Bad Lag? Try This.

jesh

jesh

Forge Runner

Join Date: May 2005

San Diego, CA

Penguin Village

Mo/

Ectospasm, how are you tracing the route? I would like to know because I've also been getting terrible lag, and I want to yell at someone.

Captain Arne Is PRO

Captain Arne Is PRO

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005






I'm about to head out to the movies so I'll see if it helped later. In the mean time, I'm going to run a defragment on my c drive for the first time in ten months.

Aeon221

Aeon221

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2006

[TEW]

N/

So... anyone got proof that this does anything more than display a dos screen saying it did stuff?

I've got a whee lil problem with downloading .exe progams blind. Because, you know, that is a darn good way to fill your computer with viruses and whatnot.

blakecraw

blakecraw

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

Austin, TX

well i have 2490 frags/file, but here's the real problem:

when i run it, it says

Number of files processed : 1
Number of files defragmented : 0
All files were either already defragmented or unable to be defragmented.

but it's not defragged, it's still at 2490 frags/file, so apparently it is unable to defrag my gw.dat file??

edit: i tested it on another file, and it worked just fine. so any ideas?

Stockholm

Stockholm

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2006

Censored

Censored

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aeon221
So... anyone got proof that this does anything more than display a dos screen saying it did stuff?

I've got a whee lil problem with downloading .exe progams blind. Because, you know, that is a darn good way to fill your computer with viruses and whatnot.
cmd.exe is a small utility program that comes with Windows.

just type cmd at the command promt under "RUN"

Captain Arne Is PRO

Captain Arne Is PRO

Banned

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stockholm
cmd.exe is a small utility program that comes with Windows.

just type cmd at the command promt under "RUN"

If he knows what a virus is, chances are he knows what cmd is.
He is probably talking about the Contig program.

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aeon221
So... anyone got proof that this does anything more than display a dos screen saying it did stuff?

I've got a whee lil problem with downloading .exe progams blind. Because, you know, that is a darn good way to fill your computer with viruses and whatnot.
Considering that "Microsoft Acquires Winternals and Sysinternals and Mark and Bryce are on their way to Microsoft!"

You have nothing to worry about. All of their stuff is 100% safe.

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

Sent a PM about it with no response, now posting about it.

Most users are unfamiliar with the command line, let alone what to type in when they open the command prompt window.

Sure, it's nice he tells you how to analyze the gw.dat file; but there is nothing that tells you how to properly defragment it. Most users will not understand how to change to the directory where contig.exe exists and then how to enter the path to defrag the gw.dat file.

So now you ask,

"How can I properly defragment the needed files?" Simple. The following instructions will help you download the necessary freeware tools to clean up your system and optimize it.
  1. Download Power Defragmenter GUI and save it where you can find it easily (Such as the Desktop).
  2. Unzip PowerDefragmenterGUI.zip. Unable to decompress the zip file? You can use 7-Zip to decompress files with ease.
  3. Download Sysinternals' Contig to the same location you saved Power Defragmenter GUI.
  4. Unzip Contig.zip. Browse into the Contig directory and copy the Contig.exe file into the Power Defragmenter GUI folder. The reason? Power Defragmenter GUI is designed to work extremely well with Sysinternals' Contig.
  5. From the Power Defragmenter GUI directory, double click the Power Defragmenter GUI.exe file.
  6. Click Next, then select PowerMode(TM) Disk Defragmentation and click next. The Contig window will open as your hard drive is defragmented. Once Contig completes, the Windows Disk Defragmenter will open in the command line window and defrag your hard drive as well, putting things in the order it sees best fit for your computer. When everything is complete, Power Defragmenter GUI will tell you that it has completed all of its work. You can click Quit/Finish to exit the program.

NOTE: This process can take anywhere from minutes to hours! It is best to let the defragmentation process complete for optimal performance. If need be, let this run overnight.

The process is all automated and will help your system greatly. Should any questions arise, please contact me.


