hi to all

i have a problem.

my explorer.exe file takes to much memory when i load up xp or do anything in the kernal. i need to know if there is a regestery tweak to disable or set a max amount of memory that is used by explorer.exe

when i load it is about 15 meg that is to much of memory to be used for explorer.exe

My explorer.exe is using 12MB on Windows XP. 15MB isn't unreasonable.

Also are you new to XP and/or added more memory to your system recently?

About 14.8MB here in Windows 2000, really, 15MB doesn't seem that high.

I've got a size of 18Mb on my Win XP, so I don't think there's anything wrong.

15Mb is just fine. When I boot I'm usually sitting around 13Mb, and with all my regular tasks going it can peak at more that 25Mb. At this very moment explorer.exe is sitting at 18,840K.

Granted I haven't done all the tweaking of services I could do, but performance is still good, so I don't worry.

First off, welcome to our forums arokh...

Secondly, take a read, this WILL help you, almost guaranteed & help you understand how that process works as well:

I bet I know ONE set of things that makes it "balloon up" in memory... & that's using SHELL EXTENSIONS (otherwise known as "Explorer-Addons" on many a download site).

Many (most) are done as DLL's called by GUID thru the registry & give you added rightclick abilities (like how WinZip integrates for example).

Those DLL's are loaded as "IN PROCESS" dll's meaning they run in the same memory space as Explorer.exe does... so when you have more of those (and I have a TON here)?

You balloon explorer's memory use... I'd bank on that! So...How can I make such a statement?

24mb in RAM here on the Explorer.exe process...

See, I have EASILY 50 or more of them integrated here in the way of Explorer addons, & I know pretty much how those are loaded as in-process DLL addons as well from a programmer's perspective. Explorer calls on those & loads them like you'd put on a jacket to deal with cold weather more or less, added function extending your regular set of clothes.

(Less of them you use, the lower your memory footprint for Explorer will be... but, is it worth losing the extra abilities & power you get from them? NOT for me it's not...I like having them around!)

Something that MIGHT help those that wish to keep them online, but lessen their use of RAM at ALL times & being loaded from bootup to shutdown continuously consuming RAM?

The "Always Unload DLL" registry tweak...

Set it to true/1 & I'd wager as you use said DLL addons, & unload them, the footprint will vary upon their use growing while being used, lessening upon unload. This slows them down some, having to load them each time they are used & unloading them vs. always having them loaded!

* HOW TO DO IT STEP-BY-STEP:

Open Regedit then go to:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

Right-click in the right-hand window and create a new "value DWORD" with the
name of: AlwaysUnloadDll , and give it the value of: 1.

This change does not apply to older 16 bit DLLs. Some programs may give an
invalid page fault message, or crash the system.

To turn it off: delete the AlwaysUnloadDll entry.



APK

P.S.=> Some other things that probably DO affect it as loadable resources like wallpapers & added fonts... they too, eat up resources & are used by your explorer.exe shell desktop process as well... consider not using those or lessening them! apk

well, these registry-extensions for explorer are one thing. However, another thing is the settings of folder-options and the use of skins. if you use skins and enabled all these new fancy web-behaviour (which sucks and ist totally useless imho), then 15-20mb of memory used (or should i say wasted?) by explorer is normal. btw: there is at least one process of explorer always running: the desktop environment itself. it uses about 8mb atm (peak @ 30mb). and all other processes of explorer use about 500kb atm only (peak @ 10mb).
however, i disabled quite a lot of these unnecessary features (even mouse-shadow and such stuff). and finally, what helped a lot is to disable all unwanted services.

gn8 folks!
ACiD StOUt

I think Explorer is bloated. I'm going to try some of http://www.shellcity.net/content10.htm. I wonder how many will break Windows
There is also a 'tweak' to use taskmanager instead of Explorer, anyone know it?[/url]

"I think Explorer is bloated. I'm going to try some of http://www.shellcity.net/content10.htm. I wonder how many will break Windows
There is also a 'tweak' to use taskmanager instead of Explorer, anyone know it?[/url]"

They might not "break it" but they will make it larger in memory IF they are loaded as "in-process" DLL's right from the start of Explorer.exe loading as your shell OR as the Explorer.exe filemanager tool.

I know I loaded mine up with alot of them, & now have Explorer.exe sitting (according to taskmgr.exe) @ 24,776k in memory now... that's ALOT more than usual w/out shell extensions-explorer add-ons.

AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FOR USING TASKMGR.EXE (or another program as your Windows GUI Shell):

Yea, replace the SHELL line with another program instead in the registry, & taskmgr.exe or progman.exe can do the job here (as well as VB written programs as well, they have the ability to start & run the Windows shell by their default design as well).

LEFT-HAND SIDE PANE in REGEDIT.EXE:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

RIGHT-HAND SIDE PANE in REGEDIT.EXE (once you get the left-hand side one there from above):

Shell

(Change this to taskmgr.exe, progman.exe, or whatever other program you wish...)

APK

Another thing that POSSIBLY may affect it, & BLOAT it, is running it separated from taskmgr.exe as another process fork!

(Here though, I am not 110% sure, but common sense tells me it's right since a separate process IS heavier than a thread of execution in a single process! Here, this is running the taskbar/startbar & the Explorer GUI shell for your desktop in 2 separated threads, as this hack allows:

Let's make your Explorer.exe folder GUI desktop shell & taskman.exe (start bar program) run in separate threads of execution...

(NORMALLY/BY DEFAULT the OS' shell makes a single process w/ Startbar & Desktop Explorer GUI folder Desktop run in the same thread instance from what I understand & any other added instances of Explorer.exe (such as for filemanagement) then instance as added threads)

Any failures in that single default style setup of 1 thread running both Taskman & Explorer can stall the process.

I think this is what you're seeing on a guess... sounds like it at least.

To do this it's recommended you have at least 32mb RAM & a faster CPU of Pentium class or better also!

HOW TO DO THIS:

1.) You setup a seperate thread of execution/process for the Desktop/Taskbar and 1 for each instance of explorer by editing the registry here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

2.) Add a new DWORD value DesktopProcess & make it have a value of 1 (hex & decimal are same here, so does not matter if you enter it as either one) by using regedit.exe edit menu NEW submenu, or rightclick in the right hand side pane of regedit once this key is open & add it there.

3.) Reboot so change takes effect.

ALSO HERE ->

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Separate Process = 1 Decimal

&/or here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\DesktopProcess\Policy\SeparateProcess

(Default REG_SZ String Value = 1)

*

APK

P.S.=> You can't do this & also run Active Desktop though, that is the ONE catch... & the second hack I BELIEVE is the one that makes you have diff. folders for each window of Explorer you bring up, like browsing your Start Bar Start button folders... apk

There are 2 tweaks

[list][*]Seperate the desktop/taskbar from the folder windows (this can be found in control panel > folder options > view "launch folder windows in a seperate process".

[*]Seperating the desktop from the taskbar. (this is the one you mentioned AlecStaar).[/list:u]

But, these settings actually run explorer.exe in a seperate process, not a seperate thread, which means they appear in task manager twice. So I don't think this is the cause.

I too have had memory issues with explore, see this thread on ntfs.org, sorry the image is long gone, it was taskmanager showing 40mb RAM, 80mb VM on explorer.exe (which continued to grow into hundreds after a couple of weeks uptime).
However, I don't seem to have this issue anymore.. it could have been any software or drivers I used at the time which integrated with explorer in some way...

Btw, good to see you still here AlecStaar, I remember you from my first post here as an NT newbie, when you gave me a very comprehensive answer Since then I've become known as a bit of an expert in XP
I've been away for quite a while since.. but it's good to let people know I'm still alive now and then hehe. Last time I was here you were leaving ntcompatible and going to xperience.. what happened there?

"But, these settings actually run explorer.exe in a seperate process, not a seperate thread, which means they appear in task manager twice. So I don't think this is the cause."

Right...

That's EXACTLY what I meant: By doing that, you create it as a FORKED PROCESS (separated), & not a lightweight part of the original process or thread of it rather (what folks call lightweight processes in processes).

I guess it did not read that way...

"I too have had memory issues with explore, see this thread on ntfs.org, sorry the image is long gone, it was taskmanager showing 40mb RAM, 80mb VM on explorer.exe (which continued to grow into hundreds after a couple of weeks uptime). However, I don't seem to have this issue anymore.. it could have been any software or drivers I used at the time which integrated with explorer in some way..."

That sounds almost like a virus... you know? BUT, could have been alot of the things we mentioned in this thread also... this thread's pretty LOADED with ways that Explorer.exe can show up & grow its contents in RAM (both real & virtualized/paged to disk in VM set of it).

