Tip for those with slow/old PCs

[matt42s]

I run an ancient P3 866 and was often getting long lags while PT was importing hands or GT/PAHud was gathering stats. Changing the priority in Task Manager helps a lot but is quite boring to do everytime. Changing the "target" of the shortcuts means you never have to worry about it and your poker client always responds quickly.

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe "D:\Apps\Poker Tracker V2\" /c start /low ptrack2.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe "D:\Apps\PokerAce Hud\" /c start /min /low PAHud.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe "D:\Apps\PartyPoker\" /c start /realtime PartyPoker.exe

[theRealMacoy]

slow computer but noobish brain.

do i type this in after clicking on run from the start menu?
...how do i pull up a dos window to type this in?

also, i have seen others mention that while playing poker you can shut down some background processes from the task manager. which ones can i shut down? i have no idea how to find out what all these things do?

thanks for the helpful post
the Real Macoy

[Nomad84]

[ QUOTE ]
I run an ancient P3 866 and...

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh...Try a PII 350 [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Thanks for the tip though. I'll definitely give that a shot. This thing needs all the help it can get.

[edit]I guess I'm doing it wrong. What exactly goes in the target box? I get an error message when I click OK.[/edit]

[MiguelSanchez]

[ QUOTE ]
do i type this in after clicking on run from the start menu?
...how do i pull up a dos window to type this in?


[/ QUOTE ]

You have to go to the start menu or desktop shortcut's properties, that's where the target box is. You actually replace the shortcut.

In recent Windows systems (2000 or XP) you can usually just right-click on the start menu shortcut then go to properties. In Win98 I think you have to go to the Start menu folder in explorer to right click.

[Nomad84]

I keep shortcuts on my desktop. I went to properties and replaced the target with what is listed above, but I got an error message.

[wdbaker]

I have an ancient P2 and I use "FreeRam XP Pro" for ram as I am limited to 96 megs and I use "Process Tamer" for managing CPU.

Both are free, give'em a google, I think you'll be happy.

One Street at a Time
wdbaker Denver, Co

[Nomad84]

I'll try it. I have 320 MB of RAM (64+256) and if it works for 96, it must be good [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[matt42s]

The format as listed probably only works for 2000/XP. Not sure it works for 98, probably not.

did you susbtitute in your own directory/s?
ie. if PT is installed in c:\program files\Poker Tracker V2\ (which i think is the default but I'm not sure as i dont use defaults)
then the target would be

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe "c:\program files\Poker Tracker V2\" /c start /low ptrack2.exe

If you're still getting an error - what error?

[wdbaker]

Hi,
You could also google a free program called "powermenu" for changing things like cpu level, this is what I used before I found the much more sophisticated "process tamer".

Just throw it in the start menu and then when you want to change how the cpu handles that program, just right click and raise or lower it. lets you do some other cool things also like change opacity of the window etc...

this was free also

One Street at a Time
wdbaker Denver, Co

[Nomad84]

[ QUOTE ]
The format as listed probably only works for 2000/XP. Not sure it works for 98, probably not.

did you susbtitute in your own directory/s?
ie. if PT is installed in c:\program files\Poker Tracker V2\ (which i think is the default but I'm not sure as i dont use defaults)
then the target would be

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe "c:\program files\Poker Tracker V2\" /c start /low ptrack2.exe

If you're still getting an error - what error?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I substituted my directory. I am running ME, so that may be the issue. (Probably, in fact.) I don't remember the error and frankly, I don't care enough to replicate it. It isn't that big of a deal to me. Things work OK anyway. I will try out FreeRamXPpro and PowerMenu. ProcessTamer does not work for ME either.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.