Great windows utility program

syswizard · Feb 28, 2007

Quote from dcraig:
That is exactly right. I'm especially cautious about running anything as a real time process. There is a misconception on this thread that REALTIME means fast. It does not. It means having a defined maximum response time. The OS will throw whatever is needed at it to achieve this goal.
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No it won't.....Despite the 50 million lines of code, Windows XP is pretty "stupid". It doesn't even know you are running a realtime piece of software for instance.

From the web site it seems that this piece of software monitors whatever it has elevated to real time and demotes it if it seems to be using too much CPU. Now this is just plain wrong - it's either realtime or it isn't. In other words this product is trying to be another scheduler on top of Windows kernel scheduler.
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It rarely, if EVER, does this....especially if you have a modern CPU. It's an emergency-only situation.

Judging from the web site and some of the outlandish claims, it is not credible to me that this stuff supplants the work of generations of computer scientists who have studied and developed OS schedulers - ever since operating systems became more than just a simple program loader.
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But they did not design windows for realtime usage in mind.

There is nothing wrong with adjusting process priorities to improve response times - indeed it can be good practice to do so. But stay away from REALTIME unless there is a good reason to use it, and you know what you are doing.
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Just test it for a few days....that makes sense, right ? I've been at realtime for 2 weeks...no crashes, no problems. Quotes and charts were current even yesterday afternoon.

syswizard · Feb 28, 2007

Quote from kiwi_trader:Interesting dcraig, the author agrees with you and doesn't recommend that any items other than cd/dvd burners are put at real time.
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Again, the author has no experience with trading software....I discussed that with him. He made a huge mistake in making a "category" named as "CD Burner" IMHO. There are many other programs that fit into that category....including realtime charting/quotes as well as process control software.

I might wind tws and zlt back to high and see how that impacts anything.
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Again, trial-and-error is the best approach for something like this.

promagma · Feb 28, 2007

Using a priority app has made a huge difference in my machine, especially when multitasking with trading apps, development apps and mysql server. You just have to be smart with it .... trading apps at "high", mysql at "idle", "explorer.exe" at high etc.

I use this program - it is freeware (donation ware)

www.bitsum.com/prosuper.asp

If you are filling up your RAM, "FreeRam XP Pro" helps a lot. Don't use the default settings. Only free memory if available memory is zero, and then free maybe 50MB. This is a more proactive approach than Windows. Now, I just wish there was an app to proactively page into memory, if there is free memory and the CPU is idle. Really should get more RAM though

nkhoi · Feb 28, 2007

Kelley's korner, with one click I was able to fix my task manager problem http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util

lotsofloot · Mar 4, 2007

Hi Folks

Anybody know of any free utility for backing up / restoring windows registery files.

Thanks for your help

Lotsofloot

kiwi_trader · Mar 5, 2007

Here is another one. Nicely integrates with windows and lets you set "permanent priorities" ... freeware for individuals.

http://www.prnwatch.com/download.html

Catoosa · Mar 5, 2007

Quote from kiwi_trader:

Here is another one. Nicely integrates with windows and lets you set "permanent priorities" ... freeware for individuals.

http://www.prnwatch.com/download.html
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This looks like just what I have been looking for, lean and mean too. Does what is needed and no more.

Catoosa