Kind regards,
Tarun

Spydergst1

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2006

Chicago

W/R

My file was not defragged at all and is almost 3 GB. I did defrag my c: drive and that didn't help either. I unplugged my cable modem and rebooted my system after the file level defrag and the partition defrag. After about 15 minutes of power off (to ensure a good signal reset) I tried to play again and still got some serious lag. I did notice that the lag only occurs for me at the wilds and sorrow's furnace, and a couple of other spots.

Because I don't get lag in all the cities or missions (even with lots of monsters and activity) but, I do always get lag in certain cities and missions I have to say the lag has a consistency (at least for me). This point to a problem with the game at the game server side (in my opinion).

If I had lag all the time I would suspect my cable connection or my computer. Since it is always in specific areas at different times of the day or night I have to believe it’s the game or the game server.

I do know something about what I am saying. I am a SAN engineer currently and worked at a server admin and I also worked as a system integration consultant.

johnnyboy55

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2006

Illusions of Aphrodite [LUST]

R/Mo

It keeps telling me that "Access is denied."

Anyway to resolve this issue?

aeroclown

aeroclown

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Louisiana

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spydergst1
My file was not defragged at all and is almost 3 GB. I did defrag my c: drive and that didn't help either. I unplugged my cable modem and rebooted my system after the file level defrag and the partition defrag. After about 15 minutes of power off (to ensure a good signal reset) I tried to play again and still got some serious lag. I did notice that the lag only occurs for me at the wilds and sorrow's furnace, and a couple of other spots.

Because I don't get lag in all the cities or missions (even with lots of monsters and activity) but, I do always get lag in certain cities and missions I have to say the lag has a consistency (at least for me). This point to a problem with the game at the game server side (in my opinion).

If I had lag all the time I would suspect my cable connection or my computer. Since it is always in specific areas at different times of the day or night I have to believe it’s the game or the game server.

I do know something about what I am saying. I am a SAN engineer currently and worked at a server admin and I also worked as a system integration consultant.
What are the setting you have active for graphics in guildwars ? What kind of video card and ram does it have ? What speed is the system and how much ram do you have ?

Meeting even the recommended requirements on the label does not garuntee you can run any game at its maximum settings. The problem you are describing seems to indicate a bottle neck or a graphics device that is strained to its limit in certain high Poly areas that use Large texture and Lighting sets. If it is always in the same places and at varrying times of the day I would be more inclined to believe the problem lies in the ability of your system to push out data then it is with something remote or in route.

Load up guildwars with the correct switch, I want to say its --pref, though im not sure, there is a post listing the switches somewhere in the forum. Then look at the data throughput on screen mainly the FPS if it is showing more then just a bit of data. If your fps falls drastically when enter those mentioned areas then it is a pretty good indication that it is a strained system that is your culprit. There are situations in which the texture, lighting, and poly data sets can be massive even when they are compressed inside of a game engine. Thats about all I have got on that though. I would be quite suprised if it was a network issue, though not impossible.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarun
Sure, it's nice he tells you how to analyze the gw.dat file; but there is nothing that tells you how to properly defragment it. Most users will not understand how to change to the directory where contig.exe exists and then how to enter the path to defrag the gw.dat file.
Great instructions, but I would like to make one note here. In many of the post that I have made, as well as the ops post it is noted that the Contig Executeable should be placed in the SYSTEM32 folder. This folder is typically in your system path, as such typing contig at the commandline chould result the execution of contig.

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

Thing is, contig doesn't need to be in System32. PowerDefragGUI will take care of it all which is awesome. :P

bubblicious

bubblicious

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Feb 2006

canada

B R A T P A C K

E/Mo

how log does the program take too defrag the file..mine keeps saying processing

Pyramus Loral

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

Kinghts of The Dragon Rose II

R/Me

I'm not a big plan of 3rd party software so I thought I would ask here.

I seem to have a rather large problem. There seem to be spots for me on the map that are cuaing me to err 7. This only seems to happen in nightfall, unfortunatly one such spot is in a mission and after 13 attempts and dropping EVERY time in almos the EXACT same spot, something is obviously rotten here..

any ideas?

