OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

My computer has really slowed down lately, and isn't using RAM very effectively based on the sound of data being written and retrieved on the hard drive.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a good RAM cleaning utility program? I looked at CNET, and there are so many available. Of course, they all say they are the best!!

Thanks...Greybeard

[ October 24, 2002, 03:02: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

The absolutely best RAM utility is MORE RAM!!

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

RAM Booster: http://www.sci.fi/~borg/rambooster/index.htm] http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif
It's really good. Another is MemTurbo. Sorry, no URL for it. Hope that helps!

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Greybeard, I use MemTurbo. It seems to help, but I can't say its the greatest thing since sliced bread. With only 48 MB, I try to run a pretty lean machine and let MemTurbo clean out the deadwood to free up as much RAM as possible. Give it whirl. If it doesn't help, trash it.

Kim

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">www.memturbo.com

I found the link for you. Easy enough. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

I use StartStop.

It gives you the ability to control all of those semi-useless programs which on startup.

It's not super efficient, but it frees up some wasted space.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

I think this depends on your OS. If it is Windows ME. Then the best thing is to get rid of it!

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Ram can be very powerful. The best ram utility IMO is organic armor. (sorry, couldn't resist) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Especially if you consider the low price for it at the moment.
I installed for about 100 US $ 256MB RAM into my old PII 233MHz with 32 MB RAM originally. It is almost as I have a new computer.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

RAM was cheaper than that Last year, actually. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Thanks for the advice. I'm still using Windows95 for my OS. I know it's old, but not succeptible to most of the current viruses.

Greybeard

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Ragnarok: Thanks for the help. Guess I'm just getting old!

And, Thank You Rollo!

Q: Wheew, glad I don't live in Europe. 512MB's RAM here, going for about $40.00.

Used 95 for a long time. It is alot more stable than most of the new OS's. Now running 98SE. Pretty good!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Uhh... no. Win95 is one of the least stable OS out there (besides WinME, anyways http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif ). Win2000 and WinXP are very stable OS that normally do not crash.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Some other products: winROCKET and RAMrocket at Ascentive.com. You might find these of use.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

If your system is "slowing down", try to uninstall a lot of the small programs.
Gator, WeatherBug, various add in toolbars for your browser, fancy programable keyboard, mouse and other drivers that don't contribute a lot to performance.
I remove those on a regular basis at work, (where we run Win 95 and Office 2000).
There is another program that changes your desktop everytime you log into the internet.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Imperator Fyron: Moddfied 95 to the MAX. It was very stable. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif WinME?? Win2000, almost NT. WinXP, Microsofts RENT an OS, don't think so. No matter how stable it is! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Actually, there is nothing wrong with 2000. It doesn't have the gaming problems of NT. And XP is basically the fisher price Version of 2000 anyways. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

"Actually, there is nothing wrong with 2000. It doesn't have the gaming problems of NT. And XP is basically the fisher price Version of 2000 anyways"

Then 2000 has problems too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif Every single game I've tried to instal on my new XP laptop (old one's screen imploded) has failed to work right. This is all in compatability mode BTW..

TWE: Gun animations play very slowly.
Worms: Crashes every time it switches resolution. So I can only play in 640x480.
Pinball: crashes, period. (this is somewhat ironic because an inferior Version of the SAME GAME comes with Windows XP, and works)

Phoenix-D

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

That's cause fisher price XP has no DOS kernal. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

99% of games I have tried to run on 2000 have run with no problems.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Not one of those games uses DOS http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif Two of them use DirectX, actually.

Phoenix-D

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Well I can't explain all of the crappiness of fisher price XP. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

The best gaming platform remains Win98SE period. Greatest compatability with games and gaming peripherals. Yeah, it is not as stable as XP or 2000, but for a gaming only system it just works better.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

I'd love to instal 98 on this laptop, but I doubt I could find the drivers to do it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Phoenix-D

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You can almost always find drivers directly from the chipset manufacturer, if not from the laptop maker. Before venturing into this avenue, write down all devices in device manager, then search for their respective Win98 drivers.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

I almost never have problems running games under 2000.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

2000 will run games and supports DX8.1, but it has VERY limited peripheral support. If a game works better with a wheel, joystick, or gamepad, you can forget running it on 2000. That is one of the main differences between 2000 and XP. XP supports most of the latest gaming peripherals. On my XP system, for example, I have a Force Feedback Racing wheel, FF joystick, and a FF gamepad, and all of them work excellently with games that support them. Rogue Sqadron, for instance is very enjoyable when you can feel the missile hit to your X-Wing while chasing down a Tie Bomber.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Well that requires you to feel that it is necessary to use a lot of peripherals to enjoy a game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

