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cPlay - the open source high-end audio player using ASIO

41.183.0.21
Posted on May 5, 2008 at 12:31:58
cics
Audiophile

Posts: 1320
Joined: November 9, 2006
cPlay

The open source high-end audio player using ASIO

May 2008

cPlay delivers high quality audio playback using ASIO 2. Playback is achieved using any ASIO compatible soundcard. cPlay is a minimalist audio player using the latest high quality SRC resampler (Best Sinc SNR 145.68db or 121.33db) or SoX (VHQ or HQ). cPlay's design offers state-of-the-art ASIO-only playback and caters for touch screen users. Installation, setup and use is easy. cPlay is built in c/c++ and operates on Windows XP SP2 Professional (32 bit).

FEATURES

  1. Resampling is sourced from LibSampleRate (version 0.1.5) and SoX 14.2.0 under GNU GPL license. LibSampleRate is aka SRC (Secret Rabbit Code) and supersedes the version as used in foobar2000. Best Sinc converter now offers a SNR of 145.68db or 121.33db (versus 97db). SoX VHQ offers better than 170db SNR. Resampling is bypassed when input rate matches output.

  2. Supports Steinberg's excellent ASIO 2 and is backward compatible to prior ASIO versions (as required by ASIO drivers).

  3. Offers high quality 64 bit double precision digital volume control (in 0.5db steps). This can be bypassed.

  4. Playback is achieved through .cue, .wav or .flac files. cPlay loads entire .wav or .flac (decoded) into RAM before starting. Playback is done directly from cPlay's internal buffer. Cue playback requires .cue files as created by EAC (single or multi file standard).

  5. Ensures efficient CPU resource utilization allowing for low specification processors or high levels of upsampling. This means CPUs can be underclocked / undervolted.

  6. Supports up to 3 ASIO soundcards with each having up to 100 output channels.

  7. Advanced optimizations are applied (if available from ASIO driver) during playback.

  8. Best results achieved when using cMP (i.e. cMP²). This allows for low level Windows optimizations. Use cMP release 1.0 final or later as this allows for bypassing RAM load in cMP (set RAM Load in cMP Settings to No) otherwise wav file is RAM loaded twice. cPlay allows for both svchost and lsass to be suspended during playback thus reducing the Windows footprint. Only exception is EMU's ASIO driver which requires both (svchost and lsass) to be operational. Set cMP's Optimize setting to Critical.

  9. Full remote control is achieved with cMP: offering volume control, track navigation, next/previous and stop/eject via (wireless) mouse.

USER MANUAL

Visit cMP² website (http://www.cicsMemoryPlayer.com) for more details and setup.

Screen Shot




GETTING STARTED

Download cPlay's installer here (1.3MB). Installation and startup is straight forward.

If you don't have an ASIO compatible soundcard, use ASIO4ALL. Note that ASIO4ALL does not support channel mapping (use default) and rarely handles above 48k sample rate.

Your feedback will help guide cPlay's future development. Source code (4.1MB) is available via email.

 

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where can I find Jolida's nLite version? Would like too try also Jolida's N-lited version, posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:02:21
hfavandepas
 nt

 

Follow link in my previous post (nt), posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:37:32
Bibo01
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: December 18, 2008
 .

 

AWE? not mentioned, posted on January 13, 2012 at 12:14:41
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Just wondering.

 

ehm.. that an *.ini file. I was expecting an *.iso, posted on January 13, 2012 at 12:22:11
hfavandepas
 Hi Bibo01,

I think I lost you somewhere this quickly already.

I was expecting an *.iso (image-file) with an Jolida nLited XP version on it, so that I can burn it too CD-rom too get an installation disk.

The link links to an ini-file.
What should I do with it?

Mark

 

AWE? forgot to mentioned, sorry, posted on January 13, 2012 at 12:32:53
hfavandepas
 Hi Rick,

I forgot to mention AWE.
I apply the AWE function, since it is very easy to do.
But... I can not hear a SQ improvement/difference when using AWE or not using it.

Same for Minlogon and using LAN
I also can’t hear any SQ /improvement/change with these being used or not used.
So I don’t use/implement minlogon
but do use LAN.

Mark

 

I agree about AWE, posted on January 13, 2012 at 13:57:21
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I do it but I do not hear anything.

Some say they prefer it NOT installed.

What is LAN?

I find MINLOGON to be essential, though.

The best part of these minimal installs is how much junk is left out of the registry. You do not have to take it our yourself.

Easy to remove the unneeded files and folders. A full fledged WINDOWS registry is a lot of work and time to whittle down.

 

Thanks Ted for the excellent Step-by-Step Procedure..., posted on January 13, 2012 at 16:21:06
gjwAudio
Audiophile

Posts: 160
Location: Toronto
Joined: March 11, 2006
 Thanks Ted for the concise write-up... with any luck I can use it this evening. Looking forward to another (addictive) SQ-Boost !

I've used NTREGOPT before, but it never occurred to me it could act upon anything other than the live registry (of the system it was run on). Loading the off-line hives and performing the compaction is "just too easy". I hope it works out that way for me. (...I can hear Rick laughing already...)

Cheers,
Grant

That's not a Toy... IT'S A TOOL !!

 

it'not nice, it's AWESOME, posted on January 13, 2012 at 16:30:25
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 I have compacted my registry (it was not really very empty before). Thanks to You I now know which way to go and I'm beginning to see the light at the end? of our toils.
Serge.
P.S. Now almost everything is ready for the FINAL TWEAKED VERSION easy for everybody.

 

RE: it'not nice, it's AWESOME, posted on January 13, 2012 at 17:32:09
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Thanks Serge just happy I can give back a little. You got another tweak coming? Hope so. I always look fwd to your stuff.

 

RE: Thanks Ted for the excellent Step-by-Step Procedure..., posted on January 13, 2012 at 17:34:27
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 It will work for you. I'm sure Rick was laughing at me too because he heard it before I did (so did Ryelands).

