possible way to reduce background programs

[sarb]

so i was thinking, bf2 takes up alot of system resources...which are being shared with background programs.

is it possible to make like a guest account on the compouter seperate from my "administrator" account that i normally use, but have that account have like no programs or anything come on at start up using the msconfig console? or would that also just carry over on all accounts on the computer?

i already have everything disabled, other than the microsoft servercies which you should always allow, and norton and antispware. these really dont suck too much from my system (2.6ghz 1gb ram), but norton is ****ing me off because it asks me like 1000 times if i want to permit bf2.exe to accept incoming connections (when im browing server lists). i have it set on permit all for bf2 in the norton settings, but it still does it. its stupid like that.

so can i have a seperate account that doesnt have norton on start up so i can play bf2 on that?

[ThoughtForm]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

When you installed Norton, did it ask if you want to install Norton for 'Only me' or 'For all users' ?

[sarb]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

i dont remember.

but when i logged in on a guest account, i couldnt do anything to norton, options were all disabled...and i couldnt access msconfig w/o admin rights...so i guess my plan wont work.

oh well.

[CaptainPuffy]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

Another option, would be to install another Copy of XP on a seperate partition, and to work off of a dual boot system. That way you have your regular OS, and then you have your second OS with only Drivers, BF2, TS, Xfire and what not.

[sarb]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

i considerd that, but from what i read you need to reformate teh drive to create a 2nd partition...something i dont want to do.

[Talus]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

A lot of people set up a Gamer admin account and disable all unnecessary services. It's a good idea if you don't mind the work.

I just made my main account my 'gamer' account and I streamlined my services and processes..it's just a plain ol' good idea

[PrayingHands]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

A lot of people set up a Gamer admin account and disable all unnecessary services. It's a good idea if you don't mind the work.

I just made my main account my 'gamer' account and I streamlined my services and processes..it's just a plain ol' good idea

Do you have a good list of services that can be terminated without harm to the system operations?

[Desertfox]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

Best way would be to google all the names, And as for not being able to do msconfig with a different account, You must have set it to user when you create the account set it to computer administrator

[sarb]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

i tried a 2nd admin account. if you change anything in the start up on 1 account, it does it on all of them, so no luck.

oh well, i can live with it.

[Talus]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12

[Maxor127]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

You can set up Service profiles without making entirely different accounts. I have a Default profile and my Game profile which is basically the new default, but I can switch back to the original settings easily. I tried tweaking out my system, but I barely notice any difference. I don't even bother turning off background programs anymore. They just need to code the game better. The game stutters like crazy for me ever since 1.2 for the first 5 minutes of each new map.

[imported_=NAA=SHADOW]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

hey bro use this! u can close al programs and services! that arnt critical! evn add what u dont want to closE!

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/smartclose.html

[ThoughtForm]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

Instead of formating or repartitioning, wouldn't it be easier to just uninstall Norton and then reinstall with the "only me" option on the non-gaming account??

Or if you want to play BF2 using a single account computer, you can just write yourself a taskkill batchfile:

1.) Identify which services you do not need to be active to play bf2
2.) Open notepad and put "taskkill /im unwanted_process_name.exe /f"
3.) Save the file as "all files" with the name BF2.bat

For example:

Press ctrl+alt+del and go to the processes window.

I have the following unwanted programmes running in the background which starts up with windows called realsched.exe and notifyphonebook.exe.

I am too lazy to close a dozen programmes manually before I play BF2.

I make the batchfile as described in steps 1-3 above for ALL the processes I dont want running while I play BF2 and the contents look like this:

taskkill /im realsched.exe /f
taskkill /im notifyphonebook.exe /f

etc.

Explanation:
/im = image name
/f = force

Fill out the batch file according to your system.

Now I just double click that file when I want to play BF2 instead of labouriously closing each one manually.

Not sure if that is only for Windows XP Professional or also for Windows XP Home but give it a try.

[knghtwhosaysni]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

instead of smartclose, I just limit what programs begin at startup. You can do this by running msconfig and then clicking on "Startup" and uncheck stuff that you don't want. This is pretty much what Startup Inspecter does for you. But you can also choose what services you want to enable/disable in msconfig under the "services" tab. Just don't end any Microsoft services. There should be a little checkbox at the bottom of the Services page that says "Hide all Microsoft Services."

[BigFinger]

Re: possible way to reduce background programs

sorry im going to appear flippant here but ....

1) bin norton its horrible (lots of free better stuff out there)

2) buy another gig of ram

sorted.....