If using Vista heres a way to make MTW2 run a little bit better

[RubiconDecision]

It was recommended to me to try Advanced System Care to help free up memory and run the game a little bit better. It does sincerely help. When running the game with mods especially on a laptop, then you try just about everything to get the game to run smoother. Besides that, I've been using Vista Services Optimizer. I have to say that it sincerely helps. There's a widget to see how much the CPU usage changes and it's significant. It may or may not help some folks trying to run STW2 as well.

Both are free programs.

Vista Services Optimizer
http://download.cnet.com/Vista-Servi...-10890033.html

Advanced System Care
http://download.cnet.com/Advanced-Sy...-10407614.html

Here's the order I use:
1) Run Advanced System Care. You will likely see over a 100 MB or ram released.
2) Run Vista System Care. You will likely see your CPU usage drop from 15% with supposedly nothing running to less than 2%.
3) If using Steam, then once you connect, turn off your WiFi. That produces heat and causes dropped frames during snowstorms especially when using siege artillery. There's usually a WiFi button or switch on your computer.
4) Make sure there is no Malware Checker running as you are disconnected from the Internet and likely will not need it.
5) I shut down my virus program as it's one more thing to draw down on the CPU. That's up to you.

Doing all of the above as well as using a decent cooling pad with dual fans makes MTW2 a vastly different game, especially when running Third Age. My old laptop is very responsive with all of the above done.

EDIT: You can also go into Advanced System Care and chose the Toolbox menu and then pick Smart Ram. Chose "Go" and then do a "Smart Clean" or a "Deep Clean" of the memory and sometimes some old program that is no longer running will still have tied up some memory and this will release it. Not a lot by any means, but it's just one more thing you can do to hone down the tied up memory resources.

In Vista Services Optimizer, look at your System Drive Usage. If that's high, then it's very possible that your drive is fragmented from adding and deleting lots of files. Pick a time when you aren't using your computer, say the end of the night as you go to sleep, and then degrag your drive. That really helps lower this too. Don't overly defrag your drive for sometimes as it moves things around you can end up corrupting a program as it relocates the programs and files to be more continuous.