 

After You downloaded, posted on January 13, 2012 at 19:41:03
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 (and supposing You have nLite installed - it's free) run Nlite, tell it where the files (you supposedly had copied already) from original xp installation are, then on the third screen say import ini, after that ony yes and continue till the last page, there You will be suggested to create an iso. Approximately 50-75 seconds' process, from starting nlite to getting a new iso (including NLITE's WORK on substracting files).
There You are.
Serge.
P.S. In case You have any problems setting AWE from Junaid's install, e-mail me, I will send You my ini file, that is 100% AWE compatible supporting cics' routine (Just like Junaid's, AFAIK)
P.P.S To Run Nlite You need to install some Net framework, that can be downloaded from nLite's site for free.

 

Holy smokes just listened during my power line prime time, posted on January 14, 2012 at 04:26:24
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ...and far be it to comment on my 1st (and only tweak) but this is mega significant. I played one of my faves ... a Paul Paray Detroit Symphony Orchestra recording of Suppe overtures and it was so good I could not believe it. This recording is bright but very lively and my kind of bombastic power music. Its basically military type music so there is alot of macho' in it. I could not believe the power, the dynamics, the scale/sense of space, the density of the musical fabric and inner detail. I was disturbingly overwhelmed in a positive way by the playback.

I believe that anyone (no matter where you are in the Steppe/Mihaylov journey) can benefit from a registry defrag. Iirc the registry is located in memory so any efficiency moves made to it have a direct impact on music from a memory player like Cplay/cmp. Another benefit I picked up from the cumulative effects of registry slimming/compacting is that it doesn't swap data until at least 2:23 min/sec into the music whereas it was 2:13 or so. So this is an all around efficiency move but my oh my what it does for the music.

 

RE: This is a great find - right up there with RESOURCE HACKER, posted on January 14, 2012 at 07:14:37
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Good, Rick! Could you upload the screenshot of SECURITY hive?

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: it'not nice, it's AWESOME, posted on January 14, 2012 at 07:24:19
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Congratulations, Theo, with your registry tweak!
And Serge (steppe) keeps saying riddles :).

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

It's not a riddle, really,, posted on January 14, 2012 at 07:49:11
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 nor a secret. Hello, Serge, and Happy New Year, ar last. (Other inmates will think, I have finally grown mad, but You know what I mean). Yeah, not a secret, it's just that I managed to achieve a very interesting and significant result soundwise, but cannot yet recreate it so, that other inmates would have a no-brainer tweak. This one is big and single wrong step brings a BSOD, that's why I said it's dangerous. Please, be patient, it's coming. BTW, what size is your winlogon (read minlogon) file. Is it 17 or 24 kb?
Serge.

 

RE: It's not a riddle, really,, posted on January 14, 2012 at 08:56:15
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Hey we have Snapshot or the equivalent let us be the judge of risk to take.

 

RE: It's not a riddle, really,, posted on January 14, 2012 at 09:20:01
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Hi Serge! Happy New Year!
My winlogon (minlogon) is 24KB.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

I thought so,, posted on January 14, 2012 at 10:02:04
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 and, most probably, most inmates have the same. I had initially big problem with minlogon, so even deleted initial archive, but then downloaded again, next I have found an older one. Know what? Well, they are DIFFERENT. I use a 17 kb version (totally hacked - 16,5 kb). Shall I post about it at the top, You think? Also, how can I make it availible to the others, if they are interested? I can send it via e-mail...
Serge.

 

Ted! Please, give me One more day., posted on January 14, 2012 at 10:04:43
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 If I fail to create a safe routine, I promise to post it tomorrow night Moscow time (it's 21 00 here now)
Serge.

 

OK., posted on January 14, 2012 at 10:12:31
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 You are very very cryptic.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: Ted! Please, give me One more day., posted on January 14, 2012 at 10:15:46
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 No problem take your time.

 

RE: it'not nice, it's AWESOME, posted on January 14, 2012 at 10:33:10
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Thanks Serge with this tweak maybe some of us can start catching up with you.

 

Neither SECURITY or SAM can be viewed as hives, posted on January 14, 2012 at 14:31:52
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 So a screenshot would be just IT sitting there as an entry.

I think the key to those files being small is doing a minimized install and then compacting.

In my case that is all I can do.

I have trimmed another 100K out of the config folder since that post.

I had not finished deletions out of SYSTEM when I made my first "caompaction"

 

Close to optimum?, posted on January 14, 2012 at 15:24:33
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003



almost done with registry deletions.

Can't seem to get rid of root subentries in ENUM this time. Much more stubborn than the H55 install.

 

Fishy secrets part 4 or real AWE, posted on January 14, 2012 at 17:18:11
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Hello, everybody! This is not the Big tweak, promised for nearest time, but these settings may bring Your system to sound better
1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management. Create DWORD IoPageLockLimit (REG_DWORD): 1000 is for 4096 hex - (This is real AWE working parameter). You can set the value for 1000, 2000, 4000, 10000 - the one I use now is 10000
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Executive Find there AdditionalCriticalWorkerThreads set the value to 4
3 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FileSystem Create there dword DontVerifyRandomDrivers set value to 1
Reboot, listen to some music, please.
Serge.

 

Entire registry screenshot, posted on January 15, 2012 at 00:18:12
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 Strange. Well then maybe you show a screenshot of the entire registry as I showed?

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

RE: SQ Mini-XP really stunning ! (Mini-XP is a ‘N-lited’ XP already done for you by ‘eXPerience’), posted on January 15, 2012 at 06:58:54
n_vincent
Audiophile

Posts: 34
Joined: November 27, 2007
 I'm very surprise by the following "I clocked mine in Task Manager using only 49Mb of RAM" ! I did myself a nlite windows XP2 installation with full optimization for cPLAY cMP (It was on my first system), it was under 30 Mo of RAM, if I remember right, it was at 23 or 24 Mo of RAM in task manager.

I think the best we could do is with windows XP embedded, but this is another story, as I don't have the knowledge neither the time to learn IT.

