Lair360 Blog

Version: 12.1
Revision: 33 Build 12 (BlackBox 2)

BlackBox for the benchies!

Introduction: this utility was designed to collect information about your hardware components, operating systems, memory type and many more. It can also benchmark your computer and notebooks, such as: system processor, memory, graphics adapter and hard drive to determine your overall performance against your opponent’s computer and their hardware. However, this feature is locked for Windows XP user. It will only allow you to benchmark if you have Windows Vista or Windows 7.

HWM BlackBox
——————————-
Url*1 - http://blackbox.hardwaremania.com/en/
Url*2 - http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/HWM-BlackBox.shtml



Notes: this utility was specially designed to work inside your USB dongle. Therefore, you don’t have to install it and waist your time!

Copyrighted By Lair360

Version: 12.1
Revision: 33 Build 13

Modify your ATi Radeon Memory!

Introduction: A couple of days ago in the IT department, I was modifying my “ATi Catalyst Driver” for Windows XP, just before installation. It took me quite a while but it’s worth the performance!

On the other hand, this tweak will only change your memory to their maximum capacity. For example, if I have this chipset: ATi Radeon HD 4870 (1GB). But, the driver only states your card as 512 MB, then you will need to change that digit into 1024 MB. Simple…

Tips: For better navigation, I would suggest you to download these software and install them before you continue with the tutorials. These program will analyze your GPU and notify you with the correct chipset.

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/ (Notepad++)
http://www.hwinfo.com/download32.html (Hwinfo32)

1.] Install “HWiNFO32” and run the application.

2.] Wait for it to load and look at the GPU chipset. It is located at the upper – right –corner in your dialogue box.



3.] Keep your previous application running and search for the installation folder.
By default, it should be in your system hard drive. If not, you may have left it somewhere…

Default directory
———————–
C:\ATI\Support\9-8_legacy_xp32-64_dd_ccc\Driver\XP_INF

4.] Look for this file: “CX_85695.inf” and open it with “Notepad-Plus”. You will immediately see a bunch of codes.

5.] Scroll down to line ‘5100’ and look for this string: ‘MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration’.

Example
———————–

[ati2mtag_M10.GeneralConfigData]
MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=128
MaximumNumberOfDevices=4
SessionImageSize = 16

———————–

Notes: if you can’t find your ATi Radeon Chipset, you may want to press “Ctrl + F”, paste the codes into your search box and click: “Find Next”.

6.] Modify your GPU memory and save your changes.

Warning: if your cards support 1GB of VRAM, you will need to apply this figure: “1024 MB”. However, you cannot go over the card’s overall capacity! So, be careful and check your card’s memory limit!

Example (Default).
———————–

[ati2mtag_RS600M.GeneralConfigData]
MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=256
MaximumNumberOfDevices=4
SessionImageSize = 16

———————–
Example (Modified).
———————–

[ati2mtag_RS600M.GeneralConfigData]
MaximumDeviceMemoryConfiguration=512
MaximumNumberOfDevices=4
SessionImageSize = 16

———————–

Figure MB * = ATi Mobility Cards (Not compatible with all ATi Radeon cards).
Figure MB ^ = This is only for 64-Bit operating systems with 2GB VRAM.

Warning: this modification will only work if your cards support 128 MB or more!
Please avoid changing your 64 MB VRAM (Low Memory GPU). This may cause your computer to black out or crash!

128 MB
256 MB
384 MB *
512 MB
640 MB *
768 MB *
1024 MB
2048 MB ^

7.] Install your modified driver and have fun!

Copyrighted By Lair360

Version: 32.1b
Revision: 11.1 Build 66

How to increase the size of the swap file on Windows XP

Introduction: when I was playing Socom Confrontation, the server chucked me out for no reason; my machine always froze, when I am playing online! This drives me insane!! So, I decided to switch off my PlayStation console and write an article about “Windows XP swap files”. That is right…pretty old school…way back, when Windows 98 introduced this “virtual memory swap file” settings.

Tips #1: if you have external disk drive, you can divide the “Pagefile” between your physical disks (not partitions!) to speed up its performance. Select the required disk from the Drive list, write the sizes in the initial and maximum boxes, and then click Set. Repeat this for all the required drives.

