My previous two posts aren't much help if you're looking to really solve this problem. It turns out that when I built this computer I didn't optimize Windows XP for for a multi-core CPU. The two steps that eventually led to a solution were:
- Apply this hotfix from Microsoft.
- Modify your boot.ini file with the /usepmtimer switch as per these instructions.
I've been able to restart my machine a record-breaking five times in a row and have The Orange Box play at regular speeds. Either I've been very lucky with this seemingly random problem, or I actually found the solution.
Turns out all my troubleshooting in the previous post was just a lucky coincidence. In the past 6 days attempting to get The Orange Box to work I couldn't reliable find a method to get the game to run. This involved updating drivers, disabling on-board sound, and running DirectX tests. No matter what I did I couldn't reliable get anything to run without chopping sound or gaming in slow motion.
After some digging on the Steam support site I discovered the myriad of launch options you can set when you start games. When deciding which option to enable I noticed that in the video options for Portal, my Hardware DirectX level was only detected as being DirectX 8. That seemed a little low for my Nvidia 8800 GTS video card, so I launched Portal using the launch option "-dxlevel 90" and everything was right as rain. Inspecting the video options in Portal showed that my Hardware DirectX level was DirectX 9. Imagine that.
If you're having a similar problem running The Orange Box in Windows XP give that a try. Good luck.
Like most people I couldn't resist picking up The Orange Box. I managed to hold out until Saturday to pick it up through Steam. 16 GB of downloads later and I had it installed (didn't even notice because I was at the bar). This was my first time using steam and I was impressed. The 2D interface for the application reminded me of my favourite app Ableton Live so that didn't hurt.
Having only heard good things about Portal (included in The Orange Box) all week I was excited to fire it up and start hopping through some portals of my own. Penny-Arcade even created an amusing comic for it. Launching Portal didn't go exactly as I imagined it would though. The intro screen chopped and stuttered (did I make a mistake going with onboard sound for my latest rig?) and I heard a lot of random sounds through my headphones. Maybe it was just a bug in the opening screens. Start a new game. Wake up from my pod. Look at clock on the wall counting down from 60 seconds. Why is the clock going at 1/3 the speed. Does portal use longer seconds? Confidence dropping.
Thinking that Portal's the new kid in town and not quite debugged, I fired up Half Life 2 (also in The Orange Box) and was relieved to find that the sound wasn't chopping like in Portal. Let's start a new game. Why am I walking soooo slowly? All the NPCs are talking in real time but they're moving slowly too. Not good.
After some Google-Fu, I deduced that a little service running on my machine called AINap.exe (a feature of some ASUS motherboards) was the problem. I launched the Windows Task Manageer and ended that process. Fired up Portal, no problems. Yay!
Since I never used the AI Nap functionality of my motherboard (I prefer my computers either on/off/sleeping, not some in between state) I fired up AutoRuns and removed AI Nap from the Logon tab. That will keep AI Nap from slowing down my Portal playing.
How is Portal you might ask? Well I was a little busy getting my Netherwing faction up yesterday in Warcraft, but I did watch Alexis play for an hour and it looks awesome.
Just in case you think I've given up on the internets, I do have a Twitter account now so check it out if you don't find anything on my Vox blog. I'm a lot less intimidated by the 140 character restriction on Twitter so I'll probably end up sharing thoughts and updates on there more often than not. If you do sign up for your own Twitter account don't forget to add me as your friend.
What's your favorite blend or brand of coffee or tea?
The kind I don't have to drink. Hot beverages? Ewwww.
How did you meet your current, or most recent, significant other?
Vans Warped Tour 1999. Alexis was the friend of a friend that I was going to the show with. I was driving that day so I got to find out where she lives. I believe the first time I laid eyes on her I was half way up the front path of her house as she was just exiting the front door. Our mutual friend was being absent minded on the car ride to the show so I earned some brownie points by suggesting they shut their window so Alexis' hair didn't get blown clean off her scalp. Then after said mutual friend took off to hang out with other people at the show I had the oppurtinity to get to know Alexis a little more. We even rocked out to the same tunes on the car ride back home.
A few mix tapes later that year and it was love <3
In honour of the always great Amy Millan, Alexis and me decided to "bring out the whiskey" last night. Of course we combined it with Coke. We ended up watching Hard Candy with glasses in hand lounging in our Sumos. Besides the subject matter of the movie, we were as comfortable as could be. So comfortable in fact when I awoke at oh six hundred still sitting in it. I figured Alexis went to bed ages ago and just left me, but when I looked to my right there she was sleeping in her Sumo. That's right, we both fell asleep watching an episode of Kim Possible way too late in the night. Nothing like heading to bed at the time you're usually getting up for work. Party! Woo!
If you're into movies that wrap everything up at th end Hard Candy isn't for you. Or if you get squeemish easily. The whole movie really only has two characters but still manages to keep your interest. Perhaps the plot had something to do with it. It was like watching a train crash happen in super slow motion, but right before you think you've got it all figured out, a plane crashes onto the tracks. Ellen Page and Patrick Wilson did an excellent job with their characters. Check this one out.
It's almost the middle of January and we still haven't seen anything that amounts to much snow. Sure there are a few centimetres here and there on the paths in the mornings, but that's not snow. Why do I care so much about the amount of snow when I don't participate in any winter sports? (I could argue that being a couch/mouse potato is just such a sport, but that's neither here nor there.)
It all comes down to the mud. Snow is great. It's all the prettiness of rain but without the wet. Dry rides to work in the morning make for a clean and fast commute. However when the temperature goes up above freezing in the middle of January all that snow tends to get a little chaotic and transforms into a liquid state. Hello mud. I can't recommend fenders for your bicycle any more than I already do, but I have yet to figure out how to keep my drive train as clean as my backside is with them. Luckily if there's mud, it means it's warm enough to wash my bike outdoors. I do have company coming over tomorrow, and nothing says, "Welcome to my home," better than a shiny Surly in the front hall. Be sure to comment on how welcome you feel if you stop by.
In other news I should be the proud owner of Batman: The Animated Series on DVD when I get home from work tonight (or the Post Office, depending on the mood of the mail carrier today). Nothing beats the cold like curling up on my Sumo and watching TV, but on DVD, so it's almost as classy as a movie. Speaking of movies, Bandidas came out this week. I had never heard of this one until I perused the new releases section at Roger's Video. If I manage to watch it this weekend I'll be sure to share my thoughts. Salma Hyak is always a pleasure to watch (and for more than the dirty reason you're thinking right now dear reader). If the movie is as funny as I'm reading it is, I should enjoy it. It'll balance out my other planned viewing experience this weekend, Hard Candy, nicely.
What is your favorite ring tone?
Submitted by rach.
The one I don't have to listen to.
How are you ringing in the New Year tonight?
Alexis, Bevan, Sarah and myself will be checking out the festivities at Kitchener City Hall tonight (pdf info). And buses are free after 6 PM tonight. Getting around town responsibly has never been more free. Having never seen The Stars Here, The Machines, or Sloan live in concert I'm pretty excited.
aww, and I thought you did not have a sentimental bone in your body!! you are cute! read more
on QotD: It Was Kismet