 

cPlay, yes for shure, but JPLAY ?, posted on January 15, 2012 at 07:16:42
n_vincent
Audiophile

Posts: 34
Joined: November 27, 2007
 I'm a user of cMP / cPLAY for quite a long time, this is not a perfect solution, but to me it's the best in sound quality.

Reading "the absolute sound" from January 2012, page 40 to 53, there is a very interesting article on computer audio. It's talking about many software, from cPLAY to JRMC, foobar, etc and a new comer for me name JPLAY. From what there say, it's even better than Cplay !!!

There not enough detail on the configuration of the PC to have a good idea of what they did. But there is enough to try to benchmark both JPLAY and CPLAY on the same computer with all the tweaks from here. Sadly, I will not have the time to do a serious benchmark, but I will try to report in the future about this new software and cplay.

Does someone already test it ?

Nicolas

 

This is exactly why I pointed at Mini-XP, posted on January 15, 2012 at 07:36:11
hfavandepas
 Hi Vincent,

You wrote: “I don't have the knowledge neither the time to learn IT.â€

I wrote: “Slimming an XP installation disk with help of N-lite is still not so easy for most of us. And also it is A LOT of workâ€

So, this is exactly why I pointed other inmates at Mini-XP.
No hassle with first learning how too use Nlite, etc, ect.

I found the web is flooded with copy’s of this popular slimmed XP installation disk by eXPerience.
Inmates only have too download it and burn it too CD-disk, too try it.

Too my surprise: a standard mini-XP install, sounds much better than a standard tweaked cMP XP setup.

So for inmates with only basic computer software skills (like me), this is good news.
Without much hassle, they also can have a slimmed down XP version which sounds excellent.

Mark

 

RE: cPlay, yes for shure, but JPLAY ?, posted on January 15, 2012 at 08:22:12
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Nicolas! We cannot test jplay on the same machine (I mean os), as jplay is 64 bits only. Marcin Ostapovich and Joseph Piri - the authors of jplay have taken a lot of ideas from foobar forum and from here, I think, and probably their own to produce a player. Even the name is nothing short of imitation. I have VERY STRONG doubts that jplay can even get close to the sound, one can get from cplay WITH FULL TWEAKING, so why waste 100 euro? My doubts are based on the fact that jplay is a commercial product (and even that being evolving), that has to work in a normal unabridged OS environment. While, probably, a good product, it doesn't cost its money, I am sure, as no simple player does cost such a sum.
Now, cplay is more than a stellar and splendid player. Its a hobby, a rite of passage and assention.
BTW, Can you imagine anyone paying 100 euros for the player and then starting to tweak his windows7 to reduce it to 25mb?
Serge.

 

Better yet, I should send you the config file, posted on January 15, 2012 at 09:13:17
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 There are things to see on both sides of the screen.

I have sent you an email on your AA account with my home email address.

Write me back and I will forward a zipped file to you.

Much easier to deal with, and more informative, than a screenshot.

 

RE: cPlay, yes for shure, but JPLAY ?, posted on January 15, 2012 at 09:18:12
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 I think that this is not the place for such topics. This topic about cPlay! Better start a separate topic.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

Oh, well, I guess I cannot send you an email, posted on January 15, 2012 at 09:18:56
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 That's what I get for writing before trying.

Send me an email to my AA account, same as my username you do not have to use the AA buffer, and I will send you the files.

I assume you want the H55 version?

 

Said with eloquence and authority, posted on January 15, 2012 at 09:32:32
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I agree completely.

I became aware of this a few months ago and thought the claims made were bordering on ridiculous (considering a full WINDOWS installation) and the imitation did not have any of the graces of flattery.

There is nothing wrong with someone reporting their experience especially in comparison to cMP. Just as it is interesting to know how our evolvning cMP systems compare to CD players. But there is no question this Forum cannot become a JPplay forum, also.

I did not get the feeling that n_vincent had any intentions of that happening by his hand.

 

This one makes a real difference, posted on January 15, 2012 at 10:46:58
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 More immediacy. Another step in transparency.

Cymbals have more character.

Those are my immediate first impressions.

Are these in conjunction with your earlier recommendations for memory or do these replace those?

a screenshot of the Memory Management Screen would be helpful.


 

RE: This one makes a real difference, posted on January 15, 2012 at 12:06:46
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006



here it is. Don't remember if anything's done here. But YES IN ADDITION. I am making deletions now according to your hive. Stuck with CLSID - Lynx is apparently under a different number, sh*t!
Have to read all this heap of entries!!!

 

RE: Fishy secrets part 4 or real AWE, posted on January 15, 2012 at 13:17:45
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Serge in this tweak

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management. Create DWORD IoPageLockLimit (REG_DWORD): 1000 is for 4096 hex - (This is real AWE working parameter). You can set the value for 1000, 2000, 4000, 10000 - the one I use now is 10000


Does it depend on memory size? I use a 256 ram sshould I still use 10000?

 

On second reboot I lost JULI@ drivers, posted on January 15, 2012 at 13:29:38
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I cannot remember what the setting in:
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Executive Find there AdditionalCriticalWorkerThreads set the value to 4
was before.

I am hoping returning to how it was will get the drivers back.

Please let me know.

Thanks,

 

Rick it was initially set to zero. nt, posted on January 15, 2012 at 13:37:50
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 /

 

RE: On second reboot I lost JULI@ drivers, posted on January 15, 2012 at 14:02:18
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Rick! it should have no direct effect on driver, only on memory mapping. default value as Ted is right to say is 0, see that it's not the command in another tweak - to disable unknown driver check - this command prevents windows from constantly polling drivers to the add-on cards like lynx and juli@.
I have been listening with this settings and rebooting even after registry (software) complete slimming several times.
To Ted, try a smaller value like 1000, then go to 2000, to 4000 see for yourself. I think 10 000 stands for page 65 kilobytes. I. as You know use a 1gb stick.
Serge.

