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Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.03.31 09:33:00 -
[1]
Edited by: Lady Cath on 31/03/2009 09:34:22 Hi,
after fine-tuning my EVE environment to make use of a RAMdisk for a little extra speed I am so satisfied with this setup that I documented it and decided to put it into public
Standard disclaimer: Use it on your own risk !
Please make a backup of your whole system before implementing to be on the safe side!!!
EVE RamDisk Setup - v1.1.pdf My setup: Windows XP SP3, EVE Apocrypha, 2 EVE accounts 2 environments (Tranquility, Singularity).
I know that there are controversial held discussion on forums with regards to if its worth to use a per char / per environment installation or not .. Please don't discuss it in this thread. I personally wanted most flexibility and am running it this way since nearly 5 years.
Some of you might wonder why I didn't look for a commercial RAMdisk product which simply takes care of the cache folder, so that I do not require batch scripts anymore.
Well .. I personally didn't want to rely on the vendors strategies for data protection and integrity. Using batch scripts with xcopy to "mirror" changed files back and forth sounded to me the best way to have full control over what is happening.
Why I choosed this particular RAMdisk .. it was the 2nd one I tried, where an evaluation period was really working and not lame propaganda to force you to get with someone in contact by e-mail b4 being able to actually use it.
Have fun Lady Cath
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Washell Olivaw
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Posted - 2009.03.31 09:53:00 -
[2]
The path structure pointing towards the cache was changed to include the EVE installation path. At the same time /lua:off was taken out due to being unnecessary now.
e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\c_program_files_ccp_eve_tranquility\cache
Second, that's a lot of work for a barely noticable performance increase.
Originally by: Signature Everybody has a photographic memory, some people just don't have film.
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Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.03.31 10:18:00 -
[3]
Edited by: Lady Cath on 31/03/2009 10:21:49 Thanks for your comments.
Originally by: Washell Olivaw The path structure pointing towards the cache was changed to include the EVE installation path. At the same time /lua:off was taken out due to being unnecessary now.
e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\c_program_files_ccp_eve_tranquility\cache
2 things I see not addressed by this: a) I do not want to pollute my OS partition with unnecessary additional application data b) its split by %username% which is an account on your PC I want to have separate settings per EVE account
Quote:
Second, that's a lot of work for a barely noticable performance increase.
It depends surely a lot, how well your system performance already is and how you set-up your system.
All these factors have an influence: CPU, Clock, DRAM amount and speed, mainboard, chipset, graphic card, filesystem type and sizes, fragmentation of the drive etc etc ...
I personally have a relatively slow PC. Single Core, AGP graca, but 2 GB of DRAM ..
You will never know if it does you any good without at least trying it out. Problem might be compareable measurement. But thats another story
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Washell Olivaw
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Posted - 2009.03.31 10:59:00 -
[4]
Originally by: Lady Cath 2 things I see not addressed by this: a) I do not want to pollute my OS partition with unnecessary additional application data b) its split by %username% which is an account on your PC I want to have separate settings per EVE account
a) Almost every program stores things there. Good luck trying to keep it tidied up. b) 1) I edited in the %username% because my account name is my last name. 2) Assuming 3 EVE installs at D:\EVE\Account1, D:\EVE\Account2 and D:\EVE\Account3, then you would get the following cache folders:
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\d_EVE_Account1_tranquility\cache C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\d_EVE_Account2_tranquility\cache C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\d_EVE_Account3_tranquility\cache
Thus, providing seperate settings per account on the same username.
Originally by: Signature Everybody has a photographic memory, some people just don't have film.
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Chribba
Otherworld Enterprises Otherworld Empire
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Posted - 2009.03.31 11:24:00 -
[5]
Nice guide. Here's how I made my setup.
First I use RAMdrive from superspeed.com (excellent software but costs monies), and for NTFS junctions I use the MS tool "junction".
What I did is make one installation of EVE, eg X:\Games\EVE I then junction any additional copies I need to have X:\Games\EVE2 -> X:\Games\EVE
They will all load very quickly as the files are only cached once. Note that all files are the same so modify in one folder and all folders will be changed as they are pointed to the same files.