"Btw, good to see you still here AlecStaar, I remember you from my first post here as an NT newbie, when you gave me a very comprehensive answer Since then I've become known as a bit of an expert in XP "

Good deal... nice to see you as well, keep on growing... you can NEVER be expert enough!

"I've been away for quite a while since.. but it's good to let people know I'm still alive now and then hehe. Last time I was here you were leaving ntcompatible and going to xperience.. what happened there?"

I was an admin there after the owner of it asked me to join them & op/admin me, which was nice.

That site was going great & being recognized, had it all going for it, & things... well, changed!

See, I had a falling out with another admin, & it was personal!

He edited my posts without my asking me & lied about it to the owner, & then stated he emailed me on it but the dates on the posts were NOT in agreement vs. his email (which came WAY after the edits, to me this indicates TRYING to lie & cover your backside).

This person is @ the root of more problems than that online, & began lurking where I was on IRC for years & bushwhacked me there & also at a forum about VIRC (I look @ that this way: Why did he follow me around to IRC where I had been for years? That was creepy... really creepy & ticked me off as well! I left him & his alone!)

Then, the owner, "ODDLY" I felt, still took his side (which blew me away @ first, but then I found out he is best buddies in real life with that kid so... well, I blew it off after awhile, wasn't worth it.)

Too bad, I actually liked the owner & was out to help him do well, & last I knew?

That site went offline for SOME reason... it's just not out there anymore!

(Actually, I know why & what happened, but it's not worth mentioning... put it this way, SHS here was right all along unfortunately (nothing against SHS & actually QUITE the opposite: It's just he turned out right about what he was right about & he knows what I mean here since he warned me steer clear of that crowd!)).

PUT IT THIS WAY:

If I really wanted to, @ either location where this other op worked w/ me @ that site, on IRC where he began to hang out suddenly (& I had been there for years since it started), & elsewhere?

Well, I could have well, "gotten my way" one way OR another, lol, promise you that.

However, you watch old StarTrek's? Like Apollo said in the ORIGINAL series of StarTrek episode "Who Mourns for Adonais" :

"We could have struck out from Olympus & destroyed, but we had no wish to destroy... So, we went home again..."

Which for me, was back onto forums. Things change over time, people change, sometimes you have to move onwards & turn your back on them... especially if they turn on you first.



(Ah... Does not matter to me, I've seen 1000's come & go online since 1994.)

I knew sooner or later those guys would cause themselves hassles, & it was TOO bad, they had a good thing going @ the start of it, but I won't work with liars who try to cover their tracks ontop of it & get burnt by the dates of the evidences involved! SHS tried to warn me here in a way, I would not listen... my bad.

APK

"I guess it did not read that way... "

sorry, my mistake, of course explorer is threaded since otherwise a folder window would lock when you pressed a button on the quicklaunch *slaps self*

"you can NEVER be expert enough!"

very true.

"See, I had a falling out with another admin, & it was personal!"

damn. had a feeling it was something like that, anyway good to see you back!

insaNity

Explorer is dead... long live Program Manager!

...No really!

Using the standard Explorer.exe on my XP PC took about 24mb of RAM on boot and countinued to bloat from then on, having to restart your shell multiple times a day to recover memory is no fun... so thats when I switched to Progman.exe and re-discovered this wonderous blast from the past!

Now my system boots and shuts down at the MS boasted levels (30 and 10secs respectively) and runs lightening quick. On boot task mananger shows 50Mb memory usage... nice n slim.

With program manger set up how I like it I have one click access to every program I'll ever need and at peak usage it takes up less than 5Mb of virtual & page file memory combined! (less than 1Mb atm). A definate improvement over Explorer's 30Mb and then perhaps that much again for PF space.

With all that free RAM I can still enjoy the XP Metallic theme, with full effects without the bloat, slowdown or continuous memory loss. PLUS Program Manger (and File Manager, nicked from my NT4 PC) never forget their window positions or file viewing preferences and allow you resume your next session at the same folder you were in last time, how on earth did we manage without 'save settings on exit' and 'save settings now'?? invaluable.

File management is done via 'iexplore.exe -nohome' -using the folders pane (like the classic 2k look and about the same memory usage) and winfile.exe... so small and suprisingly useful. NT Taskmanger covers the rest.

