Optimisation for a games machine...

[CajunFox]

Okay I did write up a lengthy post put there was a post error and I lost it all :crazy: anyway, I have attached two files, the first is a batch file the second is a vbs file.

Here are two scripts which I always use before playing systems hogging games like Splintercell. By using the two script I boosted my performance by over 70%, take a look and see what you think.

This is an automated optimisation for DOS based games on WIN XP, the batch file contains the following:

Newbies note: this script will turn most of the services and tasks like the shell off, if you need the explorer shell which is the mother of memory hogs, please edit that line out in the taskkill section.

net stop "Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)"
net stop "Automatic Updates"
net stop "Computer Browser"
net stop "Cryptographic Services"
net stop "Distributed Link Tracking Client"
net stop "DNS Client"
net stop "Event Log"
net stop "DNS Client"
net stop "Fast User Switching Compatibility"
net stop "IIS Admin" /y
net stop "Infrared Monitor" /y
net stop "Iomega Activity Disk2"
net stop "Infrared Monitor"
net stop "IPSEC Services" /y
net stop "Logical Disk Manager"
net stop "Machine Debug Manager"
net stop "Messenger" /y
net stop "Network Connections" /y
net stop "Network Location Awareness (NLA)"
net stop "Portable Media Serial Number"
net stop "Protected Storage"
net stop "Remote Access Auto Connection Manager" /y
net stop "Remote Access Connection Manager" /y
net stop "Portable Media Serial Number"
net stop "Remote Registry"
net stop "Secondary Logon" /y
net stop "Security Accounts Manager"
net stop "Server"
net stop "Shell Hardware Detection"
net stop "SSDP Discovery Service"
net stop "System Event Notification"
net stop "Task Scheduler"
net stop "TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper"
net stop "Telephony" /y
net stop "Terminal services" /y
net stop "Upload Manager"
net stop "WebClient"
net stop "Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)"
net stop "WebClient"
net stop "Windows Time"
net stop "Wireless Zero Configuration"
net stop "Workstation" /y
net stop "Themes" /y
net stop "Remote Procedure Call (RPC)" /y
net stop "Microsoft search" /y
net stop "MSSQLserver" /y
net stop "NT LM Security Support Provider" /y
net stop "System Restore Service" /y
net stop "6to4" /y
net stop "Telephony" /y
net stop "Nvidia Driver Helper Service" /y
net stop "Help and Support" /y
net stop "Diskeeper" /y
net stop "Distributed Transaction Coordinator" /y

taskkill /F /IM Dap.exe /IM WLM.exe /IM dllhost.exe /IM WLM.exe /IM iexplore.exe /IM wmiprvse.exe /IM Explorer.exe  /IM DKService.exe /IM alg.exe /IM phasma3.exe  /IM wmiprvse.exe /IM msnmsgr.exe /IM qttask.exe

mem.vbs
mem.vbs
  
taskkill /F /IM cmd.exe

and the vbs contains the following:

FreeMem = Space(170000000)

At the end of the optimisation process, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL to load up taskmanager then navigate to the game and enjoy.

Please note, you will most certainly have to make modification to the game.bat file depending on your circumstances.

Additionally, if anyone can optimise the scripts so that it provides better performance please feel free and let us know about it. Thanks guys Laterz.

Note: Just did a quick edit to make it a 1 time execution.

Gameon.zip

Edited November 5, 2003 by CajunFox

[+Batfink Subscriber²]

First let me say welcome to Neowin.

Secondly, that is a cracking idea, strip XP to the core for gaming, I like it a lot... I'm going to try it now

Thankz

Leebobs :D

[CajunFox]

Hey there bob, thanks for the welcome. I have a few other lines of code that optimise the system, but lets just let everyone get past the first stage first.

As for the performance, mine is an old machine P3, 800MHz and without the optimisation there is now way I can play games like Splintercell, Midnight club 2 etc.

Just remember when you want to get back to Windows, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and then start the shell by Explorer.exe or explorer.

[RaWShadow]

This is cool. Has someone try benchmarks with this? With all the stuff it stops it would be better to reboot your PC after you done gaming?

[CajunFox]

So far I have had no problem with the services shutting down, however if you want to start the services again, create a second copy of the gameon.bat and replace the "net stop" with a net start so ideally, all the services you turned off, you can re-enable once more taking you back to your old system. Additionally, if the services are set to "Manual" they'll turn on automatically when needed.

