Turn times (semi) solution

**RaduAlexandru** · May 22, 2011, 01:05 PM

Oke it has been said before in threads about the slow turns in SS and I don't want to take credit for this - others said it before - but the results are just impressive so I felt i had to make a topic about this so more would pay attention and implement it.

I have a good system (x4 955 BE 4Gb @3.2 | ddr3@1600 | Asus 6850) which runs on Vista - and I am playing SS 6.4 with BGR IV-E enabled and other mini-mods as well - so pretty much it can't get more scripted (and slower) than this.

Before I did this I had a turn time of 5 minutes on average.
After I did this my turn times dropped to around 1 minute (or less) with fow off!!!
So out of all the solutions indicated by anybody this one actually works wonders.

This is for Vista and W7 users. If you have a decent system but your turn times are ridiculously slow just do this:
Install m2tw (and all mods of course) in C:\Users\your_user_name

The guys who first pointed to this as solving a lot of problems said that windows doesn't apply any folder/sub-folder user restrictions on this install path - and it seems that these restrictions are the cause of most of the headaches of most SS 6.4 + BGR users. I haven't changed a thing on my pc other than reinstalling m2tw under this path - and the turn times dropped as you saw ...

**Andytheplatypus** · May 22, 2011, 01:13 PM

I would like to see more people confirm this (or myself if I end up having to re-install again)

Looks promising though + rep for finding it.

**RaduAlexandru** · May 22, 2011, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Andytheplatypus

I would like to see more people confirm this (or myself if I end up having to re-install again)

Looks promising though + rep for finding it.

I hope others confirm it too - for me I tried all options before - installed it in D: installed the optimization script, ran the game under highest priority in processes, defraged my pc etc - nothing really worked - my turn times were 5 min on average. After I did this however ...

**Losthief** · May 23, 2011, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by RaduAlexandru

I hope others confirm it too - for me I tried all options before - installed it in D: installed the optimization script, ran the game under highest priority in processes, defraged my pc etc - nothing really worked - my turn times were 5 min on average. After I did this however ...

it's true...i have a weaker system slightly (well not anymore...i just unlocked my dual to quad but there not tested yet so dunno if its stable...but shouldn't matter for this game anyways as it doesn't really use multi cores) and i get about 30 sec-1 min turn times (sometimes up to 2 or 2 1/2 tops late game) with everything (including shadows) on max and follow ai on.

the reason has to do with when you install anything in program files on vista+ uac hides some files in order to make your computer safer, but the end result is, that the programs not written with this in mind have trouble (read 'slow') getting those files through the markers uac leaves behind. Installing outside of program files removes this problem. It also helps with installs. So long story short....any program made b4 vista came out install it somewhere else than program files.

**k/t** · May 22, 2011, 09:33 PM

Can you install Windows XP and check with that too? ^^

**Losthief** · May 23, 2011, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by k/t

Can you install Windows XP and check with that too? ^^

doesn't do anything for xp as far as i know.

**Germanicu5** · May 26, 2011, 06:20 AM

I'm guessing disabling UAC would produce similiar results, same as installing in any other folder than Program Files.

Regards

**Losthief** · May 26, 2011, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Germanicu5

I'm guessing disabling UAC would produce similiar results, same as installing in any other folder than Program Files.

Regards

yes...but uac is still a good thing.....so disabling isn't always the 'best option' for everyone (especially casual users and multiple users computers) so this is another option.

**Byg** · May 27, 2011, 07:03 AM

So perhaps someone could try simply with and without USC on in combination with the normal installation path to program files with vista just to confirm this?

**bɑne** · May 27, 2011, 11:00 AM

SS6.3, 6.4 and future versions should always be installed outside of program folders and if possible with UAC off, even if this proves to be inefficient in terms of turn time improvement.

**Losthief** · May 28, 2011, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by bane_tw

SS6.3, 6.4 and future versions should always be installed outside of program folders and if possible with UAC off, even if this proves to be inefficient in terms of turn time improvement.

nods...as should any game not made with UAC in mind. Just remember to turn uac back on after install. But as for byg's comment, it does it because you computer doesn't have to search for the missing files that UAC moved to its hidden folders as a safeguard...thats where the time 'saved' comes from (the older programs not written for UAC have trouble following the markers UAC leaves behind that can find those hidden folders). So in reality...the higher end your system (read more free processing ability/faster storage drives) the less an 'improvement' you'll see, but it can make a big difference for slower computers that ss and kingdoms.exe use more of. Also eliminates countless install errors and upgrading problems UAC causes by its rules for program files. hope that detail explains it a bit more.

As for xp or non win7/vista users, it shouldn't make any difference at all.