It takes some time to get used to and set up... but if you want a lightening fast desktop experience that still looks good with minimal memory usage, try it... its more than worth the effort.

Hi Curley, read carefully as I ask a couple questions of you regarding winfile.exe from NT4 in XP (thanks for feedback here) & some warnings I can warn you about from having done this on 2k @ least (progman shell & winfile filemanager) & mention how it's done above in this thread:

"Explorer is dead... long live Program Manager!

...No really!

Using the standard Explorer.exe on my XP PC took about 24mb of RAM on boot and countinued to bloat from then on, having to restart your shell multiple times a day to recover memory is no fun... so thats when I switched to Progman.exe and re-discovered this wonderous blast from the past! "

Yes, it is a NICE little light-weight shell isn't it?

One that's native to the OS too, & MANY magnitudes of order smaller in memory & resources use than the Explorer.exe/taskman.exe combination, & right outta the box, both of them freshly installed as well!

(Explorer.exe can grow due to things like Shell Extensions/Explorer add-ons for rightclicks in folders etc.).

"Now my system boots and shuts down at the MS boasted levels (30 and 10secs respectively) and runs lightening quick. On boot task mananger shows 50Mb memory usage... nice n slim."

50mb on Program Manager?

I have Explorer.exe here in RAM at about 24mb in RAM, but LOADED with shell extensions & explorer.exe addons for rightclicks on files & folders... they add alot of 'weight' to it, but also capability.

"With program manger set up how I like it I have one click access to every program I'll ever need and at peak usage it takes up less than 5Mb of virtual & page file memory combined! (less than 1Mb atm). A definate improvement over Explorer's 30Mb and then perhaps that much again for PF space."

Ah... 5mb is more like it, scratch my last reply! You made a typo, no biggie... ordinarily that does not bug me & I don't mess with folks about misspellings & such, I have enough presence of mind to draw the meaning from context...

But, with numbers & typos, well... you get the picture! lol...

"With all that free RAM I can still enjoy the XP Metallic theme, with full effects without the bloat, slowdown or continuous memory loss. PLUS Program Manger (and File Manager, nicked from my NT4 PC) never forget their window positions or file viewing preferences and allow you resume your next session at the same folder you were in last time, how on earth did we manage without 'save settings on exit' and 'save settings now'?? invaluable."

Hey, how's winfile.exe (filemanager) treating you on XP? I have always wondered if it would work in ALL capacities without errors??

I saw some on 2k with it, tiny things like handling filenames & such iirc, but I am not sure exactly what those 'errors' were now... so, I am curious because I will dig up an old NT4 Cd today & put it back online if you give it the 2 thumbs up man...

Thanks for the info!

(It is VERY light & fast & SUPER-RESPONSIVE as well compared to other filemanagers!)

"File management is done via 'iexplore.exe -nohome' -using the folders pane (like the classic 2k look and about the same memory usage) and winfile.exe... so small and suprisingly useful. NT Taskmanger covers the rest."

Why use that IE commandline for? Please explain... winfile.exe should do well doing your filemanagement... if not, please explain, thanks!

Yes, it is isn't it? WinFile.exe is Super-Fast & useful... does most all of what you do in Explorer.exe really but 10x as fast, but it's not as easily extended with right-click on file & folder add-ons (oh, it can be done, but not many folks did stuff like that over time!)

(Incidentally: I have templates for doing that if you are interested in the C/C++ languages should you ever want them & consider 'growing/rolling your own' winfile.exe add-ons to its menus system!)

"It takes some time to get used to and set up... but if you want a lightening fast desktop experience that still looks good with minimal memory usage, try it... its more than worth the effort."

Yup, especially the groups in Progman.exe... but once done? Nice & fast... a look back @ Windows NT 3.5x really!

* Only thing I found sort of disconcerting & something for you to be aware of, is that the Start Button bar is no longer around once you make Progman.exe your shell... right? Well, programs that can minimize & hide in the tasktray as an icon disappear if you choose that from their options, a word of warning & you cannot bring them visible again usually (NOT without a tool called WinResQ, you should get that just in case).

APK

P.S.=> Thanks for feedback on WinFile.exe performance & lack of bugs in XP too by the by... apk

Since my last post I've tried a few alternative shells, and I found one I like called GeoShell.
It does pretty much everything explorer does (and more), is open source, supports various plugins, and is *lightweight*. Right now it is using 1.7mb of ram and the most it has ever used is 10mb.

