Speed Up Web Browsing

[APK]

Some of you may (or, may not) find this useful (for BOTH Solid-State RamDisk placement of your IE Cookies, History, temporary internet files, etc. for speed...)

It's called "Ramsurf" & it redirects much of IE as noted above, to a lower latency/faster seek-access ability software ramdisk, OR, solid-state diskdrive (which I have one, as noted in my last post above)...

Now, an added feature is that IF you use NTFS compressed disks as I do, as noted above, on my SSD (which you can also do on your software based one mind you as well (but remember: the NTFS MFT$ takes away 20% of the disk for itself too)? You can more than DOUBLE .html/.htm/.xml storage (& other text files content based files too, like logs, which I mention above, & MANY %temp/tmp% ops)

Doing this also gives you gains on your MAIN OS & Programs bearing drive(s), in that you do NOT fragment them with these smallish webpage cache (or temp ops) files, & do not burden said disk & the filesystem/disk drivers with I/O on said main disks either...

Plus/Again - You gain on seek/access hugely, & if NTFS compressed? FASTER LOAD TIMES RESULT as noted in my first post above.

IMPORTANT POINT:

Software Ramdisks generally do not hold "state" of the data on them after power outage/system shutdown, unless mirrored to backing HDD (such as SuperSpeed.com's RamDisk driver can do, unlike all other software based ramdrives)).

Doing this also has a security benefit on software ramdisks, mainly (but, can be applied to hardware based ones as well, by NOT using their backing power supplies which some have, & some use CMOS type battery arrangements)... &, in fact, I think THIS point was mentioned in this thread, & it has merit.

RAMSURF FOR IE HOW TO IN REGISTRY (I used drive letter B, as it is the one on my SSD/Solid-State CENATEK RocketDrive ramdisk - merely alter it to the driveletter of yours as/where needed):

-----------------------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths]

"Paths"=dword:00000004

"Directory"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path1]

"CachePath"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\\Cache1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path2]

"CachePath"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\\Cache2"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path3]

"CachePath"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\\Cache3"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path4]

"CachePath"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.IE5\\Cache4"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies]

"Directory"="B:\\TEMP\\Cookies"

"CachePrefix"="CookiB:"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\History]

"Directory"="B:\\TEMP\\History"

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProfileReconciliation\Cookies]

"CentralFile"="Cookies"

"LocalFile"="Cookies"

"Name"="*.*"

"DefaultDir"="B:\\TEMP\\Cookies"

"MustBeRelative"=dword:00000001

"Default"=dword:00000001

"RegKey"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\User Shell Folders"

"RegValue"="Cookies"

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProfileReconciliation\History]

"CentralFile"="History"

"LocalFile"="History"

"Name"="*.*"

"DefaultDir"="B:\\TEMP\\History"

"MustBeRelative"=dword:00000001

"Default"=dword:00000001

"RegKey"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\User Shell Folders"

"RegValue"="History"

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]

"Cookies"="B:\\TEMP\\Cookies"

"Recent"="B:\\TEMP\\Recent"

"Cache"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files"

"History"="B:\\TEMP\\History"

[HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]

"Cookies"="B:\\TEMP\\Cookies"

"Recent"="B:\\TEMP\\Recent"

"Cache"="B:\\TEMP\\Temporary Internet Files"

"History"="B:\\TEMP\\History"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Url History]

"Directory"="B:\\TEMP\\History"

-----------------------------------------------

* This technique can also apply to other webbrowsers too, because this can be done in Opera via its .ini files, & FireFox/Netscape/Mozilla too, via About:Config (same in Opera now too, iirc, on About:config page too).

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ramdisk\Parameters]

"BreakOnEntry"=dword:00000000

"DebugLevel"=dword:00000000

"DebugComp"=dword:ffffffff

"DiskSize"=dword:01f00000

"DriveLetter"="B:"

"RootDirEntries"=dword:00000200

"SectorsPerCluster"=dword:00000002

** This last entry above is for the old Ms-DDK ramdisk, iirc, which has a 32mb size limit, so if you don't use that one? Disregard this last entry...

APK

P.S.=> The "BEST" freeware SOFTWARE-BASED Ramdisk I know of, is ArSoft's... IF you can still find it online, that is...

E.G./I.E.-> ArSoft's has theoretically unlmited size potential (up to 2gb limit most likely, as most Win32 PE's cannot access more than that, though the OS to APP true amt. possible = 4gb typically (minus the /3gb boot.ini switch possible on 32-bit Windows NT-based OS since Win2k iirc), BUT, is a 2gb to app + 2gb to OS for mgt. purposes split, typically)... apk

Edited December 3, 2007 by APK

[APK]

On ArSoft's RamDisk:

Guys - I am not sure if it works on Windows XP SP #2, anymore @ least!

