to do and everything is just fine thanks! AlacrityPC does just what you suggest about processes when I need them to be turned off and otherwiseI like things like the sidebar so I use it sometimes as well as the task scheduler. Not always just as needed.
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The only problem with onecare is that it ranks to bottom 10% in all reliability tests I've seen.
well i guess my responce to that is who is doing the testing?
one care is made by microsoft for microsoft software. it supported vista before vista was released and it is compatible without incident with every security update windows had put out and micrsoft has more labs and people working on security than any other company on the planet. if there is a new bug they know about it long before anyone else. it runs so lightly in the back ground that durring normal operations i have never seen it exceed 2% cpu.
durring my (personal setting) weekly tune up it updates, removes unecessary files (temp ect) defrags the hd, backs up the system and private files (per settings) scans for malicious software (addware, spyware ect) plus more. it does this in the most part completely in the back ground without inhibiting or interfering with anything that i am working on. i have even been playing AH while this was doing its thing with only minimal drop in frame rates and a couple of annoying pauses.
as a matter of fact, up until the update/patch of Aces High of earlier this year, i would just leave one care running in the background and play with no issues.
i have not yet developed a virus, spyware or addware infection while using one care. i have recently removed 2 spyware programs from my system, i believe i got them because i installed some online programs while one care was shut off. it was off because i had booted up useing my gaming profile, and like a moron was to impatient to reboot and i downloaded from untrusted sights anyways. so that is my stupidity not a failure of one care. i go on alot of sights (myspace ect) that are high risk for these types of corruptions without problem.
so in my case i give it a thumbs up for ease of use, ease of maintanance, great support if needed, and coverage. although it doesnt have a million setting and options like mcaphee or nortons, it is also not a program that, like those two afore mentioned, attempts to commandier and control every aspect of my computer and everything running on it. i have, with the above discussed firewall issue excluded, never had a conflict issue or a problem with it working with any program or game. i only shut it off now because of the updates made to aces high, not due to one care itself.
i guess in the end its an opinional issue, what one likes as compared to what another likes. like AMD or INTEL, beauty is in the eye of the user.
FLOTSOM
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enditall2 looks more user friendly if it gives same results. Been running it for years.
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YADA YADA YADA
FLOTSOM
you talk to damm much.
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enditall2 looks more user friendly if it gives same results. Been running it for years.
actually i have enditall also, its not easier to use.
when you use alacrity and you set up a profile and put a shortcut for it on your desk top, a double click and its running.
you can set up a profile for every program or group of programs you want there is no limit to the amount of individual profiles or the number of programs you start in each profile.
it ever gives you the ability to set up the starting order and priority of those programs
with enditall once you shut down a program it wont restart unless you go into services and restart it or reboot your comp, with alacrity once you end the program you set the profile to monitor it will take whatever action you preset for it. restart the services, programs whatever without a reboot.
it will start any number of programs you want running after it shuts everything else you set for it to shut down.
if you chose, once you stop the monitored program it started for you, it will automatically restart all of your services and programs that it shut off or it will only start some of them and leave others off or it will shut of the computer or just reboot it for you.
its actually really easy to set up, very user friendly, and puts end it all to shame.
you talk to damm much.
your just jealous cause i can use words that have more than one syllable and i can put more than 4 words into a sentence.
by the way, damm(?) is spelled either DAM or DAMN depending on its intended meaning. if you look at the bottom of the silver grey box your typing your babble into, you'll see a little box that has the letters Spell Check in it. now i know those are advanced words, and your vocabulary is very limited, but neither has more than one syllable so you should be able to figure out their meaning all on your own!
DORK!!!!!!