 

Have just rechecked + rebooted 2 times, posted on January 15, 2012 at 14:20:35
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Additional critical worker threads concerns cpu, not drivers, Rick. The allowed values are up to 16!
You could have lost juli@ drivers when performing deletions in ENUM, I had had the same problem with Lynx before.
Ted and other inmates! Setting lock pages size starts from 1000, go to 2000, 4000 or 10000. I have a 1gb stick. I used 1000, 2000 and went for 10000. Works perfectly. More than 24 hours, with fresh logs created. Several reboot. Random and consecutive.
Serge.

 

(Embarrasing) FALSE ALARM - no problem with JULI@, posted on January 15, 2012 at 14:24:19
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I was playing with BIOS settings and everything came up as if there was nothing (???!!!) wrong with the BIOS.

I tried to play something and it said drivers would not load.

I had never had this experience with BIOS settings previously so I blamed it on the TWEAK.

The H61 board does some interesting things compared to H55. That one would either work or not. This one will go into cMP but will not function.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea mea culpa ...

I should have know better.

 

I forgot (how ...?) that you were a LYNX user, posted on January 15, 2012 at 14:46:24
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Its pretty easy though.

It will still be a good guide. Not too hard to find the LYNX entries.

AMAZING amount of junk there.

There is no question that all credit for the CLSID files goes to Serge Mihaylov. All of my registry deletions were both inspired and guided by his work.

 

Working Fine - thanks for the screenshot, posted on January 15, 2012 at 14:50:56
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I see there were a few other changes I must have missed.

I felt sure there were!

 

RE: Said with eloquence and authority, posted on January 15, 2012 at 15:23:29
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010



=Just as it is interesting to know how our evolvning cMP systems compare to CD players.=

System: a source - cMP2 classical optimized (one year ago) w/o network with Lynx Studio L22 upgraded and with full linear PSU (see my website, black Zalman); the amplifier - ART AUDIO LAB m25, acoustics - Klipsch La Scala 2. A reference source - Accuphase DP-75V (http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/249/).

At first the various jazz and classical material was listened to get used to system sound, first of all Klipsch La Scala 2 (personally I listened the horn for the first time). The record of Miles Davis and Gil Evans "Sketches Of Spain" and the record of Anna-Sofi Mutter "Carmen-Fantasie" were listened attentively. The system sound on these records made strong impression to me - live, natural sound. Anna-Sofi stood in the room and played for us. A reference source and cMP2 were compared on the record of Bucky Pizzarelli "Swing Live" (Chesky).

Summary of my friend Michael Nikolaev:

"Both compared sources has similar sound in sense of a musical involvement. But Accuphase gave more gathered elastic bass, in my opinion, more correct. May be Accuphase has the slightly higher resolution but not considerably. cMP2 has more analog sound and sometimes it seemed that sound of cMP2 is more preferable for music listening. It is possible to tell that the source cMP2 was gained worthy, involving the listener in music. And as a whole the system can be described as a true Hi-End".


Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

I am dedicated to this pursuit - we will prevail!, posted on January 15, 2012 at 15:29:58
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 There is not a perfect source.

I compare cMP to an analogue setup.

All in all I find myself enjoying cMP with minimized WINDOWS more than analogue.

We all are sensitive to different aspects of sound. I guess cMP aligns with my biases?

 

RE: Said with eloquence and authority, posted on January 16, 2012 at 01:50:29
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Is that you or Michael in the picture?

 

RE: Said with eloquence and authority, posted on January 16, 2012 at 02:55:42
Mihaylov
Audiophile

Posts: 355
Location: Moscow
Joined: March 11, 2010
 It is my friend Serge, owner of system. I and Michael were on visit to him. Michael is audiophile with great experience.

Serge.
http://cmp2-mihaylov.narod.ru/

My cMP2: Windows XP SP2 Ru, GA-H55M-UD2H, i3-530, Corsair CM3X160C9DHX 1GB, system drive - Transcend IDE FLASH MODULE TS2GDOM40V-S FAT32, ESI Juli@, full linear PSU, NAS - WD My Book Live

 

Contrary view, posted on January 16, 2012 at 07:50:36
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 This is 1st time that a Steppe tweak went wrong for me sonically. I have gone back and forth and conclude that I prefer 'not doing this tweak'. At 1st I did not do the IoPageLockLimit tweak but did do the other 2 tweaks. These made my system softer, pleasant but softer and not as dynamic. So after 2 days of listening I decided to try the IoPageLockLimit tweak, 1st @ 2000 then 4000, 6000 and finally @ 8000. This brought back some immediacy but it still did not sound right. So I went back to 'none of these tweaks' and prefer it. What's troubling also is when I compare my registry to Steppe's as shown I am different in many ways not all but many. For example my Systempages is something like 30000 (how do you do those screen shots) not zero, PhysicalAddressExtension was 0 not 1 (aren't we using nopae in the boot.ini file anymore). Anyway maybe these other items is the difference, maybe its new 32nm hardware versus my 45nm stuff. Believe me I did not knowingly change any of these items.

 

Screenshots ..., posted on January 16, 2012 at 09:01:27
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 are easy.

I recently learned how to do it.

First press the PRINT SCREEN button.

Open up PAINT (START/ALL PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/PAINT

EDIT/ Paste

and there is the screen you "printed".

Save it with any name you like.

I will have to go back and forth a few times on the new tweak though so far I like it.

 

RE: Fishy secrets part 4 or real AWE, posted on January 16, 2012 at 10:54:52
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000



Here is my registry.

Thanks Rick for schooling me yet again.

 

RE: Fishy secrets part 4 or real AWE, posted on January 16, 2012 at 16:28:03
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 I'm ok with the

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\FileSystem Create there dword DontVerifyRandomDrivers set value to 1

tweak. The other 2 seem to excessively soften my sonics. When I look up the

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management. Create DWORD IoPageLockLimit (REG_DWORD): 1000 is for 4096 hex - (This is real AWE working parameter). You can set the value for 1000, 2000, 4000, 10000 - the one I use now is 10000

tweak some links are unclear whether to input the value in megabytes or bytes. So I'm not sdure what it does. One post believes that the 10000 value is equivalent to the default value of 512 k . So very unclear. The other tweak on adding critical thread workers just messes my system up sonically.