(I say that, simply because I just tried to install it today to my workstation @ work, which is on XP SP#2 fully hotfix patched et al, & it's "bugging out" on me...)

* I hope this doesn't happen to you guys, because this was imo @ least, the best RamDisk out there, that is/was a total freebie, & of "UNLIMITED" size vs. others out there for Windows.

APK

P.S.=> Sorry I can't find you guys a TOTALLY FREE ONE for XP, that still works (jury's still out on this though, it may just be MY workstation on the job is all, & something on it that does not "mesh" with ArSoft's RAMDISK setup is all... maybe a network shared disk? Not sure... but, try it yourselves if you wish to either 2nd me here, or show I have something in the way, on MY end, on my workstation on the job! Thanks... ) apk

[Zlain]

I doubt there is a major difference to bother trying this. Just get opera, fastest web browser at the moment. If you want any faster, well thats just being greedy :p

[APK]

I doubt there is a major difference to bother trying this.

Well, to quote an old adage amongst PC Geeks? "Software is NO SUBSTITUTE for better hardware", & largely, I am forced to agree... BUT, with reservations:

"Every little bit, helps"

& that is what this is about...

By increasing the "seek/access" time to your files for webbrowser caches (or anything), you reduce latency... heck, even LINUS TORVALDS is excited about it, see above... reduced latency is where it is at, even according to Penguin #1... & I have been saying this for years online (see above for details in my earlier replies to MasterTech, & others here, for details).

Just get opera, fastest web browser at the moment. If you want any faster, well thats just being greedy :p

And, the one with the least unpatched KNOWN issues/vulnerabilities too, mind you (ties Netscape, but Opera's been shown to be faster on MANY levels, & on many OS platforms), & I agree...

HOWEVER:

There are things you CAN do, easily, like an adbanner blocking HOSTS file, that I guarantee will buy you more speed (just common sense really - you don't waste time calling out to adbanner servers, loading their datastreams, & animating them in your pages online for one... &. there's more, though I don't ship MINE that way, I block off sites I put in as favs (but, I list HOW to add your favs in mine's interior, with examples). In my custom HOSTS file, I intentionally left the adbanners & google/stopbadware.org sites intact (as well as how SpyBot uses this file to secure you also, & that is one HELL of a good program!)).

Secondly, the past few years now, these same adbanners have been "poisoned" & famous sites have been hit by it (see the "RBN/Russian Business Network" related news online lately in regard to that)

... inclusive of Microsoft themselves, mind you!

That's not just a speed tip either... it helps for security, especially nowadays. Additionally, not calling out to POSSIBLY "DNS POISONED" DNS servers acts in your favor for security, by adding your FAV SITES to its interior as well... no "www.yoursite.com -> IPAddress" resolution time wasted either... gain in potential security, and for certain, speed using them THIS way (not just blocking banners).

I posted more on that, here, with details & backing substantiation in publication online & otherwise:

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 & VISTA in 12 steps:

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=602537

APK

P.S.=> Speed = good, & it's YOUR LINETIME in your ISP bill, & electric bill you pay for folks... get your money's worth, as much as you can... apk

Edited December 5, 2007 by APK

[Victor V.]

define faster. IE loads faster b/c half of its components are in active use by Windows Explorer (which is used to display most normal desktops in XP), so it is fast to load. but as far as rendering pages, I have seen the gap / margin between Fx and IE get very tiny, especially in terms of rendering, with the 1.5 Betas. And, after loading 1.5 Bx once, the next several times I load it it loads instantaneously, as fast as IE - and sometimes, depending upon system resource usage, faster than IE.

And in what are you basing this arguments on? As far as I know, all the tests showed IE to load faster not only itself, but the pages too.

[APK]

And in what are you basing this arguments on? As far as I know, all the tests showed IE to load faster not only itself, but the pages too.

My man, if you look @ the date of his quote (2005)?

He's probably "long gone" (or banned, OR just not here to reply)...

Suggestion/Advice, IF you take advice?

Email he, or try to send him a mail thru the forums engine & maybe you'll luck out & he takes email from users & admins here too... & hope the mail he used is one he actually employs regularly!

Good luck!

APK

P.S.=> Above all though, as far as THIS post's concerned? I hope you guys enjoy & profit by the tips I noted in my posts on the last page... they just work! apk