Starting via normal shortcuts will then make the cache end up in paths like: c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\x_games_eve_tranquility c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\x_games_eve2_tranquility
Create ramdisk of like 256MB or whatever size you need for the cache -> Y:
In c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\ I made a junction EVE pointing to Y:\ So c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\ really is Y:
Move the folders of the EVE cache to Y: the cache will now be using the Y: ramdrive and load pretty quickly and at the same time any number of instances you make (more junctions of the main eve folder) will land on the ramdrive and at the same time the main client files are cached by the OS and pretty much load instantly (depending on amount of RAM).
Maybe not the easiest way to go around, but no need to use batch scripts etc and everything always lands and loads from the same places. RAMdrive from superspeed also allows you to save the ramdrive image upon shutdown so it will load all caches upon boot if wanted. |
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Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.03.31 11:31:00 -
[6]
Edited by: Lady Cath on 31/03/2009 11:33:50
Originally by: Washell Olivaw
Originally by: Lady Cath 2 things I see not addressed by this: a) I do not want to pollute my OS partition with unnecessary additional application data b) its split by %username% which is an account on your PC I want to have separate settings per EVE account
a) Almost every program stores things there. Good luck trying to keep it tidied up. b) 1) I edited in the %username% because my account name is my last name. 2) Assuming 3 EVE installs at D:\EVE\Account1, D:\EVE\Account2 and D:\EVE\Account3, then you would get the following cache folders:
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\d_EVE_Account1_tranquility\cache C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\d_EVE_Account2_tranquility\cache C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\d_EVE_Account3_tranquility\cache
Thus, providing seperate settings per account on the same username.
You remind me to investigate how to use a different profile directory.
With regards to EVE settings .. If I remember right, then Overview settings are stored in the settings directory. I think for this LUA:off might still be beneficial.
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RaTTuS
BIG Libertas Fidelitas
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Posted - 2009.03.31 11:33:00 -
[7]
I use superspeed 9 also and use a batch file to launch eve I set the enviourment variable USERPROFILE and point this at the RAM DISK then launch eve
... Set home=h:\ Set char=any if NOT "%1"=="" set char=%1 set home=%home%%char% mkdir "%home%\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE" mkdir "%home%\My Documents" Set USERPROFILE=%home% Set HOMEDRIVE=%home:~0,2% Set HOMEPATH="%home:~2%" Start "EvE" "c:\Eve\current\Eve.exe"
--- h: is my RAM disk
this works fine -- BIG Lottery, BIG Deal, InEve |
Washell Olivaw
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Posted - 2009.03.31 12:07:00 -
[8]
Edited by: Washell Olivaw on 31/03/2009 12:15:57
Originally by: Lady Cath With regards to EVE settings .. If I remember right, then Overview settings are stored in the settings directory. I think for this LUA:off might still be beneficial.
Nope, stored in the same folder. When EVE encounters LUA:off it no longer knows what to do with it and totally ignores it.
Edit: Weird. Would have laid money on it being disabled and could have sworn reading a dev post saying /lua:off had been disabled. Just tested it to make sure I wasn't making a total fool of myself and it still works. (/me puts on fools cap)
Point still stands that it's no longer a neccesity for running multiple installs. EVE will create different cache and settings folders for each install on its own now.
Originally by: Signature Everybody has a photographic memory, some people just don't have film.
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Tonto Auri
Vhero' Multipurpose Corp
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Posted - 2009.03.31 12:23:00 -
[9]
First, all these experiments with RAMdrive quite dagerous, you may end in BSoD with a good chance. Second, if you're mounting disk as folder, you do not need any other tools, than standard Device Management console. Just change that drive properties from assigning a letter to link it as empty NTFS folder (did you moved all your files from "%USERPROFILE%/.../EVE"?) (You can have both, of course - no limits to how many folders you may have pointing to the same drive) -- Thanks CCP for cu |
Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.03.31 19:12:00 -
[10]
Edited by: Lady Cath on 31/03/2009 19:14:38 Edited by: Lady Cath on 31/03/2009 19:14:12
Originally by: Chribba Nice guide. Here's how I made my setup.
First I use RAMdrive from superspeed.com (excellent software but costs monies), and for NTFS junctions I use the MS tool "junction".