Who knows the difference in perception (I believe you Serge that it is a positive in your system) might be in systems, computer h/w or whatever. But we're getting down to the short strokes with a 25 mb windows where everything does impact the sound one way or the other.

 

Please clarify and explain IoPageLockLimit number, posted on January 16, 2012 at 17:23:56
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 "1000 is for 4096 hex" is hard to parse. Do you mean 1000 in hex equals 4096 decimal, or 1000=4096 hex? You gave a screenshot in which you used 10000 hex which is 65536 decimal. What is the meaning of that number? One might suppose it means 65.536 Kb, but that seems all wrong here. 65MB would also not seem suitable.

In any case, using 10000 as you did, I experienced none of the softness theo reports and perhaps some benefit in liveliness and detail. This is obscured by my making other changes concurrently in refining my try out of mini-xp. This is really sounding wonderful, better I think with just tweaks and fishies than xp home with all tweaks, fishies and steppes too. It is the smallest installation I have since I have not gone the xp lite route (?yet).

 

This tweak, posted on January 16, 2012 at 17:59:04
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Is widely known as one of the most obscure tweaks.
it started probably with NT and Windows 2000 REALLY benefits from it, it's not only attested by me, as I use in my cmp a w2k KERNEL, but by many people on the net. It is used for securing ram solely for i/o operations. BTW, I think the values are in bytes, so that 1000 stands for 4 kbyte - the standard page size in w2k and xp and 7 for x86 processors. In w2k retail registry there was, in session manager, an additional entry, but it was removed from w2k sp1 and onward. Many people tried to detect the effect of this tweak on xp machines, they attest that the xp kernel understands this command but... and then all the info is deleted by MS. I am now using the value 20000 - the effect is even better, and the mouse movement is smooth like upon polished glass covered with oil, if I describe it not too dramatic. Try for yourself, IT WON"T HARM. As for additional critical worker threads, you cannot add more than 16!
Serge.

 

RE: cPlay, yes for shure, but JPLAY ?, posted on January 16, 2012 at 18:39:32
Ken Stuart
Audiophile

Posts: 134
Location: California
Joined: December 27, 2011
 If you search this Forum for "jplay" you will find previous posts about the program.

You can download a free "trial" version of jplay which allows you to verify the sound quality, but not use it for enjoyable listening because it mutes the sound every so often (clever).

I tried it and I found it to be close to cplay, but not quite as "analog" sounding as cplay. In other words, cplay is still better, and is free.

Note:
- I am running Vista 32-bit (so whoever said in this thread that jplay is 64-bit-OS-only is wrong, I think they are confusing that with the fact that it IS Vista/Win7-only).
- My PC is a Home Theater PC for both video and audio, which is why I use Vista. So, prior to discovering cPlay, I had already turned off many Windows services. But I still have more things running than most cmp/cplay uers.
- I use an asynchronous USB DAC which avoids a lot of the jitter that the cmp optimizations are designed to remove. (Many people have found this asynchronous link to make the biggest difference in computer audio; the V-Link product does the same thing for SP/DIF DACs)
- I do not use cMP shell, since cMP mode freezes in the Vista Welcome Screen (and all the prior posters who successfully used cMP mode in Vista no longer read this Forum). But, jplay has a "hibernate mode" that I also did not use, so that is equal. :)
- jplay does sound better than foobar2000. This is mostly due to the fact that the jplay authors have previously used cmp & cplay, and because the foobar creator is a "sound quality denier" (and in fact, posting about sound quality differences on the foobar forum can get you banned). So, for example, you cannot use foobar2000 with an asynchronous USB DAC, because he refuses to allow a buffer latency of less than 50ms.
- I use the free player MusicBee for everything other than flac and wave, because the developer is friendly and willing to make changes (it has an .ini file parameter for the butter latency which you can set to zero - hurrah!)

 

Fishy secrets part 5, posted on January 16, 2012 at 19:53:52
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 hello, everybody! This short set of tweaks is independent, but is best used in conjunction with Fspart4, if Fs 4 is stable in your machine.
So,
1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\SubSystems delete: Optional and Posix
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager
find EnableMCA and EnableMCE, set values for both to 0
Serge.

 

Yes, You are right, Ken!, posted on January 16, 2012 at 20:32:16
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 It was my mistake about 64 bit OS, certainly I meant vista/7. I have read everything that I managed to find about jplay, including a too warm review from Poland, with nice photos and everything. The hibernate-and make-the-processor-run-at-extreme-at-the-same-time idea seemed interesting.
Serge.

 

I like this one..., posted on January 17, 2012 at 07:10:16
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ...very nice Serge. Thank you! When I went to a < 1 mb registry everything got very dynamic but a tad dry and etched. This tweak fixes that very nicely..

 

A Win2K KERNEL !!! That's cMP-Apples vs cMP-ORANGES..., posted on January 17, 2012 at 08:31:23
gjwAudio
Audiophile

Posts: 160
Location: Toronto
Joined: March 11, 2006
 Hi Serge

You've been holding out on us - using a different "ntoskrnl.exe" ! Which version is it ? I ask because ever since Win2K-RTM, all Windows kernels have not recognized the IoPageLockLimit parameter. This can be (almost conclusively) verified by running the Sysinternals utility "strings.exe" and searching for the keyname in the text output file.

** see -> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897439 to download strings.exe **

This string search technique is referenced here -> http://www.wxpnews.com/archives/wxpnews-039-20020820.htm.

Read the section called Debunking the "Speed Up your Windows XP Box with IRQ Prioritization" Myth, (about half way down the page). Interestingly, Jamie mentions the "IoPageLockLimit Hack" in bullet point three:

The same "strings" output will show that another long-written-about registry hack, IoPageLockLimit, is also missing in action. This one at least used to be there, in Win2K RTM and earlier; in Win2K SP1 they kept the mechanism but the limit was then spec'd by a new value, IoPageLockPercentage; in Win2K SP2 and later they dropped the whole thing.