You can configure it how you like it - I've got mine pretty similar to how I had explorer. The 'GeOCommandTime' plugin rocks!

Warning: GeoShell requires a fair bit of documentation reading and registry editing to get working and configured to be of practical use.

I'm still using explorer as my file manager (there are others but they aren't much fun) which is ok because it is not running all the time, and still starts instantly.

APK, my quote of '50Mb on boot' was referring to the 'Commit Charge' value at the bottom of the NT Taskmanger.

I use the Internet Explorer's folder functionality because I am used to the layout... plus fast as it is winfile doesn't seem to support long filenames.

err afaik "Internet Explorer's folder functionality" _is_ windows explorer. when you type a local address it morphs into explorer with similar window layout.

this means you're using it the same way I use it with geoshell - just as a filemanager.

"APK, my quote of '50Mb on boot' was referring to the 'Commit Charge' value at the bottom of the NT Taskmanger."

Cool... flipped me out for a bit!

"I use the Internet Explorer's folder functionality because I am used to the layout... plus fast as it is winfile doesn't seem to support long filenames."

Yup, I ended up pulling it up off the NT 4.0 Cd I have here & putting it online & got disappointed by it... I can only see these folders:

1.) cmdcons

2.) Mame32

3.) Program Files (oddly I can see this & it's 'long file named' with a space etc.

4.) Recycler

5.) System Volume Information (another LFN type)

* Oddly, I cannot see the rest of them on my C: booting disk, including the Windows ROOT folder no less %WinDir% (short filename too)... And, I pulled off the option to hide files in it as well etc. that are system or hidden type etc.



APK

P.S.=> I could not wait for your reply, but I did recall it had problems with some filenames & foldernames, so I had to see for myself... too bad, because it is a LIGHT & NIMBLE filemanager! But, you know... to build one of my own with that much function in it would not be EXTREMELY tough to be honest... filemanager's pretty basic for the most part & a filefinder program I built already has alot of its functions & adding the few more it has might not be too hard actually... lol, getting ideas here... to extend my filefinder into more than just that actually, AND have right-clicks functionality on it as well since it already has some file mgt. features in it! apk

A correction of my last post the file names are fine... i was looking in the 'msdos name' column... fool

functionality wise everything else seems to be ok, im still using the IE/Folders view for setting security and file associatiions becuase its far more intuative, and of course the thumbnail view for my large picture folders.

Since it works fine on my machine, I wonder why you are having problems?

"A correction of my last post the file names are fine... i was looking in the 'msdos name' column... fool "

That's ok... I make mistakes too (but, ONLY once in awhile, lol... yea, right)

Anyhow!

"functionality wise everything else seems to be ok, im still using the IE/Folders view for setting security and file associatiions becuase its far more intuative, and of course the thumbnail view for my large picture folders. "

That stuff's there in FileManager in the menus, & I come outta using it way back in Win3.x & later in NT 3.5x so, I honestly kind of see it as 'intuitive & easy to use' out of age old (decade old really) habit.

Well, the native fileviewing's not, but the rest is...

"Since it works fine on my machine, I wonder why you are having problems?"

You know, that's the 'million-dollar question' I need to ask & find out really because I had this trouble before, but could not recall the hassle in its exact nature... but, I do remember it had to do with not seeing all files like I am running into now & suspected LFN actually, but as we see from my symptoms, this is not the case.

Could be some tweaks I am pulling on the NTFS filesystem, could be security settings I use on the filesystem, could be settings in its .ini file (but the damn thing's not a std. type, I tried looking @ it in notepad.exe & may need to use a hex-editor or something to examine it @ the binary level... incidentally, I expanded winfile.in_ to winfile.ini (assuming since it is an older program that has roots back in 16-bit windows, it ends in .ini & not .inf etc.))

* I'd like to figure it out, & any ideas you have are welcome!



APK

P.S.=> Question: Are you using NTFS filesystems over there & is this on Win2k or XP? Thanks for feedback... apk

Dynamic NTFS volumes on Windows XP Pro SP1

File Manager taken from NT4 Wks PC SP6a (I don't know whether they updated it in later SP releases).

WINFILE.INI -> %SYSTEMROOT%
WINFILE.EXE -> %SYSTEM32%
WINFILE.HLP -> %SYSTEMROOT%\HELP
WINFILE.CNT -> %SYSTEMROOT%\HELP

I've applied most of the NTFS tweaks that came with your 'APKWIN2KTOOLS' package aswell, and I don't use any unusual security settings on files or folders.