What I did is make one installation of EVE, eg X:\Games\EVE I then junction any additional copies I need to have X:\Games\EVE2 -> X:\Games\EVE
They will all load very quickly as the files are only cached once. Note that all files are the same so modify in one folder and all folders will be changed as they are pointed to the same files.
Starting via normal shortcuts will then make the cache end up in paths like: c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\x_games_eve_tranquility c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\x_games_eve2_tranquility
Create ramdisk of like 256MB or whatever size you need for the cache -> Y:
In c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\ I made a junction EVE pointing to Y:\ So c:\Users\JohnDoe\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\ really is Y:
Move the folders of the EVE cache to Y: the cache will now be using the Y: ramdrive and load pretty quickly and at the same time any number of instances you make (more junctions of the main eve folder) will land on the ramdrive and at the same time the main client files are cached by the OS and pretty much load instantly (depending on amount of RAM).
Maybe not the easiest way to go around, but no need to use batch scripts etc and everything always lands and loads from the same places. RAMdrive from superspeed also allows you to save the ramdrive image upon shutdown so it will load all caches upon boot if wanted.
Hi Chribba,
very cool idea, I tried it and like it very much.
I see the advantages in the usage of this kind of Unix alike symbolic links ...
I will work towards a revised version of my guide.
I only require some time to test a complete setup.
Nice in your setup is, to be independend of a RAMdisk . either you want it and integrate it into the complete setup or not .. the rest functionality stays the same with the following benefits:
- saving of diskspace - no need for LUA:off but same functionality by using the symlinks and start eve from different sources which is in fact the same directory - still complete separation of account settings
Thanks Chribba for this real nice information.
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DeTox MinRohim
Madhatters Inc. The Initiative.
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Posted - 2009.04.01 10:52:00 -
[11]
Originally by: Chribba
Create ramdisk of like 256MB or whatever size you need for the cache -> Y:
Might go for a bit more than that. It's been awhile now that once out of 2 when I log off, Eve crashes and fills up my cache with 1 or 2gigs of crap depending on the mood.
------ This sig space is Read-only ! omgalink - Online Skillsheet |
Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.04.01 19:45:00 -
[12]
Hi,
it is like it always is ... the PC becomes more and more unstable and I can't exactly tell by what exactly.
Whenever I login, then there is a 50% chance that the login process hangs and that I can't enter my desktop.
This isn't even fixed after deinstalling RAM disk software ...
So ... I think I will put this theme a little bit on hold.
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DeTox MinRohim
Madhatters Inc. The Initiative.
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Posted - 2009.04.01 19:50:00 -
[13]
Edited by: DeTox MinRohim on 01/04/2009 19:50:51 Quick one while I'm thinking about doing this. Currently, I'm on the LUA:off with multiple installations (2 different disks - yes, I know, bad for patching but puts the load on different disks - not different partitions).
The Eve crashes is something recurrent, I'm not a particular case, it simply crashes sometimes like it does for everybody. But most of the time with 2 accounts opened, 1 would crash, the other not.
Going for the same client setup for 2 or even 3 clients, if one crashes, do all the others too? I know each process will have a different uid or something but...
If that is the case, I guess I will stay with the better probability of having a client staying alive while the other crashes. At least, I can see on client losing it when the other see the character going offline unexpectadly. ------ This sig space is Read-only ! omgalink - Online Skillsheet |
Tonto Auri
Vhero' Multipurpose Corp
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Posted - 2009.04.01 21:13:00 -
[14]
Originally by: DeTox MinRohim Currently, I'm on the LUA:off with multiple
/LUA:off does not work for the last... 6 months? Or even earlier. -- Thanks CCP for cu |
Ronny Hendriks
FireStar Inc Paxton Federation
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Posted - 2009.04.01 21:49:00 -
[15]
i've been using something like this for about two years now like Chribba i use Superspeed's ramdisk software though in combination with ntfslink to make the junction for the cache folder.
nice work on the guide. there are quite a few people out there that will get to benefit from this and with a decent guide they don't have to be much of a tech-wiz to understand it. good job! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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DeTox MinRohim
Madhatters Inc. The Initiative.
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Posted - 2009.04.02 07:47:00 -
[16]
Originally by: Tonto Auri
Originally by: DeTox MinRohim Currently, I'm on the LUA:off with multiple
/LUA:off does not work for the last... 6 months? Or even earlier.