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
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actually i have enditall also, its not easier to use.
when you use alacrity and you set up a profile and put a shortcut for it on your desk top, a double click and its running.
you can set up a profile for every program or group of programs you want there is no limit to the amount of individual profiles or the number of programs you start in each profile.
it ever gives you the ability to set up the starting order and priority of those programs
with enditall once you shut down a program it wont restart unless you go into services and restart it or reboot your comp, with alacrity once you end the program you set the profile to monitor it will take whatever action you preset for it. restart the services, programs whatever without a reboot.
it will start any number of programs you want running after it shuts everything else you set for it to shut down.
if you chose, once you stop the monitored program it started for you, it will automatically restart all of your services and programs that it shut off or it will only start some of them and leave others off or it will shut of the computer or just reboot it for you.
its actually really easy to set up, very user friendly, and puts end it all to shame.
your just jealous cause i can use words that have more than one syllable and i can put more than 4 words into a sentence.
by the way, damm(?) is spelled either DAM or DAMN depending on its intended meaning. if you look at the bottom of the silver grey box your typing your babble into, you'll see a little box that has the letters Spell Check in it. now i know those are advanced words, and your vocabulary is very limited, but neither has more than one syllable so you should be able to figure out their meaning all on your own!
DORK!!!!!!
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
your too much, that spelled wronhg? quiblett?
ya your right i am much better with pictures than words <S>
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your too much, that spelled wronhg? quiblett?
ya your right i am much better with pictures than words <S>
:rofl
:rofl :rofl
:rofl :rofl :rofl
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
understand?
<S>
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enditall2 looks more user friendly if it gives same results. Been running it for years.
I wont use it and most of the people here should be using AlacrityPC instead since it is intended to return lost CPU cycles to games instead of processes. EIA2 may do the same thing but it is clumsy by comparison.
By the way since you have 'been using it for years' you should know that it has evolved into 'TaskPower 3' now. TP3 still isnt as easy to use or as streamlined as AlacrityPC is. I dont believe the authors vision of TP3 includes gaming.
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First you recommed high-end hardware and then think its trouble to get it? I must not understand what you meant and I think you jump way to quick to the conclusion about what I must do. I think I am doing all I need to do and everything is just fine thanks! AlacrityPC does just what you suggest about processes when I need them to be turned off and otherwiseI like things like the sidebar so I use it sometimes as well as the task scheduler. Not always just as needed.
What's so hard to understand? I said if you see all the trouble of setting up a high end system (not least referring to the every last cpu cycle rant of yours) you shouldn't be running totally useless gadgets on the system in the first place. It's so simple to strip the system and you never need to run crity or craty again.
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You must be referring to a daydream of your own. I dont have 'totally useless gadgets' but thanks for looking out for serious gamers. :aok
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You must be referring to a daydream of your own. I dont have 'totally useless gadgets' but thanks for looking out for serious gamers. :aok
Uhh.. sidebar.. task scheduler.. where are those needed again? :aok
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Now now boys... It's time to...
Kiss and make up:
(http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/00057724-531B-1C75-9B81809EC588EF21_arch2.jpg)
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BaldEagl that is just what I was thinking! Come here Ripley and pucker up for me! :D
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BaldEagl that is just what I was thinking! Come here Ripley and pucker up for me! :D
Smooch XX
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...if you see all the trouble of setting up a high end system (not least referring to the every last cpu cycle rant of yours) you shouldn't be running totally useless gadgets on the system in the first place. It's so simple to strip the system and you never need to run crity or craty again.
IMHO you're partially right. Especially with a new PC of any brand it's essential to find and get rid of the massive amount of wtfware the manufacturer has preinstalled into it. Of course some of the programs can be useful, like AdobeReader and such, but at least any demo versions should be uninstalled immediately and the settings of the rest should be set up not to run any background checkings for updates or, even worse, "news". Then do some tinkering with services and you should be fine.
Done all that I still use Alacrity. Why? Well, for instance I like to use Skype and Messenger, while not playing AH. There's a lot of other services, too, that are not needed in the game, but are essential in everyday computing, such as Spooler service for printing, Explorer.exe for functionality, Automatic updates (wuauserv) for getting Windows updates even manually, restore service for rollback etc.
As you can see, some crity or craty can help to get an easy-to-use family computer, a reasonably fast and safe working horse and a dedicated gaming rig in one package. At least works here. :salute
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Adobe Acrobat Reader is a bloated pig. Use Foxit (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php) instead. Faster, smaller, less intrusive as well.