"Dynamic NTFS volumes on Windows XP Pro SP1"

Ok... so it's not that here, I use the same!

"File Manager taken from NT4 Wks PC SP6a (I don't know whether they updated it in later SP releases).

WINFILE.INI -> %SYSTEMROOT%
WINFILE.EXE -> %SYSTEM32%
WINFILE.HLP -> %SYSTEMROOT%\HELP
WINFILE.CNT -> %SYSTEMROOT%\HELP"

Same here man, same placements, & I even mirrored winfile.ini in %WinDir% (%SystemRoot% analog basically, not QUITE exact same but close enough for our purposes) & also %WinDir%\System32...

"I've applied most of the NTFS tweaks that came with your 'APKWIN2KTOOLS' package aswell, and I don't use any unusual security settings on files or folders."

I was wondering if it was this myself... Might be the FEW diff. ones I apply that you don't what ARE the difference. That file contains MANY of my tricks, but NOT all.

Oh, don't sweat it man... we could search thru those for ages, & I am just glad it is working for you really... I should really build my own filemgr anyhow & thought about it above.

If you use my toolset, you can see that the APK FileFinder is VERY close to being a file mgr. program really, probably be 2 weeks work TOPS making it as good as winfile.exe, or better (including rightclicks that winfile.exe does not have etc. & more).



* By the way, how do you like those tunings first of all, & how do you like the toolset in general? Thanks for feedback...

APK

P.S.=> OH, ALSO: By the way, if you want updated versions of those tweaking files? Simply go to the addresses in my signature, & use IE as your webbrowser to do it...

http://www.betuwe.net/~avatar/APK.html

&

http://www.betuwe.net/~avatar/APKTuneup.html

Then, use IE file menu, save as, .mht type & get updated & more current & packed with better tricks in them versions of those tweaking tips/tricks/techniques files that shipped with my tools...

You can basically update those yourself & get a FAR better "Security & Speed" document at least, & slightly better "Tuneup" one... saving the .mht files to your %WinDir% overwriting the ones there! apk

I'm already a fairly regular visitor to your tuneup/security site, although I don't think I will use many of the tweaks listed until I get a broadband connection.... still on 56k here

As for your tools package, I'm impressed. I mainly use the registry cleaner and RAM Charge tool (Sooo useful). Ah talking of which, how do I get it to remember it's settings? I set it up and minimize it, but on next boot it is back to defaults.

I took a look at the file finder too... now you mention it, its alot like file manager (I grew up on that one too ) let me know if you develop it any futher and I'll give it the File Manager test.

Long thread, take a read, if you use the toolset you will like this read, you're really first person to publicly get to know what's coming in what may be the FINAL build of it for good:

"I'm already a fairly regular visitor to your tuneup/security site, although I don't think I will use many of the tweaks listed until I get a broadband connection.... still on 56k here "

Cool, well like I said...

They got ALOT better, those URL pages. Especially the security page due to something KhaineBot (fairly new member here) posted the other day, how to stop NetBIOS port 445 listeners & more... after letter "Z" in my "APK Security & Speed A-Z' which ends the security section.

Things I was not aware of, & not many others I wager... so up & out onto the wire it went for general consumption... good stuff for security.

"As for your tools package, I'm impressed."

Well, it's going to be better shortly...

You see, I keep a "to do" list on things I see that need improvement & also what users suggest to me about it!

(It's mostly that now, updates/upgrades for improvement due to what I see & what users tell me. I don't really see anything that needs fixing at this point that is busted, but needs a few features-wise tuneups (one of which you point out next in fact))

"I mainly use the registry cleaner and RAM Charge tool (Sooo useful). Ah talking of which, how do I get it to remember it's settings? I set it up and minimize it, but on next boot it is back to defaults."

RamCharge is the OLDEST of the lot, & needs some features apps like the registry cleaner has, which is saving options you choose @ next start of the application.

In RamCharge, to be honest, this is rather difficult to improve interface features believe it or not, @ this point, because something in the form (ported all the way from Delphi 1.0 16-bit for Windows 3.x in fact, to Delphi 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & soon to be D7 code) makes it EXTREMELY difficult to add .VCL visible controls files to it (things like buttons etc.) easily.