Yes it still does even though Eve does create the folders in the DocSettings folder. They stay empty. Confirmed by post #8. Or at least, Eve still use it in some way.
But it's mainly like this because I never bothered to change them. Not because it is essential to me like it was in the past.
------ This sig space is Read-only ! omgalink - Online Skillsheet |
omgdutch2005
Gallente Advanced Planetary Exports Intergalactic Exports Group
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Posted - 2009.04.02 10:17:00 -
[17]
i would simply advise to use the I-ram drive from gigabyte :)
it is seens as a disk in windows since it connects to the pc using sata (or IDE), since ram has low access timer its very, very nice, and this way you keep your normal ram unused for this [url=http://apeocorp.com/alliance/?a=pilot_detail&plt_id=39011][/url] |
Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.04.02 11:24:00 -
[18]
I am currently evaluating the superspeed product.
The way to go is to leave LUA:off and stuff completely away. Its really not necessary anymore I found out (winking to Chribba).
You need to do only one EVE installation.
Then create one empty directory per account and use NTFS-LINK to create a "junction" to the ("shared") EVE installation directory.
Then go through each of the links into the EVE directory and create the normal short cuts on the desktop. So if you look at the properties of the short cut you shall see now different working directories, although at the end it points all to the same directory.
On doubleclicking now to the short cut the cute thing comes with regards to the location of the cache and settings folder. It will AUTOMATICALLY created on a PER-ACCOUNT basis !!!
C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\username\Lokale Einstellungen\Anwendungsdaten\CCP\EVE\t_eve_shared.dlay_tranquility C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\username\Lokale Einstellungen\Anwendungsdaten\CCP\EVE\t_eve_shared.cath_tranquility
My new masterplan is (already did it) a) putting complete C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\username\Lokale Einstellungen\Anwendungsdaten\CCP\EVE onto Ramdrive R:
b) mirror the cached stuff additionally on a hourly basis by using a scheduled batch script together with z-cron, which is free for private use ("Plan B" if the RAMdrives restore mechanisms might fail). URL: http://www.z-cron.com/index.html
I will update my guide with regards to this after a few days of more testing and as soon as I have time and fun to do so :-)
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DeTox MinRohim
Madhatters Inc. The Initiative.
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Posted - 2009.04.02 13:24:00 -
[19]
Originally by: DeTox MinRohim
The Eve crashes is something recurrent, I'm not a particular case, it simply crashes sometimes like it does for everybody. But most of the time with 2 accounts opened, 1 would crash, the other not.
Going for the same client setup for 2 or even 3 clients, if one crashes, do all the others too? I know each process will have a different uid or something but...
If that is the case, I guess I will stay with the better probability of having a client staying alive while the other crashes. At least, I can see on client losing it when the other see the character going offline unexpectadly.
Bumpidoo the question! ------ This sig space is Read-only ! omgalink - Online Skillsheet |
Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.04.02 15:31:00 -
[20]
Originally by: DeTox MinRohim
Originally by: DeTox MinRohim
The Eve crashes is something recurrent, I'm not a particular case, it simply crashes sometimes like it does for everybody. But most of the time with 2 accounts opened, 1 would crash, the other not.
Going for the same client setup for 2 or even 3 clients, if one crashes, do all the others too? I know each process will have a different uid or something but...
If that is the case, I guess I will stay with the better probability of having a client staying alive while the other crashes. At least, I can see on client losing it when the other see the character going offline unexpectadly.
Bumpidoo the question!
I will have a look at that. Since today I am runnnig fine with RamDisk Plus from SuperSpeed.
Luckily EVE crashes for me only in very few cases.
I personally would guess, that it does not matter if you are running it from the same place, called from 2 different paths via NTFS junctions (~symlinks).
At the end every eve process is a process of its own in memory.
But a good question at least. I will report as soon as I have my 1st crash ^^
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Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.04.03 20:52:00 -
[21]
Hi,
tomorrow I will release v2.0 of this guide.
This evening I am too tired for a review ;-)
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Lady Cath
Minmatar Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.04.06 08:13:00 -
[22]
Edited by: Lady Cath on 06/04/2009 08:13:48 v2.1 is the latest.