Tips #2: for best performance, please don’t set the initial size below the minimum “recommended” size, under “Total Paging” file size for all drives.

Tips #3: to determine your preferred “Pagefile” size, you should monitor your system and see how much RAM and virtual memory it consumes.

—————————

Method #1: Editing Memory Management – registry library
—————————
1.] Click Start >> Run >> Type: regedt32.exe >> Click “OK” and continue.
2.] Wait for the dialogue box (registry library) and look for this directory…

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management

3.] Double-click “PagingFiles” (REG_BINARY). The entry should appear as: “X:\pagefile.sys 500 500” or something like that…

Notes: The first “String Value & X” is the location; the second is the “Minimum Size”; and the third is the “Maximum Size”.

Registry string format: Location > initial size > maximum size

4.] When you’re done, just double – check the values and click OK.

5.] Exit the “Registry Library” and Reboot your systems.

6.] Finish!

Method #2: Editing Memory Management – system property
—————————
1.] Click Start >> Right click on “My Computer” >> Select: “Properties”
2.] In “System Properties”; select “Advanced” tab and click Performance, “Settings”.
3.] Wait for the second box to appear. After that, just click: “Performance Options”; select “Advanced” tab and click Virtual Memory, “Change”.
4.] Wait again, for the third (Virtual Memory – settings) dialogue box. Then, you’ll need to alter your system’s “Initial Size” and “Maximum Size”

Tips: for best performance, you’ll need to set the “Initial Size” and “Maximum Size” in equal number. In other words, the number should be identical!

5.] When you’re done, just click “OK” and accept the changes.

6.] Reboot your system and do whatever you want…

7.] Finish!

Copyrighted By Lair360

Version: 13.1a
Revision: 33 Build 54

Load FireFox – Webpages Faster

Introduction: when I was reading my book, somebody sent me a little e-mail. He asked me if I can tweak FireFox, so that, it will load webpages a little faster!

Anyway, thanks for the short e-mail and here is your article. But, there is a warning…
be extra careful, when you’re playing with FireFox’s browser settings.

—————————

1.] Type in “about:config” straight into the address bar. After that, you’ll need to scroll down and look for these entries…

network.http.pipelining
network.http.proxy.pipelining
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests

Notes: If you’re using Firefox browser (default settings), the configuration will only make one request to a webpage at a time. But, if you enable ‘pipelining’, it will make multiple requests in a single run. This method can be resource – hogging (through the network piplines). But, it will speed up the page – loading time.

2.] Set these configuration in your Firefox browser.

network.http.pipelining = true (double click)
network.http.proxy.pipelining = true (double click)
network.http.pipelining.maxrequests = 8 (double click)

Notes #1: The default value for “network.http.pipelining.maxrequests” settings is 4.
This should be ‘edited’ back to default, if you encounter a problem with the request!

Notes #2: There is no point setting “network.http.pipelining.maxrequests” higher then 8, as it is capped at 8, max.

3.] Right click anywhere and select: New >> Integer (Name it: “nglayout.initialpaint.delay”) >> set its value to “0″. This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives.

8.] Finally, just exit your browser; open it again and check a website!
The connection will now load individual pages, faster…

Enjoy!

Version: 13.2
Revision: 11 Build 34

Reset master password in mozilla firefox

Introduction: for the past few days, I was busy writing my novel, so, I know how you feel, just looking at my old articles. But, please understand that I have a life in the real world, not just in a virtual world. Anyway, here is something for everyone to keep their heads busy, if they forgot their “Firefox Master Password.”

Notes: Mozilla Firefox allows users to set “Master” password to protect your local user-names, passwords and certificates. It’s an extra security mechanism that can protect your sensitive data.

1.] Execute “Mozilla Firefox” (browser) and enter the following URL, into the address bar.

Address: chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xul

2.] It’ll show you a page with a warning and a “Reset” button at bottom – right corner.

3.] Click on the “Reset” button and it will reset your master password. However, there is a downside: resetting master password will also remove all locally saved user-names, passwords and certificates.

4.] Done!