Lag issue with Millinium 2000 operating system

[Dyeana]

<DIV>I have been experiencing a lot of lag and frequent lag after lag, to the point when it was near impossible to play from my millinium 2000 operating system computer.  It seems to have gotten reallybad with updater #11, and miserable this last weekend.  Had 6 deaths on sunday with one of my character due to the lag.  It is with how things are loaded on my computer since it appears when the lag ends I get the updated from the combat or what ever I was doing (run off a clift, etc).  I am not seeing this with the second character I have online at the same time on the other computer.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It seems my computer is searching for something.  I am not sure what at this point.  But it is program related.  The lag starts after the down load, sign in and update.  Once I hit play, I am noticing lag while loading to the character selection screen.  Even have the massive lag at the character selection screen on into getting online.  This was bothering me on Test since update #11a, seemed to lesson when #11B came out but now is back full fledge.  Checked live servers and getting the same lag now, where I did not have it there prior to the update #11</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Did virus, spyware and adware checks, found nothing on my machine.  Played characters on my second computer, no problems identified.  Did a full download check, nothing noted.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At this point, I amnot sure what to check other than not play the computer till I figure it out.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Suggestions?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dye</DIV>

[Edowen]

<DIV>Have you tried de-fragging your hard drive?  Fragmentation causes the operating system to search for program segments and data instead of just being able to grab the next adjoining disk block.  Okay, that was geeky.  :smileywink:  But seriously, it's worth a try.  It doesn't cost anything, and fragmentation would cause the symptoms you see.  Win2K has a defragging tool.  Just be warned that it can take a while to run, depending on the size of your hard drive.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Edowen</DIV>

[Daffid011]

Windows ME or Windows 2000?  I run a windows 2000 box and have no trouble, but I just reformatted it this weekend due to some driver issues.  Curious, is this the computer that you do your websurfing on?  If so, try downloading a trial of a commercial product like spyware doctor and see what it picks up.  It will catch things spyware s/d & adware will not.  I don't recommend the program as it was causing hangs in EQ2.  Or try installing tiny personal firewall and see what tries to access the internet when you reboot. <div></div>

[Dyeana]

<DIV>I checked again, it is Windows ME.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The defrag helped a little bit, but it still does it in the evenings and "higher server traffic" periods.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Still no spyware onthe computer, nor viruses, ads or the like when this is occurring.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Still not sure what is happening, only know it occurrs once the computer starts loading zones, and while playing.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dye</DIV>

[Heiro]

<P>Windows ME ( along with Windows 98SE, 98, 95) has really poor memory management.  </P> <P>Combined with the various memory leaks in EQ2 itself, this could be a major contributor to your problem.</P> <P> </P> <P>Some people have experienced perfomrance increases by using a memory manager (MemTurbo - CacheMan) utility, which supposedly assist with Defragging your memory when it is full (purging unused data and freeing up memory).</P> <P>Also your swapfile will play a big part in the loading of zones.. so make sure your swapfile is big enough (personally I set mine static to 1gb min/max) on a different drive if you have 2 harddrives.</P> <P>might give that a whirl...</P> <P> </P> <P>Few links that may help : </P> <P><A href="http://www.majorgeeks.com/Cacheman_d308.html" target=_blank>http://www.majorgeeks.com/Cacheman_d308.html</A></P> <P><A href="http://www.majorgeeks.com/FreeRAM_XP_Pro_d1670.html" target=_blank>http://www.majorgeeks.com/FreeRAM_XP_Pro_d1670.html</A></P> <P>I dont guarantee anything ,  but I have used Cacheman when I was on 98 / ME  and I did see an improvement with memory intesive games.</P>

[Shunidar]

<DIV>I have to agree to the poor memory management.  When I switched from xp home to xp pro I saw a significant difference in the long-term playability of EQ2.</DIV>

[Dyeana]

<P>Oh well, with update 13 A, back t the usual super sag periods, can't even playwith the 2nd computer.  <Sigh></P> <P> </P> <P>See if memory management is fixed when this goes live.</P> <P> </P> <P>Dye</P>

[Oakwood]

<P>Windows ME is just really bad.  It has the same kernal as win95/98, which means it also has the old 16bit api from windows 3.1.  Yes, Windows ME is a 16bit OS with a 32bit overlay.  True 32 bit is only in the WinNT series (NT, 2000, XP).  </P> <P>That you get bad performance on winMe does not suprise me.  What does suprise me is that you ever saw passable performance on it.  Ultimatly, you really want to upgrade to 2000 or XP.  You can probably find 2000 for not too much money if you look around.</P>