There is also a thread on MSFN Forum discussing this issue - a concise summary is found in the last post -> http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/25684-registry-myths-1-iopagelocklimit/page868768#entry868768.

Sooooo... I wonder which Win2K edition your kernel file came from ? This might explain the reports of other cMP-Slimmers, with regard to using IoPageLockLimit.

I must hasten to add: THANK YOU Serge, for your tireless efforts to squeeze the most out of the cMP^2 concept!

Cheers,
Grant

That's not a Toy... IT'S A TOOL !!

 

Possible source for more ‘Fishy secrets’: the Mini-XP Registry Tweaks by eXPerience, posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:45:09
hfavandepas
 Hi Serge,

Many (but not all !) of the ‘Fishy secrets’ registry tweaks and cMP registry tweaks I also found in the Mini-XP Registry Tweaks as done by eXPerience.

But.. the list of registry tweaks done by eXperience in his Mini-XP is much longer.
It’s an endless list of tweaks

You might want too take a look at that list of Mini-XP registry tweaks too check if there are extra tweaks inside which can be added too your list ‘Fishy secrets’ tweaks.

As also riboge stated in his post (mini-xp) “is really sounding wonderful, better I think with just tweaks and fishies than xp home with all tweaks, fishies and steppes too.â€
Also in my setup Mini-XP is sounding SO MUCH BETTER (no hyperbole !) than a standard tweaked cMP XP installation + a lot of fishies and Steppes.
Low level details are really stunning.
Imaging is also much better.
Same for mids and highs.

So have a look at the list of Mini-XP registry tweaks, you might be able to recognize more ‘hidden treasures’ useful as extra ‘Fishy secrets’ tweaks.
Or even better: install Mini-xp and have a listen yourself.

Mark


List of Mini-XP Registry Tweaks as done by eXPerience.
see http://www.mediafire.com/?xtga9i917c96vq8

 

Is this the big one? nt, posted on January 18, 2012 at 05:35:09
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 .

 

Oh, NO !!!, posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:32:02
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 FS parts 4 and 5 are only pecursors to it. The Big one is dealing with the basics of the OS we use, and it's really Big. It's perfectly stable now exept in one thing, that I am striving to settle. BTW, the reaction of Grant to only a single part of it shows, what it may bring, or may not...
Serge.
P.S. To Grant: yes, sir, if You read this, I use the file fom before the sp1. That is pro version with no service pack. So the tweak works, and it's audible. But I must Thank You for sharpenning my attention to the whole thing. I now know what IS /nopae in reality and how it works for us. The file version is 5.00.2195.1 from December 7 1999.

 

Thanks...really have me curious now..., posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:49:31
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 ...take your time.

 

Can others get and substitute this earlier kernel?, posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:15:14
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I gather the tweak 4 page lock limit change won't work for use with later versions of xp with a later ntoskrnl.exe, so can we substitute the earlier version you have and can you supply it or suggest where we could obtain it?

 

You CAN substitute win2k ntoskrnl.exe into XP sp2, posted on January 18, 2012 at 16:43:45
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 It is 753KB rather than 2.03MB for xp sp2's version. It works great, at least in my mini-xp installation From observing task manager processes it seems to reduce the overall amount of RAM used more than that so perhaps it calls on fewer functions while still playing beautifully. Those adept with process explorer and the like can determine this. The IoPageLockLimit increase should now be functional. I will proceed to do a sound comparison. I hope others do too.

 

RE: You CAN substitute win2k ntoskrnl.exe into XP sp2, posted on January 19, 2012 at 02:33:45
theob
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: ann arbor michigan
Joined: November 4, 2000
 Where did you get the win2k ntoskrnl.exe?

 

how to substitute win2k ntoskrnl.exe with ntoskrnl from XP sp2 ? I don't manage., posted on January 19, 2012 at 09:03:52
hfavandepas
 Hi Riboge?

What is the trick you used?
It won't work when I substitute:

The ntoskernell which is in mini-xp:
NT Kernel & system
5.1.2600.2622
14-11-2005
2,07 MB

with the one I extracted from a W2K disk:
NT Kernel & system
5.00.2195.1
7-12-1999
1,56 MB

At boot up I get a message it is missing DLL's too startup correctly.
(I disabled Win file protection)

Any idea's why it may not work in my setup?

Mark

 

RE: how to substitute win2k ntoskrnl.exe with ntoskrnl from XP sp2 ? I don't manage., posted on January 19, 2012 at 09:21:48
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I extracted ntoskrnl.ex_ from an .iso of Windows 2000 Pro (no sp). This was dated 9/3/02 and is 967KB in properties, no version number given. Is this in fact the whole of "NT Kernel & system"? I don't know. I simply put this as .exe in \system32\ in place of the ntoskrnl.exe that was there, which is just like the one you have. There was no problem. The one you tried to substitute is larger and the same version steppe said he used. You are likelier than me to be able to explain what is happening.

 

version info is available with right click ) properties ) version ) file version , posted on January 19, 2012 at 09:45:20
hfavandepas
 Hi Riboge,

Thank you for your quick repsonce.

Could check which w2k version you use?
Version info is available with:

right click on ntoskrnl.exe > properties > version > file version.

Mark

 

RE: version info is available with right click ) properties ) version ) file version , posted on January 19, 2012 at 09:58:30
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 Perhaps you missed that I said there was no version number given in properties. I did give wrong details, though, which were for the ntoskrnl.exe in xp home which I considered substituting but didn't. The correct details are that the file(an archive) is 744KB (unpacked 1,640KB) and is dated 12/7/99, still after the date of the version you used by 5 mo. Perhaps the difference is that mine came from a pro version?

 

Thankx for the info. May be others can shed some light on this, posted on January 19, 2012 at 10:08:22
hfavandepas
 Hi Riboge,

Thank you for the info.
My w2k version is pakked 744 kB
and unpakked 1603 kB.

May be other inmates can shed some light on it, why simply subtituting in the ntoskrnl.exe in my mini-xp setup with a w2k-version won't work.

Thank you for responce.

