Re: Any tweaks to speed up games under XP?

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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 12:37:21 -0800

Main points can be: (1) The XP and Win9x lines are different registry
structures, (2) both operating systems use different version of drivers for
graphics, controllers, etc., and it can botch up your game settings, (3)
You're messing with your game performance. 8-)

I run Halo on Windows XP at 1280x1024 and it is absolutely stunning. I
think you're cheating yourself and the performance of the games with your
method.

-- 
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message 
news:%23vLgfbfCEHA.3132@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> "If you're using the same folder on a common partition for program
> installation and playing the games on XP and Win98SE attempting to use the
> same files - don't.  Just that simple."
>
> I think you're wrong in considering this so much a no-no. Please elaborate
> specific problem as it's my understanding (from 20 years programming
> experience) unless there's OS feature specific files involved, the whole
> point of the Windows API is so that one can write software that'll run
> unchanged under any of MS's 32 bit OS's.
>
> Basically assuming the game doesn't actually "demand" existing registry
> entries before it'll run and assuming it doesn't install dll's etc. 
> anywhere
> but it's own installed folder, what's the problem? I'm not aware of 
> anything
> amiss with this as it's all still code for the Windows 32 bit API and DX
> calls etc. are all the same across OS's.
>
> Obviously anything that makes use of features only found under XP etc. 
> will
> have problems but games (thankfully) still state "For 98...XP" and I've 
> yet
> to see one has different installed files depending on OS.
>
> Windows 98SE on C:
> Windows XP Pro on D:
>
> I install all games into a folder named " D:\More Games\'gamedir' " 
> (largest
> hd in system) regardless of OS in use at time.
>
> Seems at least three games I've tried don't care about actual OS once
> they've been installed into a folder. I'm also sure many more also would
> have no problems, Quake and most of it's variants using that grahics 
> engine
> for example assuming OpenGl's working properly. You'll also find many
> programs also will have no problems, e.g. Paint Shop Pro 7 doesn't as 
> again
> the developers wrote their code properly without having OS version 
> specific
> anything in it and without installing anything outside it's own folder.
>
> Of course products like Office have to use two separate installs. MS 
> places
> so much crap outside of the install folder and usually alter enough 
> registry
> entries that it can't be helped.
>
> Current testing is from ...
>
> NFS:U was already installed under 98SE, under XP just created a shortcut 
> and
> it runs with no complaints.
> FS 2004 was already installed under 98SE, same as NFS:U, e.g. runs under 
> XP
> with no problems and no complaints
> Links 2003 installed under XP, under 98SE just created shortcut and it 
> runs
> with no complaints.
>
> But all of them have had the "testing reversed", e.g. reversed OS 
> installed
> under and the results (XP slower) is the same.
>
> Only thing that "happened" is when first run under the "other" OS, both
> Links and FS do the Licensing/Agree dialog. All three basically duplicated
> the registry entries found under the other OS after their first run (I
> checked).
>
> All three examples above run noticably faster and hence appear smoother
> under 98SE even at one notch of resolution higher.
>
> The only "problem" is where the game "Saves" can vary between OS's. I can
> live with it.

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