[RaWShadow]

The taskkill gives an error so it don't kill any tasks

[M$ Agent #2]

Anyway this could be made into like hmmmm *fumbles for the words* something I could click on and load up a game on the next reboot and my machine would be optimized for that game ? would be cool to have something like a button where you just want to play some games and shut down everything else....

[Xahid]

Good for me!

I was manually stop some of those services,

Now this will do a treak!

Thanx

[fukachu]

this sounds really great! might have to give this a go! thanx man!

would be really cool if some1 could create a little proggy with basic gui that detected what u had enabled on manual and off, stored that information then turned everything off. then when u leave the game it can turn back ur settings to how u had them originally.. if this could be done i rekon this would be a huge success as many would feel safe using it. damn i can see it spreading everywhere, lol.

edit : too late english is poor

Edited November 5, 2003 by Fizical

[yj589794]

The taskkill gives an error so it don't kill any tasks

the taskkill line contains some programs that you may not have installed.

check which ones exist in the taskkill list but not in your task manager process list.

some that you may not have would be:

Download Accelerator Pro := Dap.exe

Quicktime Tray Icon := qttime.exe

MSN Messenger := msnmsgr.exe

etc...

[CajunFox]

I'm creating the program right now, so should have one avilable soon for download.

Please remember that you have to check your services and add them in where needed. I have added the services that I always shutdown, so you may need to add other services that are not listed here. Additionally, once you have turned the services off, check what processes you have running, then add them to the bat file where needed.

The script works like this:

1. Turns off all unused services

2. Turns of most of the process that are stored in RAM

3. Flushes out the RAM to make room for the game. NOTE: you need to change the Freemem value to optimum levels for your machine. Here I have it set to free approximately 170 MB of Ram, if your at 512MB or Ram you will have to change this setting.

One other point, I have a user called "Games machine" in which I have made the script run automatically when I logon using that username, it saves from the hassle of actually running the script... now I jut login to my gaming centre and there you have it.

[+John Teacake MVC]

thats a great idea, I was just wondering the freemem call thing, How does that exactly clear memory ? What if it cant free the ammount u specify ? what are all the command line switches ater the task kill process ? Is taskkill just a process you can call in visual basic. Im thinking of making my own script for my PC.

Edited November 5, 2003 by Sawyer12

[dougkinzinger]

Welcome CajunFox. Thanks for the script, but I probably won't be using it.

[philmcneal]

what should the mem setting be for 512

[+John Teacake MVC]

the free mem does not do anything that i can see ?

[.Atlantis]

I've created a program which automatically does all this and can undo it. If CajunFox will allow me to share, I will do.

[TruBD]

I've created a program which automatically does all this and can undo it. If CajunFox will allow me to share, I will do.

nice, waiting for permission to be released

[+John Teacake MVC]

is this written in Visual Basic ? So is the freemem an actual function because all i can see what it does is create a variable with nothing in it.

[Premgenius]

cool...:D

[.Atlantis]

I need help with this bit...

If I want to start these processes...

taskkill /F /IM Dap.exe /IM WLM.exe /IM dllhost.exe /IM WLM.exe /IM iexplore.exe /IM wmiprvse.exe /IM Explorer.exe  /IM DKService.exe /IM alg.exe /IM phasma3.exe  /IM wmiprvse.exe /IM msnmsgr.exe /IM qttask.exe

How would I do that? Using batch....

[CajunFox]

Guys do all you want with it, just as long as you share what you have done with the rest of us. This way we get to thank you for making our lives easier.

The freemem acts like memturbo - it flushes the stated ammount out of RAM. You can check this by running taskmanager> processes. The bytes in primary memory drop considerably. Now for 512, make it half that size or even 300 if you want. It depends what works for you.

encryption, you can create a batch file to load up the tasks, but ultimately you will still be using the taskmanager to do your loading of processes etc. The main thing you should worry about getting back is the shell (the GUI), so to get that just go back to taskmanager then run a new task and type in explorer to load up the shell.

It's a bit like doing a registry install, instead of actually re-booting you computer after installing registry files, just reload the explorer shell. That often does the trick.

[.Atlantis]

That's easy, I figured it. In a command prompt, or a batch file type the following...

explorer.exe

It's that easy, the shell loads again :D

I'll be giving credit where it's due in the program. And will be releasing it any time soon!

[CajunFox]

We all look forward to your program encryption :)

[M$ Agent #2]

Definatly add me to your Beta tester list heheheh Ill ghost my hard drive when you make this and give it a good run :)

[.Atlantis]

Beta testers wanted. Join now :D... [email protected] <- add me to msn and I'll ask a few favours :D My PC isn't for gaming :p