But fisher price XP still sucks in general.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Yep, Win98 seems to be the 'sweet spot' for most Users. I have often seen people say on various 'support Boards' that you should not bother with anything after Win98 SE. I wonder what the real statistics are for the current installed base of Windows systems. Is Win 98 still holding a larger chunk of the systems than any of the newer Versions? Is XP going to convince people to upgrade with its combination of Win/NT stability and Win98 compatible 'consumer' features? Or will the 'subscription' features spook people away from it? I think we're reaching a crucial point in the history of the Microsoft Empire. If people are not willing to upgrade to XP there may be an opening for someone/something else. If not Linux then maybe the rumoured "Intel Version" of Apple's OS X.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

2000 looks just like 98 to me, but with added features and more crash-resistance. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif And everything I used on my computer under 98se works fine under 2000.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

OK, OK, Imperator Fyron. I grant you your point about WIN 2000. I still prefer 98SE.

But, I hope we still agree WIN XP SUCKS!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Yes, fisher price XP does indeed suck. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

In mi experience w2k sp3 is the most stable of all MS OS.

If you have a machine that support w2k / XP, go for w2k.
If not, go for w98SE

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

I run W2k here and NEVER had any game NOT running on my PC. It's a great OS, the best Microsoft has ever released (except maybe XP, never tried it, but all the others http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif ).

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Y'all keep saying that XP sucks, but nobody ever tells me why! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/confused.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Win XP does not 'SUCK'

Please explain to me how a 8 year old operating system is branded a 'non-suck.'

There are many articles out there that compare the 9x , nt and xp o/s's for gaming...

ANd XP wins.

In 6 years when what ever MS is running then...

You people will say it sucks and XP is good.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

dumbluck: It sucks because it is a rent to rent OS. Buy it and renew it, hence the term "subscription". You don't ever really own it. Does that help? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Now if that doesn't suck, tesco samoa. I don't know what does. An in 6 years, I will still be running Win98SE or a second party OS system. And XP WILL STILL SUCK!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

tesco samoa: Do you by any chance work for MS??? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

You rent XP in the US? You can buy it over here, but not rent it (at least as a home user).

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Renting XP is news to me. Plus I find it very stable. More stable than win2k even.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

The thing that sucks is the new license gimmick. You actually do own XP (as far as anyone "owns" any software you purchase, which is an argument in itself)* and you do not need to continually update subscription. You do need to register with Microsoft to "activate" XP and you are good to go, unless you make a serious upgrade to your system or perform a fresh new install.

*You technically do not own any software you purchase. When you buy software, you are buying the right to use said software in accordance with it's licensing agreement.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Especially if you consider the low price for it at the moment.
I installed for about 100 US $ 256MB RAM into my old PII 233MHz with 32 MB RAM originally. It is almost as I have a new computer.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sounds like my system configuration:PII 233 mhz with 64 + 256 MB RAM. but my 256 extra RAM was only 35,- $ http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I've only got limited experience with XP, I worked on a couple of systems (not my own) with XP for maybe three weeks in total (Pentium IV) , and I absolutely loath it. both systems I used it on crashed frequently, and after a near fatal crash I couldn't acces my own files anymore because it didn't want to recognize my username (and I did NOT forget the password), and other usernames didn't have acces to those files... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif that's when I gave up...

[ October 21, 2002, 22:42: Message edited by: henk brouwer ]

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

XP to me is OK. In fact that's what my machine is using. I did have ME on this thing when I bought it but ME sucked big time so I went to XP for the first time. I got to install some new drivers for my display due to having a blue screen of death at least twice a week. Sometimes once a day.
But I would much rather run 2000. 2000 was/is the best OS that micro$lave has put out IMHO. But that's just me. It may be different for other Users.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

XP Sucks? Well depends what you compare it to. To win98 then maybe. Compared to winME though it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The fact that certain software (such as Roxio Direct CD ver 4) no longer work in XP really sucks too. Especially if you use it daily like I do. And how big a scaam is it that the built in CD support that comes with XP and is made by Roxio is a way scalled down Version.
Here is a good one. How to get my printer to work after a reboot on XP. Go to the system Hardware settings, go the to LPT1 properties and change the 'use Interupt' setting. Printer works. After next reboot change it back to previous setting to get printer to work. How wierd is that.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Normally I don't have problems with my ram. When I do, that's when a good format/reinstall of Windows is in order and makes everything run nice and smooth (including 45 second boot times!). Otherwise, I use Maxmem by AnalogX (www.analogx.com). The bad part about memory cleaners (all of them!) is that they actually _increase_ disk usage to some degree. That is, you dump out everything in the RAM, and then have to wait while your computer reloads everything it was actually using, while the dead weight is (hopefully) gone until the program that caused the mem usage or mem leak is loaded/used again.