Could this be a defrag issue, I installed Nightfall from the DVD not a download.

ktadie

ktadie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Grotto dis1

Scars Meadows

R/N

so i downloaded the CMD thing, and when i extracted it to the folder, it said that there was already another file like that so i replaced it.. plz tell me that it wasnt stupid of me to do this :O

anyways ir an the thing and this is what i got:



did i do it properly?

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ktadie
so i downloaded the CMD thing, and when i extracted it to the folder, it said that there was already another file like that so i replaced it.. plz tell me that it wasnt stupid of me to do this :O

anyways ir an the thing and this is what i got:



did i do it properly?
Check your spelling, also, use PowerDefragGUI instead.

The first post really needs to be updated.

Scorpion Boy

Scorpion Boy

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Got from 197 to 4. Thank you very much .

kaya

kaya

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

NBK

So, i havnt heard how much this has helped your gameplay? Is it actually speeding things up again?

ktadie

ktadie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Grotto dis1

Scars Meadows

R/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarun
Check your spelling, also, use PowerDefragGUI instead.

The first post really needs to be updated.
my spelling? :P i was in a hurry ^^ anyways, it dosnt say how it has changed my file thingies. ppl are saying they got it from like 2600 to 3. mine dosnt say how much it has done to mine..

Riplox

Riplox

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2005

North Carolina

Shrophire Protectors [Lion]

W/

Thanks for the info. Got mine from 16 to 1. Guess it wan't that bad to begin with.

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ktadie
my spelling? :P i was in a hurry ^^ anyways, it dosnt say how it has changed my file thingies. ppl are saying they got it from like 2600 to 3. mine dosnt say how much it has done to mine..
Did you happen to notice how you typed contig in your screenshot? That was the point I was making. :P

PowerDefragGUI automates the whole process which really helps a lot of people.

ktadie

ktadie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Grotto dis1

Scars Meadows

R/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarun
Did you happen to notice how you typed contig in your screenshot? That was the point I was making. :P

PowerDefragGUI automates the whole process which really helps a lot of people.
what should i write then?
the PowerDefragGUI looks too complicateed ^^

Superdarth

Superdarth

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Ive got a defragmenter that comes with my windows or whatever..dous that work?

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

@ktadie -> PowerDefrag is easy to use, just follow the directions on the first page.

@Superdarth -> It will help, but should you make use of PowerDefragGUI and Contig, you'll have far better results.

Superdarth

Superdarth

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2006

Well i used powerdefrag i suppose it beats the standard stuff,i have noticed my perfomances are back to normal again so thats good news.

Selfeafea

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2006

Australia

House Keytan

W/A

I attached a screenshot of me trying to reduce the fragmentation of my .dat file. It's in 377 (after a full drive pass with power defrag). But when I try to run the contig pass over it it tells me that it cannot defrag it any further...suggestions?

Khadath Than

Khadath Than

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Red vs Blue [RvB]

R/Rt

Is it odd that nothing is more comforting to me than thousands of lines of rapidly scrolling text in a dos prompt?

monkey grip

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Nefarious Coterie [Cult]

R/

no, i enjoyed it myself also

YornStar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Portugal

Bad Net Fubar [bad]

W/

Jesus...

C:\Programas\Guild Wars\Gw.dat is in 17988 fragments

Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Average fragmentation : 17988 frags/file

YornStar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Portugal

Bad Net Fubar [bad]

W/

And I got just the same thing as Selfeafea :S

EDIT: lol, it's because I don't have enough room on the disk for the defrag.

PanGammon

PanGammon

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

The Underworld

Leader of Grenth Gaming Inc [GG]

Mo/Me

I use a 28k modem running Azureus and DAP Background...........

YornStar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Portugal

Bad Net Fubar [bad]

W/

Ok, contig doesn't do a thing to me.