Would be nice to get some feedback
with regards improvements in speed
and administrational efforts.
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omgdutch2005
Gallente Advanced Planetary Exports Intergalactic Exports Group
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Posted - 2009.04.06 13:55:00 -
[23]
as a work arround on the hourly update, its pretty easy :) just add 24 :) tasks 1 that runs at 00:00, 1 at 01:00 ..... 15:00 .... 23:00
As you have the ability to select daily, weekly etc, etc, etc... [url=http://apeocorp.com/alliance/?a=pilot_detail&plt_id=39011][/url] |
ZinderX500
Mythos Corp RAZOR Alliance
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Posted - 2009.05.07 23:35:00 -
[24]
Thanks
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Lady d'Lay
Caldari Stardust Heavy Industries Majesta Empire
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Posted - 2009.05.29 06:00:00 -
[25]
Originally by: ZinderX500 Thanks
Y're welcome ;-)
BTW .. after 2 month of operation no ill side effects, I am indeed very satisfied with it.
Also EVE patching is much easier now if you have multiple accounts. You only need to do it one time, and then its done for all other accounts.
And I think you get alone a performance gain, as the head of your disk doesnt need to move so much, when needing to reload things. As all is being fed out of one shared installation and the Ram Disk.
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Someones Scout
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Posted - 2009.05.29 08:07:00 -
[26]
sooo many pages ehehh. In linux it's so much easier :) If I have the time i'll do an howto for linux.
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Kaylan Jahlar
Minmatar Minmatar Industrial Limited
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Posted - 2009.05.30 14:43:00 -
[27]
FYI, Good thing I'm savvy enough to understand what it is, but there are many places in your guide where you put german versions of the windows paths. Most of us are using an english version of Windows, and this may throw off a few...
You should always use the windows path variables where applicable:
Example: Regardless if you're on Windows Vista or XP, the %userprofile% variable always points to the root of the profile folder:
On Windows XP: C:\Documents and settings\Username On Vista: C:\Users\Username
There are other path variables you can use too, see the full list here: Command shell overview
I suggest you update your document with those to avoid confusion and mistakes.
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Lady Doreen
Gallente
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Posted - 2009.06.13 21:29:00 -
[28]
Originally by: Kaylan Jahlar FYI, Good thing I'm savvy enough to understand what it is, but there are many places in your guide where you put german versions of the windows paths. Most of us are using an english version of Windows, and this may throw off a few...
You should always use the windows path variables where applicable:
Example: Regardless if you're on Windows Vista or XP, the %userprofile% variable always points to the root of the profile folder:
On Windows XP: C:\Documents and settings\Username On Vista: C:\Users\Username
There are other path variables you can use too, see the full list here: Command shell overview
I suggest you update your document with those to avoid confusion and mistakes.
Ahh, yes indeed :-) tbh, I am more a Unix guy and sometimes a little ignorant wrt Windows concepts ;-)
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RaTTuS
BIG Libertas Fidelitas
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Posted - 2009.07.09 10:04:00 -
[29]
I'm using this now - very good... no more batchfiles ;-P -- RaTTuS @ InEve, Capital Prints for sale |
Zaiyo Modi
Minmatar
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Posted - 2009.07.23 16:37:00 -
[30]
Edited by: Zaiyo Modi on 23/07/2009 16:40:00
It seems like I have managed to set this up, but I have a question.
I made a junction off the EVE folder at C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE
and connected it to RamDisk X:
Making the cache files appear in the X: partition like this: X:\EVE\d_program_files_(x86)_ccp_eve_tranquility <- cache/settings account1 X:\EVE\d_program_files_(x86)_ccp_eve2_tranquility <- cache/settings account2
When I click a character in the local list or do a show info, it seems there is some harddrive activity going on for a brief moment.
So I am wondering if new stuff are simply placed in memory, or are new data also written to disk? I am thinking, that if something is written to disk, then the ramdisk is perhaps connected wrong?
When I view the folders in: C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\d_program_files_(x86)_ccp_eve_tranquility or C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\d_program_files_(x86)_ccp_eve2_tranquility
I can see the cache and settings folder, does that mean I made a folder junction in a wrong way?
The link was created as "drop as -> junction" with the "link shell extension" utility. |
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