As for OSes, I use Win98 first edition on my main computer (I don't have SE and I'm too damn cheap to get it). WinXP has a bad habit of consuming a large portion of RAM (I'm pretty sure this is why most gaming articles on the issue I've read denounce XP and cite benchmark tests to back it up).

Now, I remember back in the day where we had 64 megs of RAM and we were happy. Nowdays you need 256 before your computer can crash without giving you an out of memory error for trying to load the blue screen of death!

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Well as I run Visual Studio.Net I'm limitied to either one of two operating systems - XP or 2k.
Ran 2k since about 2000 (coincidece?...maybe not http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif ) and I liked it except Warlords Battlecry patch 1 didn't work and the thing took forever to boot (although I only rebooted once every 2 months but it still pissed me off). XP boots lightning fast, you can turn all the annoying visual effects off to boost performance and its really stable.

I won't upgade to XP patch 1 yet thou, coz I don't like the "Microsoft reserves the right to screw with your machine and make things not work whenever the feel like it" clause. Yep, your computer will automatically patch itself (when connected to the net) and until I find a hacking too to turn it off then I'm not upgrading.

Askan

BTW - WinMe blows. At our office we've got so sick of it we've decided to say our software not longer supports it.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

Hmm... for everyone who's saying that Win2000 is more stable than Win98SE... I don't really think so. I usually end up having the 2000 machines here hang (hang meaning I have to wait a few minutes for Ctrl-Alt-Del to let me log off) about once every two hours on average here. My Win98SE machine at home I would get a BSoD about once a week (and that was about 30 hours of use). The only thing that's really "stable" about 2000 is you can usually get away with logging off, and logging back in (USUALLY... I've had to cut the power a few times).

XP Pro, while I haven't used it for as much time as the others, I haven't crashed yet. And I've tried a few times http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif XP Home, I've managed to hang quite a few times for the short amount of time I was playing with it.

But, overall, I still prefer Win98SE. I don't know of any programs where you can run it on one of the newer OS, but not on 98SE. I know where most of the settings/customization is (I won't say all, because there's probably some obscure thing that I would never use that I don't know about), and it's easier to change settings than the other ones. After all, "user-friendly" implies methods to prevent "user stupidity", even if they really did mean to change that setting.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

I'm going to upgrade to WinXP when I get some extra money to spend on the computer. I don't buy a lot of criticism here because most haven't used it enough to make an accurate comparision to the programs they're familiar with. I don't anticipate any major problems when I switch.

Fyron - You can always change the desktop to look like previous windows editions...if that's you're only beef http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif .

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

MS Windows XP EULA states that you have to renew EVERY TWO YEARS.

Here are a couple of links have the Windows XP EULA and that statement (even one for the UK)
http://www.cw360.com/bin/bladerunner?REQSESS=Jc28AN7 S&REQAUTH=0&2149REQEVENT=&CARTI=105872&CARTT=2&CCA T=2&CCHAN=19&CFLAV=1
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/licensing/programmes/open/
http://www.empower.gb.com/pdf_guides...ing%20work.pdf
http://216.239.33.100/search?q=Cache...2&hl=en&ie=UTF -8

But you get to buy it at a "discount".

Thanks, buy no thanks.

98SE or 2K is good enough for me... or there's always Linux....

Kirby

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

"I don't buy a lot of criticism here because most haven't used it enough to make an accurate comparision to the programs they're familiar with."

Uh, they don't work and they did under 98. That's a fairly simple comparision. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif An upgrade that breaks what you want to do with the computer isn't much of an upgrade..

Phoenix-D

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Woops...I should have been more clear...I meant OSs they are familiar with. I don't use lots of older or obscure programs, so I'm not concerned about that kind of stuff. I'm sure lots of crap didn't work with Win95 that did with Win3.1, things change.

Re: OT - RAM utilities -> XP sucks? -> ME is worse?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No it doesn't. What you're refering to is if a business or organization wants to buy several copies of winXP. They have the option to rent it for two years for less than it would cost them to buy it.

Home Users get to use winXP for as long as they care to.

[edit = grammar]

[ October 22, 2002, 19:38: Message edited by: Spoo ]