In the movement from all those diff.'s of Delphi version compilers, something was lost in the form (I think as far back as its transition from the 16-bit world in Delphi 1.0 in fact & I have just muddled with it manually since, which is work!)

Yes, & that IS doable manually, & then you position them manually in the form's startup area... before the user can see it repositioning them in fact, you can move them about & place them as well as align them. I will need to do some of this to save its settings (like amt. to clear, & also other checkboxes etc., but it will be done).

If you have coded VB or Delphi before, you will know what I mean if you cannot use the IDE (integrated development environment form pallet for visual design)!

LOL, it's almost as bad as coding a C/C++ Windows app on that one @ this point. Nothing against C/C++, they're my roots in this field really in the DOS & UNIX days for me, but I am SPOILED by Delphi's sheer technical & RAD excellence & don't settle for less programming... WORD! as you young folks say.

(That's the one that started it all for me though, was former Windows Magazine "Shareware/Freeware of the Year" topmost candidate in 1997 in fact & @ one point a commercial product from 1997-2000, until it began to be copied like mad... oh well, my 15 minutes & such in the commercial world, well... one of them, there's 2 others for EEC Systems/SuperSpeed.com!)

Registry Cleaner is NEARLY perfect now, & is about to receive a port of C++ code I found that allows me to perform realtime registry hives backups WHILE YOU ARE IN WINDOWS ITSELF!

This was the last feature (grayed out in the "Maintenance" menu in fact if you look in its menus).

I did not have it perfected for SR-3 release, SR-4 will have it & the app will be TOTALLY done as far as I am concerned... it's been testing solid for weeks now, but still, I test & test.

As is, it beats anything else like it & did here before in fact with users OWN data in a test I ran here @ this site here:

http://www.ntcompatible.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21802&highlight=apk+registry+cleaning+engine

Without handing users some "b.s." test data set to work with either... unlike JV Regclean for instance, which does so in their tests on their site!

Heh, when I mentioned this URL above to the maker of it in his forums for his users, he banned me in fact & destroyed the post...

That proved my point in & of itself.

He is operating on an assumption that you can fools folks that are not educated in statistics!

However, you cannot fool those who are not: I & other programmers are & we mentioned it in the thread in his forums, & the post was burnt out in fact.

4-5 dentists WILL chew Trident, if you pay them off in other words (in this case, give users test data of your own making to favor your own program's engines vs. others, I took a look at his test data & you'd never see large tracts of what is in it... totally b.s. stuff! I just laffed hard...)

I let users here do that with their OWN data on their OWN machines vs. the others... I wanted to see how my work would do, & in an honest test. Good enough for me, facts are there in that URL thread.

My regcleaner (star of the package I think, along with its IP Toolset which I personally use BY THE TON each day) beat Norton Cleansweep, JV RegClean, EZCleaner, AShampoo, & others by up to 5-25x more results found in erroneous registry bloating entries & is COMPLETELY 110% guaranteed safe not to blow out ActiveX TypeLibrary & OCX or OLEServer registrations!

Which is ALSO unlike the others in that test also. They expose those & to a non-programmer (& even then sometimes), this is dangerous. Blow those out & wonder why things in your system breakdown? Well... I don't expose users to that risk.

Anyhow... It's going to be EVEN BETTER soon, perfect in fact I imagine... give it a month tops while I test it & optimize the code for the registry backup.

Other things will get a boost too... better HOSTS file (lol, with working anonymous proxy list) & better command center too, more polished up features in many areas of it.

"I took a look at the file finder too... now you mention it, its alot like file manager (I grew up on that one too ) let me know if you develop it any futher and I'll give it the File Manager test. "

Yes, it is... and I will probably build more & more file mgt. functions into it this round, the goal being to make another WinFile.exe but with more features & one that does not hassle out like winfile.exe is here for me.

Oh, on that?

I suspect some odd filesystems tweaks I don't publish I use are @ fault for me here OR security settings I use in NTFS... not the norm, I don't use std. groups like EVERYONE for instance, but instead use "Authenticated Users" which is 110% for sure disallow for remote users... security oriented, & may be throwing Winfile.exe because I do not believe that NT 4.0 had that group!

* The latter is probably the answer!



APK

P.S.=> OH! Hey... rate them @ CNET if you would, be honest, & put in your thoughts about them. This is how I make the toolset better as well... apk