Mark

 

Where did you get it?, posted on January 19, 2012 at 11:58:52
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Did you have an old install disk laying about or is there somewhere one can go?

I had tried, unsuccessfully, a week or so back to make this substitution. Maybe the version you are using works and others do not.

Any direction would be appreciated/

 

Others are having trouble with this...try minlogon..., posted on January 19, 2012 at 15:25:34
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 I am using that and was when I installed the earlier ntoskrnl.exe. Perhaps not using this is the cause of the puzzling difficultes for others when I had no problem at all. I have not slimmed my mini-xp a la either Serge but have done all other cics mods, tweaks, boot.ini changes, etc.

Steppe seems to have made the substituion: what version of xp were you using, Serge, and in what state of tinkering?

 

RE: Others are having trouble with this...try minlogon..., posted on January 19, 2012 at 15:56:06
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 Steppe seems to have made the substitution . . .

Having to hand a copy of Win2K from way back when, I extracted the file and got it to run successfully on my main cMP2 rig. I even managed to "Res Hack" it from 1.7 to 1.5 MB (compared to 2 MB for the "hacked" Pro version).

My system is sounding better than it ever has though how much of that is down to the different version of ntoskrnl.exe I cannot say (as I've been making other changes).

But, Alas!, another inmate couldn't get his setup to boot using the same file. IOW, the problem is not necessarily version-specific.

Damn!

Dave

 

Just before I wanted TO WARN AGAINST, posted on January 19, 2012 at 16:00:22
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 using this substitution my internet connection went down. Well, from the start.
1. The kernel manipulation is only one part and THE ABSOLUTELY LAST part of the big tweak that is coming. It is exactly this and one more thing that remain unstable.
2. You can use another kernel. Mine is named neptune.exe, it's a w2k kernel from a no sp version of w2kxp pro. To use it one has to copy it into system32 folder, reshack it and rename, next open your boot ini and type /KERNEL=neptune.exe (or whatever name). It will substitute ntoskrnl.exe for ntldr - the small os loader program which sits in the root directory, e.g. C:\
This substitution is possible as a permanent one and even allows you to completely remove the file ntoskrnl.exe, it will even produce2 entries in the registry system hive. Smth funny, like JustWorking neptune.exe and modify the registry entry cotrolset001-control
However, THERE IS NO NEED TO DO IT. This substitution was made obsolete soon after Grant expressed his interest. Matter is, there is another kernel file, that we don't pay attention to - ntkrnlpa.exe - it's a kernel, that's loaded into memory but not used unless you have specify it with /3GB switch in boot ini and /pae setting. Now whenever we restart our cmp machines, BOTH kernels are in memory, though one is passive. I have made countless takes on deleting the second kernel - the result IS GREAT, but it will kill the machine on the next start up with BLACK screen of death. Problem is that w2k kernel is insufficient alone. while xp ntoskernl.exe IS SUFFICIENT. Moreover, it sounds better alone than a lighter w2k kernel+ mtkrnlpa.exe. So the best thing to do is AFTER ALL THE TWEAKING AND WITHOUT EXPLORER to add /nopae and /mimint to your boot ini and then remove ntkrnlpa.exe. This leaves us with our native xp kernel ALONE. It doesn't only sits well in its own place it is self sufficient and sings better that w2k+ntkrnlpa, due to its better memory-cpu routine. The substitute w2k kernek is lighter and it ALONE sings smoother, but it is a little bit dull in the highs. The native eats more memory, but is vivid without harshness and more dynamic. So, thanks to Grant for his interest and sorry for this late warning. So, kernel is a component itself.
Serge
P.S. If You managed to roast your registry with this substitution, you only have to replace it, delete all logs, recopy all native kernel files from installation disks (as there is a timestamp on them) and reboot.

 

I removed that months ago, posted on January 19, 2012 at 16:26:41
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 and it was no big deal to get rid of it.

Has not been on my list of files for a long time.

I thought this was part of the standard deletions though I have not gone back to see.

Had no problems deleting it.

Maybe this is why I have been so pleased with the sound I am hearing?

I have not renamed ntoskrnl so maybe that is why I have not seen anything like what you wrote in my registry.

 

I could never get the Win2k ntoskrnl to work, either, posted on January 19, 2012 at 16:29:39
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I do not think minlogon has anything to do with it since I always have implemented minlogon.

Maybe the fact that your OS has what is required for networking has left enough "in" for the change to be made?

 

If You have, posted on January 19, 2012 at 16:32:23
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 deleted it and are living good with native kernel, better don't attempt to substitute. It may work for as long as the system is on. Once you reboot, you get a black, not blue screen and it will ask you to replace the wrong kernel. As for the shell, try first to substitute common controls+ common dialogs + shell lightweightapi. Don' remember their names correctly, and after that - the big shell.
Serge

 

Those I have been able to substitute but shell32 is stubborn ..., posted on January 19, 2012 at 19:37:31
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I have tried in every way (which I thought I had already told you) to insert that, even going back to the original installation to see if it would be accepted then.

I am starting to think since it seems impossible, to not worry about it.

Maybe some new inspiration will strike and I will see a way.

Waiting, impatiently, to see the new regimen.

Unlike Ted I do not say take your time! Let us try and see what happens.

 

Rick! Was doing deletions tonight, posted on January 19, 2012 at 20:18:05
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 according to your method and hives. default is like yours 16 kb, sowtware - only 80, but mine is different than yours because of lynx. With system, I was doing and laughing - there are man even madder than me (in the best sense of the word). Really, what You deleted, I would never even dare to touch... I deleted everything and compacted. Was happy, as my windows folder with unhacked yet fonts and system became only 19,6 mb in size - it is just as I hoped for. Unfortunately, it didn't boot - got a bsod, but I think I know why - ennums and especially acpi devices. Looks like I managed to delete a coprocessor or motherboard - I was in a hurry. Will try to this weekend. As for the big one, You and others already know part of it - it's file substitutions from w2k and xphome, yes, also from xp home. The list of files and THE ORDER of things will be posted.
Serge.

