Flex
Flex Appeal
+18|6472|NY
Preface: I am semi-computer retarded...   so please be gentle....

I am getting to the point where bf2 is almost unplayable due to lag, and im noticing my computer in general is being a bit slow.

I will need to look at my build sheet when I get home to list the specifics of it... but I have 2 gigs RAM and a Nvidia video card thats about a year old. (again when I get home from work I will give the specifics promise..)

So it has been suggested by a friend that I should think about reformatting and starting from scratch. My computer is going on 1 year now and in the beginning this baby was fast; i.e. I was always the first to load into a map on bf2 (  those were the days   )

So any suggestions on how to not royally F up my rig?

Im going to make CD & DVD backups of programs and important files, but is there anything I should do or avoid doing??
Mitch
16 more years
+877|6527|South Florida
talk to me on xfire, or something, do you have aim/msn?
15 more years! 15 more years!
Lucien
Fantasma Parastasie
+1,451|6655
it's pretty hard to go wrong with a format.

An easy way to do it is to simply insert the windows XP disc, boot up from it, and choose to format/partition your drive(s) before reinstalling XP. (It's all nice and blue menu's)
https://i.imgur.com/HTmoH.jpg
Flex
Flex Appeal
+18|6472|NY

Dezerteagal5 wrote:

talk to me on xfire, or something, do you have aim/msn?
I have xfire, just not on my work computer... I should be on later tonite xfire = flexkillah

thnx for the quick replys!
Flex
Flex Appeal
+18|6472|NY

SargeV1.4 wrote:

it's pretty hard to go wrong with a format.

An easy way to do it is to simply insert the windows XP disc, boot up from it, and choose to format/partition your drive(s) before reinstalling XP. (It's all nice and blue menu's)
I believe I have the XP Media Center Edition cd so i think that'll do the job.

Im just not looking forward to reinstalling all my programs for a few hours and on top of that I have a wireless Lynksis connection so I would imagine I'd have to set that pain in the ass up again.
Mitch
16 more years
+877|6527|South Florida
Ok. Well, its pretty simple.
Pop in the Windows XP installation cd
Restart the computer
You should see a message asking you to press any button to boot from cd
---If you dont, then go into your BIOS. there should be a message on startup on how to get in (usually an F key) Go to what is usually the 'Startup' tab. You'll have to find the 'boot priority' and change it so it reads CD drive befor harddrive.
Now, Once you boot from the cd you'll have to partition your harddrive. This is made very simple, just read the instructions. If your only making 1 partition (all the space) then take a look at your old partition and see how much space was on it, then press "D" to delete it. And "C" to create a new one. Fill out the size and let it run. I havent reformatted in a few months but i believe theres a spot where it askes you how you want to format, 1 option should be like: "NTFS full" you do NOT want "NTFS quick"
Once you do that the Windows CD should take over, and you'll start to see blue windows screens, now you can calm down because the rest is super easy. Fill out the basic info you want and watch it install.
And i believe your pretty much done. It can get confusing so if you get stuck feel free to IM me.

Last edited by Dezerteagal5 (2007-01-31 12:09:24)

15 more years! 15 more years!
sixshot
Decepticon Geek
+50|6677|Planet Seibertron ;)
One should note that programs such as TeamSpeak and Ventrilo have configuration files sitting in your Application Data folder (located at {drive}:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data).  Firefox has your bookmarks located there too.  At the base {username} folder, you'll find IE favorites.  You may want to look through these to make sure that you archive those files.  Do not forget your personal wallpapers, photos, music, and so forth.

Prior to a reformat, you may also want to burn drivers, utilities, web browser (if applicable), compression programs (WinZip, WinRAR, or 7zip), media players (iTunes or Winamp), and so forth, so that you don't end up having to spend countless hours redownloading them and forgetting which ones you've missed.  May be useful to keep a written note of some of the basic necessities as well as a to-do list.  It'll help in getting the freshly reformatted system back up and running.
Flex
Flex Appeal
+18|6472|NY
My system specs FINALLY... I have been getting horrible lag during bf2, and I dont think it's bc my system cant handle it...RIGHT??

Case - Antec Sonata II
CPU - D820 Dual Core (2.8)
Mem - 2 GBS DDR 533
XP Media Center
ASUS Motherboard w/ 6/8 Channel Audio
Monitor - 19in LCD
HD - WD 250 GB SATA
Vid Card - 256MB PCI-E 16X Geforce 6800



So Im hoping to get a couple free days this week to reformat bc I have tons of shit to backup. Im not really looking forward to it...

Is there any last ditch tip/trick I might want to try to boost my system performance during bf2 play? I have turned off useless programs and do the spybot, adware thing often....
CrazeD
Member
+368|6674|Maine
I've been getting lag in BF2 as well....
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|6767|Cambridge (UK)
Flex: have you installed other things, other than BF2 ?

If so, that could be the cause - it's a well known 'feature' of windows that more you install on it the more clunky and slow it becomes.

