I think there maybe an unlocking problem on my XP installation. I'll give some background info first...

I'm using three installs of LFS U22:

Main desktop - XP SP2 (custom built)
Main laptop - XP SP2 (hp TC4200)
Spare laptop - Vista32 RC1 (hp NC8000).

I've just experienced a third locking on the XP laptop (TC4200) for no apparent reason. I start LFS and it's in Locked mode. This unlocking hasn't occurred on my main PC, partly because I haven't been using it much, nor has it occurred more than once on the Vista installation. However, I am using two sound mods - PitSpotter and CSR Sound Remixer on the two XP installs, let me explain...

Just before the 3rd lock occuring on the TC laptop (and before I'd started LFS) I extracted a CSR soundset (XRR) to the \LFS\User Files folder. LFS was then locked when started. Now, I wouldn't have thought that this would have caused a lock, but I'm worried that using third party mods, especially sound ones could be interfering with U22, seen as there are sound changes in U22. I don't know, this could be a red herring, but I think I may remove these two mods for awhile and see if it happens again. It would be interesting to see if anyone else has been getting more than usual locks with this kind of configuration.

Also, as a result of this, I've drawn up a Change Log for recording ALL changes that I've applied to my LFS folder. Feel free to use yourself if you like.

Vista32 RC1 Build 5600 on hp NC8000 laptop / AC97 Audio

Setting the write ahead to 0.05 and changing frequency doesn't produce any noticable lag on my installation (even rapid frequency change).

Tried at 0.02 and rapidly changing the frequency (keep finger pressed on A/Z) does result in some clicking, but it's very infrequent.

sounds great!! can't wait to get my mits on this one

just a suggestion, but couldn't all these sound packs be hosted on the LFS Database (check with the webmaster of course!)?

Some feedback...

1) Do you get lag (delay when pressing throttle) or skipping (gaps in sound)

Skipping (or crackling).

2) Can it be solved by changing Options/Misc/Sound Blocks setting

Setting the Sound Blocks to 5 reduces it, but doesn't completely eliminate it. Again, most notable near barriers.

3) What operating system do you have, 98, XP, Vista32, Vista64

Windows XP SP2 + all hotfixes

4) What hardware : sound card + drivers if you can find that info

Compaq (hp) tc4200 laptop + SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio + driver version 5.12.1.5250

Last edited by Zero7, Mon 9 Oct 2006, 05:54.

Quote from Scawen :

It's not expected, but possible (in Windows XP) due to the slight change in the unlocking which fixes Vista 64-bit. I've given you a spare unlock - please let me know if unlocking still works correctly.

Thanks Scawen. Yes, I managed to unlock.

I've just applied U22 (to U20) and it's locked LFS back to demo mode, is this normal?

Quote from EveningStar :

edit: in the snd folder are raws which are named: SkidRoadHeavyMajor.raw,SkidRoadHeayMinor.raw,...
i think these are the sounds which should be edited.

Yes, these can be changed and I believe there have been modified versions of these posted in the Misc Addons, although they only replaced the existing ones with different skid sounds.

All the best Victor in whatever extra you want to do....

Quote from Boris Lozac :

Does anyone have any rFactor Multiplayer replay, so i can see is it the same case as on my computer..? offcourse in .AVI format or something like that, not rFactor format... just a short one, so i can see the car movement..

Search on YouTube for rfactor - I just did and it came up with 647 hits...

Make your mind up after viewing those...

I still haven't found a decent rF video comparable to those done in LFS e.g. Just Racing, DoN's slowmo's, Aspirations etc etc

Bawbag, have you tried deleting all the files that are in the zip from your LFS folder and starting again?

Is there a mismatch between this version and the other ESM_003 version in the movies thread?

The steps that Stuff listed work fine for me. You really should try and get it working, cause the FZR sounds saaawwweeeeettt!!

Nice, now all we need is DoN to make the same vid in LFS!

Quote from audimasta :

Hi there Zero 7.

I had a 2.8 celeron prosessor on my old computer and a Radeon 9250 graphics card, 700RAM....My framerate was in the same league as you, and i bought the 6600 GT. I had NO increase in framerate at all. So my experience is that LFS HATE Celerons.

Scroll down to the bottom of this thread where I tell about my problem, and read the posts that follows. Hope it helps. http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=3079&page=2

Thanks for the link audimasta, however I don't really see how you fixed it (if you ever did). I see that your mobo AGP port is set 4X, where as mine is 8X. There is also some conflict between some people saying that the Celeron is the bottleneck and others saying that it could be slow RAM. Did you OC your Celeron like I have (in bios under Frequency Control)?

I also saw a comment that AGP isn't much use with cards that have more than 256MB RAM - is this true? I'll google it, but why then would manufacturers make a 512MB card like the 7600 I posted above? I'm still edging towards the 7600 and for the sake of £20 it's worth the extra power.