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Adobe Acrobat Reader is a bloated pig. Use Foxit (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php) instead. Faster, smaller, less intrusive as well.
Ahhh! BLOATware was the word I was trying to remember! Thx, Skyzzy!
And speaking about pdf-readers, Sumatra (http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/download.html) is today even more simplificated as Foxit, whose free version is bloated with limited demos of the paid version.
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IMHO you're partially right. Especially with a new PC of any brand it's essential to find and get rid of the massive amount of wtfware the manufacturer has preinstalled into it. Of course some of the programs can be useful, like AdobeReader and such, but at least any demo versions should be uninstalled immediately and the settings of the rest should be set up not to run any background checkings for updates or, even worse, "news". Then do some tinkering with services and you should be fine.
Done all that I still use Alacrity. Why? Well, for instance I like to use Skype and Messenger, while not playing AH. There's a lot of other services, too, that are not needed in the game, but are essential in everyday computing, such as Spooler service for printing, Explorer.exe for functionality, Automatic updates (wuauserv) for getting Windows updates even manually, restore service for rollback etc.
As you can see, some crity or craty can help to get an easy-to-use family computer, a reasonably fast and safe working horse and a dedicated gaming rig in one package. At least works here. :salute
I give my computers usage profiles. One is for portable use (work). Two for gaming. Gaming boxes are stripped to the bone but with best hardware in the house. One portable gaming (because _she_ wants to play while watching tv on her recliner downstairs) luckily she plays only flash games.. And one lower spec box is for virtual machines, printing, office etc. less demanding use.
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Giving usage profiles is a fine solution indeed. There's only one "if" and that is you have to own several computers. And of course have enough room for them. 'Crities are the solution for us poor ones having to share only one computer for the whole family. So, when_she_wants to play her flash games, I'll have to find something else to do. Luckily, it's quite often dinner, so I can ensure to get one decent warm meal a day. Later in the evening she's watching TV, the kids have limited internet time and after 9 the thing is all mine!
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the theory of multiple hardware profiles was already discussed above. it has its benefits, but each time a new profile is wanted a reboot is required.
with crity you need not worry about a reboot, once you shut off the monitored program (user defined in the profile) it will automatically return your computer back to its full running state by restarting all services and programs listed for restart.
then you can select another crity profile and run it merely by double clicking the shortcut for that profile.
the new program will then shut off and start up the user defined services and programs listed therein.
once you are done with that profile it takes a simple shut down of the monitored program and again it will return your computer to its original state ready to use yet another profile for a different application or to do whatever it is you wish to do.
no reboots needed. i can set up as many crity profiles as i choose. and i can run any amount of programs in each unique profile as i want to start.
my aces high profile shuts off every possible service and program, then it starts up my CCleaner program that i run cleaning out all temp files and folders, then once that is shut off it starts Aces High. crity sits dormant in the background until i shut off AH then it automatically restarts all of my services and programs that run at start up, restoring my computer to a freshly restarted state.
in my opinion, automatic is easier than a reboot for each time i want to do something different. but if you want to restart the computer when your done using any particular program crity can also be set to do that or shut down completely after the monitored program is exited.
crity if you read the instructions, will allow you to set each profile to do whatever you want. it takes a little trial an error to get each profile the way you want it, but it is no different than setting up individual hardware profiles.
no actually that would be wrong, with each profile i do not have to start over. i can copy a profile that is close to what i want already, rename the new profile, make the minor changes and set the programs i want to run and monitor save it and I'm done. new profile in 2 or 3 minutes max.
i enjoy using crity, works well and its user friendly
FLOTSOM
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Ok maybe you have a point. It's been almost a decade since our household had only a single computer so maybe I'm biased.
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Ok maybe you have a point. It's been almost a decade since our household had only a single computer so maybe I'm biased.
WORD! :rofl
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WORD! :rofl
Meaning only a single computer (we have 5 now + two Iphones if that counts..)
Just not to give a wrong impression.
Btw I also take back anything I said about the Iphone. The 3G version is great.