Also, before you do a re-install, you need to ask your self one very important question - is there anything stored on the HDD that you want to keep?

If yes, then make sure you take a backup copy of ALL things that you need to keep but won't be able to install/download... (ask here if you need further help on this point)...
URE_DED
BF2s US Server Admin
+76|6620|inside the recesses of your...
I was too lazy to read all the responses but before you go nuts, just get a great defrag program.  You're hardware seems sound so a defrag will probably make a noticeable difference.
pasngr
Member
+50|6647
After looking at your specs, I think you're going too far by reformating/reinstalling.  There's something else causing your lag.  Try the normal stuff first: antivirus scan, antispyware scan, defragment, update drivers.  Reinstalling will solve your problem, most likely, but its overkill, like buying a new car when you get a flat tire.  After you've tried the normal stuff mentioned above, try removing programs one at a time and see if anything improves.  For example, I had to remove an antispyware program (Spysweeper) just to get bf2 to run properly.
Flex
Flex Appeal
+18|6472|NY

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Flex: have you installed other things, other than BF2 ?

If so, that could be the cause - it's a well known 'feature' of windows that more you install on it the more clunky and slow it becomes.

Also, before you do a re-install, you need to ask your self one very important question - is there anything stored on the HDD that you want to keep?

If yes, then make sure you take a backup copy of ALL things that you need to keep but won't be able to install/download... (ask here if you need further help on this point)...
What do you mean by things other than bf2? Like other video games? I dont play anything else on PC besides bf2. I do have all the usuall programs that most people have like Xfire, TS, Adobe, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, iTunes, etc


URE_DED wrote:

I was too lazy to read all the responses but before you go nuts, just get a great defrag program.  You're hardware seems sound so a defrag will probably make a noticeable difference.
I use the default defragger about once a month, and it defrags in about 20-30 min which I would guess to mean that my HD isnt too fragmented.. right?


pasngr wrote:

After looking at your specs, I think you're going too far by reformating/reinstalling.  There's something else causing your lag.  Try the normal stuff first: antivirus scan, antispyware scan, defragment, update drivers.  Reinstalling will solve your problem, most likely, but its overkill, like buying a new car when you get a flat tire.  After you've tried the normal stuff mentioned above, try removing programs one at a time and see if anything improves.  For example, I had to remove an antispyware program (Spysweeper) just to get bf2 to run properly.
I have scaned for virus and spyware and dont really find much..I use Adaware and Spybot; are these good enough?

And what drivers would I try updating? Like my video card or soemthing?

I just find it weird that for almost a year I've played bf2 on this PC and had no issues whatsoever, I would play on HIGH settings and always be the firsty to load into a map. Now Im coming up on having this PC for a year and everything just seems sluggish.

Thanks for the help everyone!
DoctorFruitloop
Level 13 Wrongdoer
+515|6548|Doncaster, UK
Sounds like the usual gradual slow-down of a PC that gets used a lot for more than one purpose.

Is it a custom build or is it an OEM job where you can restore the OS to "factory".
Flex
Flex Appeal
+18|6472|NY

DoctorFruitloop wrote:

Sounds like the usual gradual slow-down of a PC that gets used a lot for more than one purpose.

Is it a custom build or is it an OEM job where you can restore the OS to "factory".
Custom, which is why I dont really wanna reformat..


I use it like most people use their home PC's...

1) Pr0n
2) bf2
3) Surfing teh intranetz
adv3rsary
Member
+28|6717
first of all, you can't back up programs

second, back up all ure documents, data files (Such as ones from bf2 that save ure key settings... saved in my documents under folder battlefield 2), favorites...porn....

third, if u have access to such software, image the hard driver in case your reformat is a total disaster and u think "man i shouldve been happy with what i had, i wish i could go back"

fourth make sure u have drivers for all ure hw before u format the machine (might be a good time to download updated drivers and throw em on a disc)

format
soalfa
Member
+7|6529|raahe finland
how about moving ur stuff to another part of the main disc and only wipe c:\ part
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|6767|Cambridge (UK)

Flex wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Flex: have you installed other things, other than BF2 ?

If so, that could be the cause - it's a well known 'feature' of windows that more you install on it the more clunky and slow it becomes.

Also, before you do a re-install, you need to ask your self one very important question - is there anything stored on the HDD that you want to keep?

If yes, then make sure you take a backup copy of ALL things that you need to keep but won't be able to install/download... (ask here if you need further help on this point)...
What do you mean by things other than bf2? Like other video games? I dont play anything else on PC besides bf2. I do have all the usuall programs that most people have like Xfire, TS, Adobe, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, iTunes, etc
Yep, that's the stuff I mean - "all the usuall programs that most people have", along with all those windows updates, virus sigs, etc, etc, etc...

As I said before windows has this neat 'feature' where it gets slower the more you use it!

The best/easiest cure, I'm afraid, is a full reformat and reinstall...

Having said that, there other things that can cause similar symptoms (some of which have been mentioned here by others), but from your description of the problem, windows clogging up sound the most likely...

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