Quote from Jakg :

well i used to run with a 6600GT (i had two, but i could never get SLi (running two together to get almost twice the power) quite happily, youll get good FPS, and you can add some aa and af, athough with vista comes DX10, so...

Got any going spare??

good point, I'll keep that in mind.

This then raises the question, will the 6600GT card keep going for a year or two running LFS before an upgrade to a DX10 card? I suspect the answer is yes, but only the devs know if there will be a major graphics overhaul which would ideally need a better card.

Quote from Franek_PL :

It will be fairest for your computer GeForce 6600GT.

Yeah, this is what I'm toying with and I see what you're saying, but I feel that a 7000 series card will last longer than a 6000 one. As I tend to do component upgrades every few years instead of buying a new machine outright (my case is probably over 6 years old!), I figure that the gfx card will outlast the cpu.

I'll do a bit more digging around on the 7600 card that a few of you have mentioned.

Thanks for all the feedback - great stuff!!

Quote from Jakg :

i was merely pointing ou that as good as Athlons are in your case it wasnt the best idea - and if your getting a graphics card get the 7600GS

Thanks Jakg, and yeah I figured as much

I didn't think about the 7600 range as I thought they'd be out of my price range. So thanks geeman and pb32000 for suggesting that.

Last edited by Zero7, Mon 4 Sep 2006, 17:21.

Quote from Becky Rose :

tbh, you need more than £100 to make that computer sing (I hate Celerons that much)

I agree, but budgets must as budgets do! I also wouldn't normally go for a Celeron, but this was a free CPU that at the time seemed crazy to pass on, I just had to buy the mobo.

Quote from geeman1 :

Yes LFS is very CPU dependant, but your GPU is so slow that you should really get it upgraded first.

EDIT: Becky if the motherboard has Socket 775 it would be a pretty safe to guess it supports AGP 8x or it may even be a PCIe.

Yes, you're right geeman, the board does support 8x AGP (no PCIe slot though).

Quote from Jakg :

well the 6200 is REALLY slow and their are much better combos available, plus to do your "super value" deal he needs a new mobo

I would recommend you get a 6600 (AGP of course), and stick with your cpu for the moment

I would need a new mobo and to be honest I don't see myself upgrading that and the CPU and the graphics card for £100. I'm also a little skeptical of buying hardware off ebay which is probably the only way to do that sort of upgrade.

I realise that the Celeron would be limiting the throughput slightly and that I *think* I could upgrade the processor (sitting on a mobo Abit SG-80) to a dual core in the future.

How about this - Novatech 6600GT for £89 or the 7600GS for £111?

Yes, my thoughts exactly, but what with LFS being heavily CPU dependent I've got a feeling the Celeron is holding it back.

It's time for a component upgrade on my trusty puter, but I'm looking for some advice from you guys. Now, I've got ideas of my own but here's the question...

Should I upgrade my CPU or Graphics Card? The budget is £100.

The spec of my machine is pretty poor :

Intel Socket 775 Celeron D 2.8Ghz (OC'd to 3.2Ghz)
Nvidia FX5200
1GB RAM
40GB HD

Now, the machine is used for basic word pro/spreadsheet, plus a bit of video editing.

Games are LFS (of course!) mainly and other racing titles. I'd want to run LFS much better than I am at the moment (varies from 6fps to 30fps depending on grid size - no AA, 2xAF, 1024x768).

Ideas......please??

Awesome, you guys surely have talent!

Quote from BigDave2967 :

ITEK VS XXX

I got held up by a backmarker, so I called him a twat, but I don't think he knew it was directed at him. Carried on racing... well the replay will tell its story .

I think this may have been me - and didn't see you until the last minute when I swerved onto the grass. Apologies if it screwed your lap.

Quote from danowat :

My car and bike need a damn good wash, I'll give you £10 for that for starters

Dan,

Yeah, but it'll cost him 30 quid to get to your house!! LOL

Quote from tristancliffe :

Another thought - can you part exchange some old Playstation games in your local games shop? You might get cash, but more likely you'd get vouchers. I would be quite happy to exchange it for vouchers, as long as it's a common shop, like Game or PC World.

Kirmy, can I make another suggestion to what Tristan has done - try earning some money another way. I remember myself when I was 15 or 16 just knocking on peoples doors (no - not running away ) and seeing if they wanted their car cleaning. Why not team up with a brother/sister/friend and increase your income by getting through twice as many cars? I bet if you did that for a few days you'd get £24 in no time.

Paint.NET a free paint package.

This also requires Microsoft .NET Framework v2.0

Quote from Boris Lozac :

You got two types of gloves in the game.. GlovesA and GlovesB..
Change the racing suite in the Player menu, till you see the gloves..

This worked for me...

Quote from XCNuse :

he did techno.. and now i remember, it was unidentified records

..dont you remember.. back in RSC he had all those songs

I remember - and still listen to then every now and then. He did 4 CD's worth of songs (and I put together a few basic CD covers)! If you want the songs check out the RSC thread.