Say Hello to Freedom

If you IE is locked down simply delete:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

You can back up this Key before deleting by selecting Internet Settings and choose Export from the menu.

Nostromos n52 Windows 7 work around

If you have a n52 and use it all the time you soon realize that you can't live without it. You are almost better off not knowing something like this exists. This piece of hardware is so well made that its going to be around until something better catches your eye. Belkin knows you are addicted and like a crack dealer they want your money. So I don't expect to see a fix for this problem. So here is the work around.

Problem: The n52 loadout manager won't work after sleep or hibernate.

Work around: Unplug the n52 then plug it back in. If you can't unplug it easily remove it from the devices then scan for hardware changes. Open device manager and go to human interface devices.

Disable HUD Compliant Controller then the Nostromos Loadout will launch the re-enable and you will be up and running without pulling cables.

Game crashing on atioglxx.dll

I have been seeing all kinds of posts with crazy solutions to ATI driver crash issues and blue screen problems impacting a particular ATI .dll file.

ati2dvag.dll infinite loop problem for example.

Of course look to see that you have the latest drivers. This doesn't always work however and removing and re-installing is worth trying but likely won't work either. The method I suggest is to replace the offending file with either the latest version of that file or a older version. The re-install doesn't hit that file because it is locked by Windows and is being used. If you boot in safe mode you usually can't get the setup for the driver to work. So boot up in safe mode and follow my procedure.




This is a OPENGL problem and the new opengl doesn't seem to work in many games on Vista.

The fix is easy:

Goto C:\ATI
then to the 8_7 files
search for CMD
then

cd C:\ATI\SUPPORT\8-7_vista32_dd_ccc_wdm_enu_65998\Packages\Drivers\Display\LH_INF\B_66369

(this just happens to be the location of this file for this example
on a XP machine I found the file ati2dvag.dl_
C:\ATI\SUPPORT\8-6_xp32_dd_ccc_wdm_enu_64783\Driver\XP_INF\B_64997)

expand atioglxx.dl_ atioglxx.dll

and copy the new atioglxx.dll to c:\windows\system32

replace your newer file

What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You

If you own a AMD Dual Core or 64bit processor you might not be getting the most out of it.

Main Update Link

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_9706,00.html

XP

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver Version 1.3.2.0053 for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 (x86 and x64) - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination to match the instantaneous user performance need. This package is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core processors and supports future quad-core upgrades on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP2 x86 and x64 Editions

AMD Dual-Core Optimizer for timing by directly using the - The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer can help improve some PC gaming video performance by compensating for those applications that bypass the Windows APIRDTSC (Read Time Stamp Counter) instruction. Applications that rely on RDTSC do not benefit from the logic in the operating system to properly account for the affect of power management mechanisms on the rate at which a processor core's Time Stamp Counter (TSC) is incremented. The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer helps to correct the resulting video performance effects or other incorrect timing effects that these applications may experience on dual-core processor systems, by periodically adjusting the core time-stamp-counters, so that they are synchronized.

Linux

AMD Athlon™ 64/FX Cpufreq Driver for Linux 2.10.00 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU frequency, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Supports all AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology, AMDOpteron™ Processors, and Athlon™ 64 Processors released through 2007. Provides support for AMD PowerNow!™ technology and, where appropriate, AMD’s Cool-n-Quiet™ technology for Linux systems. Works with all kernels, version 2.6.10 or later. Requires the ondemand kernel module or the cpufreq-1.20, cpuspeed-1.20.1, or powersaved-0.8.19 or later user programs to support SMP and multi-core systems. This driver is already included in the 2.6.18 or later kernels and does not need to be downloaded again.

Its best to visit the main update link to find the latest download for your CPU

Get that Old Girl Ready for Battle

So that new game you got as a holiday gift won't play or bogs down that PC you spent 2 grand on two years ago, now what are you going to do?

May be it just needs tweaking. The first thing I recommend doing is freeing up system resources. The biggest drain on your PC is likely a bloated virus scan like McAfee or Norton. Remove those, save some money and install one of the free virus scans I posted. FreeAV is the best I've tested. You should also think about removing unnecessary toolbars and quick launch applications. You need at least 1 Gig of Ram for gaming and I recommend 2 Gigs. For Windows7 or Vista 64bit I recommend 6 gigs or more.

If that doesn't help try:



America's Army Tweak Guide
Amiga Emulation Guide
ATI Catalyst Tweak Guide
Battlefield 1942 Tweak Guide
Battlefield 2 Tweak Guide
Battlefield 2142 Tweak Guide
Battlefield Vietnam Tweak Guide
BioShock Tweak Guide
Call of Duty 2 Tweak Guide
Call of Juarez Tweak Guide
Crysis Tweak Guide
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Tweak Guide
Doom 3 Tweak Guide
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Tweak Guide
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Tweak Guide
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Tweak Guide
Far Cry Tweak Guide
F.E.A.R Tweak Guide
Firefox Tweak Guide
Game Music Extraction Guide
Gamer's Graphics & Display Settings Guide
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter Tweak Guide
Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 Tweak Guide
Half Life 2 & Source Engine Tweak Guide
Halo Tweak Guide
Hardware Confusion Guide
Joint Operations Tweak Guide
Neverwinter Nights 2 Tweak Guide
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 Tweak Guide
Need for Speed: Most Wanted Tweak Guide
Nvidia Forceware Tweak Guide
Prey Tweak Guide
Quake 4 Tweak Guide
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Tweak Guide
Star Wars Battlefront Tweak Guide
Star Wars Battlefront 2 Tweak Guide
Star Wars KOTOR 2 Tweak Guide
Thief: Deadly Shadows Tweak Guide
TweakGuides Tweaking Companion
UT2003 Tweak Guide
UT2004 Tweak Guide
Unreal Tournament 3 Tweak Guide
VIA Hyperion FAQ
Web Hosting - Ten Basic Tips

Your my favorite, I wish I could remember your name

Favorites Plus
http://www.borngeek.com/software/favoritesplus/

The is a free bookmark export tool similar to the one that comes with IE but with some very nice features.
The feature I find most beneficial is the ability to create drop down lists.

My brother recently wanted to show me some pictures of his sons baseball team on the Internet. The problem is he couldn't remember the URL. Even when he found the site hosting the pictures he couldn't locate what he was looking for. If he exported the bookmarks to a web site he could have navigated right to it.

Many times you don't want to share company internal bookmarks. Favorites Plus is a nice way for you to seperate it out.

There are other ways to achieve the same results using social bookmarking sites such as site bar.

Here is a list from WikiPedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_bookmarking

Get .NET apps to launch faster using ngen.exe

http://www.cyprich.com/2007/03/01/making-net-faster-with-ngen/
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/Ngen.asp


A .NET application isn't natively machine code. The code is in the Microsoft Intermediary Language (MSIL). At runtime the program uses the just-in-time (JIT) compiler to produce machine code.

There is a delay before your application launches or when certain subroutines in your application launch for the first time. This is the JIT compiling it to machine code. The code isn't permanently compiled and is lost when the application closes.

I added the framework directory to my path. This is a non-standard install of XP so your path may be different. To change the path on XP you can right click MY COMPUTER then PROPERTIES then ADVANCED then ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

C:\WINNT\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727


You can create a compiled version of your EXE simply by running the following.
ngen install

From Namratha Shah's post:

Looking at a few options of Ngen.exe

To create a native assembly

ngen 

You can also create a native image of one or more assemblies at the same time

ngen    

To view all the assemblies in the native cache use the/show option

ngen /show

To delete an assembly from the cache

ngen /delete