C:\Documents and Settings\Admin>contig -a "c:\programas\guild wars\gw.dat"

Contig v1.53 - Makes files contiguous
Copyright (C) 1998-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

c:\programas\guild wars\Gw.dat is in 17783 fragments

Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Average fragmentation : 17783 frags/file

C:\Documents and Settings\Admin>contig "c:\programas\guild wars\gw.dat"

Contig v1.53 - Makes files contiguous
Copyright (C) 1998-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com


Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Number of files defragmented : 1
Average fragmentation before : 17783 frags/file
Average fragmentation after : 17783 frags/file

Arcador

Arcador

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

--

R/N

Try running it 2 times in a row. My first did nothing, but second reduced it to 11 from ~370. It does reduce the fps a little, but seems that was not my primary problem I hope it works for you thou!

Baltuck

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Queens, New York

Elite Warriors

W/Mo

Im tying it in my job pc first just in case, I rather mess this one up than my XPS at home. The process takes pretty long, is still at it and Im not helping it by being here either.

YornStar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Portugal

Bad Net Fubar [bad]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcador
Try running it 2 times in a row. My first did nothing, but second reduced it to 11 from ~370. It does reduce the fps a little, but seems that was not my primary problem I hope it works for you thou!
I'm running it again, the 4th or 5th time, I don't know.

And everytime I do it, I get a random number, but always around 17000-19500

Like now:



C:\Documents and Settings\Admin>contig "c:\programas\guild wars\gw.dat"

Contig v1.53 - Makes files contiguous
Copyright (C) 1998-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com


Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Number of files defragmented: 1
Average fragmentation before: 19491 frags/file
Average fragmentation after : 19491 frags/file


C:\Documents and Settings\Admin>contig -a "c:\programas\guild wars\gw.dat"

Contig v1.53 - Makes files contiguous
Copyright (C) 1998-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

c:\programas\guild wars\Gw.dat is in 19121 fragments

Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Average fragmentation : 19121 frags/file

YornStar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2006

Portugal

Bad Net Fubar [bad]

W/

I think I just have too much frags on the file :|

Arcador

Arcador

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

--

R/N

Another issue - as I had is that file is around 4 gb and Hard disk is in old fat32 format. In that case it cannot increase over 4 gb and may cause a very glitchy gameplay since all 3 expansions bring it OVER 4 gb. Also the defrag tool may increase its size whike working on it.

Verticle Cleave

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by aeroclown
Like I said in an above post you should try to maintain a buffer of 10 - 15 % of free disk space at all times. Doing so allows you to defrag large files with windows tools and third party tools and will most probably improve the performance of your system.
I know that, that was before I cleaned up my drive, but I was refering to the almost 26,000 fragmentation GW threw at my face, although, reinstalling and downloading everything anew on a much more open HDD allowed the game to only fragment up for 1339, with MORE updates then the prior 26,000 fragmentation..

Verticle Cleave

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by YornStar
Ok, contig doesn't do a thing to me.




C:\Documents and Settings\Admin>contig -a "c:\programas\guild wars\gw.dat"

Contig v1.53 - Makes files contiguous
Copyright (C) 1998-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

c:\programas\guild wars\Gw.dat is in 17783 fragments

Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Average fragmentation : 17783 frags/file

C:\Documents and Settings\Admin>contig "c:\programas\guild wars\gw.dat"

Contig v1.53 - Makes files contiguous
Copyright (C) 1998-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com


Summary:
Number of files processed : 1
Number of files defragmented : 1
Average fragmentation before : 17783 frags/file
Average fragmentation after : 17783 frags/file
Sorry, I'll repost the Screenie:



XD

(Btw, a fix I found for having THAT many frags, is just to reinstall and redownload everything, on a MUCH more open HDD.)

Wacky

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Trans Tasman Alliance [TTA]

Me/

Quote:
(Btw, a fix I found for having THAT many frags, is just to reinstall and redownload everything, on a MUCH more open HDD.)
Well, copying gw.dat to a dvd-rw, deleting the original and copying it back reduced the number of fragments from ~18000 to a mere ~3000 (give or take a few hundred) for me. And now it has only 10 fragments after running contig once.

That may be a better way than having to redownload everything.