 

The Big Substitutions TWEAK, posted on January 19, 2012 at 21:09:42
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006



Hello, everybody. Knowing that many are really impatient, I post now this tweak, hoping You, inmates, will find the way to finish it. (Please take note that I am posting only things I managed to achieve).
It started with Mario's brilliant idea of using reshacker to remove icons and stuff. He posted a link to a forum where folks were discussing it, and one of them suggested using in win XP a shell32.dll file from win2k. Mario wrote to me he wasn't ready to create such a monster, but I was.
Shell32.dll is the biggest file. I have managed to subsyitute it with w2k pro version (no sp). after appr. 7 attempts. It's current size iz 1,17 mb. I DON'T KNOW HOW I managed it as I started adding more and more files from w2k. It still remains a mystery unsolved by me and Rick. I was waiting if he would suggest some final version of the registry slimming, and meanwhile Jack Wong and afterwards Riboge and others started working with XP Home edition. As not all the files were fitting from w2k, I tried to substitute others from xpHome.
The following is the list of files from both OSs that can be substituted. The resulting windows folder (with registry deletions performed according to Rick) and with registry compacted according to Ted is 19,6 MB. Though I must confess, it doesn't work, but because I have deleted too much from the registry. FILE SUBSTITUTIONS WORK.
Please note that the files are to be substituted in the order they are suggested (THE CAPITALS are for w2k others are for xpHome)

SHLWAPI.dll
WINSPOOL.DRV
USERENV.DLL
COMCTL32.dll
COMDLG32.32
SHELL32.DLL
WLDAP32.DLL

lsass.exe only together with lsasrv.dll
samlib.dll only together with samsrv.dll
rpcrt4.dll Only after two sam files
services.exe
svchost.exe

FRAMEBUFF.DLL
SCESRV.DLL

advapi32.dll

ole32.dll - you know how I "love" OLE
netapi32.dll
ntdsapi.dll

MPR.DLL
MSASN1.DLL
WINSTA.DLL
WS2_32.DLL

sxs.dll
umpnpmgr.dll
crypt.dll
secur32.dll
msvcp60.dll

NTOSKRNL.EXE (if you retain ntkrnlpa) This file can be substituted by w2k no sp version but rename it and add in the beginning of boot.ini string /KERNEL= yourname.exe. add also /nopae and /minint. (a must)
Best recommended to use xp-pro kernel - it really sounds better, but with ntkrnlpa.exe removed.
That's all.
Serge

P.S. So, if anyone can find the way to substitute shell32 from w2k, will really help others. I can't remember How I did it, But I did it.
Don't touch user32.dll, win32k.sys.

 

It only takes one ..., posted on January 20, 2012 at 07:22:04
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 and nothing happens.

I kept getting confused with one of those things - kept deleting it!

Thanks to SNAPSHOT I was able to recover. I find nothing wrong with re-writing a previous "version" - are you saying you do?

With the H55 board I was able to get rid of everything ROOT everywhere.

ENUM was down to nothing except the ROOT entry - all "beneath" it was gone.

The H61 board for some reason will not allow as large a deletion.

I hope I sent you the H55 version - did it say GRANT in the title? If it did that was the H55 version.

I made MANY deletions one at a time. Got lots of exercise going up and downstairs to the other computer.

Now to look at your post.

 

Registry slimming - final, and other thoughts, posted on January 20, 2012 at 08:07:13
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Serge,

If I sent you the folder with GRANT in the name that was as far as I went with it - I think it is CLOSE to being minimized for the H55 board. There might be one or two more things that could be found. It would takes hours of trial and error to find them. Since then I have been working on the H61's registry which seems more guarded as to what it will allow to be deleted.

Ted found a few additional items he could delete with his G31 system. I feel sure he will post what he found.

As Mihaylov cautions - each system is different (unless it is EXACTLY the same) so some might be able to do things others cannot.

The DEFAULT and SOFTWARE files I sent you seem to be universal for JULI@ systems - they drop right in. But as you found LYNX is another story. I should have mentioned that DEFAULT is absolutely universal if one is willing to accept what it does, which is not much different than what happens when one deletes EXPLORER. You no longer have the screen color you selected - seems MICROSOFT BLUE is the default color, which does not other me. I think it dubious that the power the monitor requires to produce a color has any effect on the sound quality.

Each SYSTEM is unique because of different HDD/SDD's even if the motherboard is the same.

I have been thinking that it would be interesting to compare a substituted win2k shell32 with an xpPRO shell32 with a minimized SOFTWARE registry. Yes, the unneeded junk is stll sitting in memory (which I think at this point is not terribly concerning) but most of what is DOES has been negated by the registry no longer allowing the functions to be accessed?

I will try again (and again) to get the win2k shell32 to work but I have a feeling it is likely cosmetic. I, too, gain some pleasure in seeing how small the WINDOWS folder can become but one wonders if at this point the real work has been done and we are removing straws from the camel's already broken back.

 

Serge, when you get the time how about version #'s for the files, posted on January 20, 2012 at 08:16:03
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 so we can be sure we have found the same files.

Then I think: you have have removed VERSION with RESOURCE HACKER!!!

I am thinking with file substitutions we might best keep VERSION attached to the files!!!!

 

First 2 win2k dlls wouldn't boot, posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:12:33
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 With shlwapi.dll and then usernv.dll I got a blue screen on startup saying the header checksum didn't match the computed checksum. I could not load these into reshacker either. Both were said by it to not be "win32 executable files". This also happened trying to reshack the ntoskrnl.exe that I have running already in my mini-cp install. What am I doing wrong and/or what can I do further to make substitutions? I am getting the win2k files by extraction from a win2k pro no sp .iso.

 

Solved this myself, posted on January 20, 2012 at 11:50:05
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 After you extract a .dll or whatever from the win2k .iso you then have to decompress it with winrar or the like to get the unpacked form. This reshacker will load and, I presume til I try it, will work as a substitute. This is puzzling a bit since I used for substitution ntoskrnl.exe I extracted previously without this unpacking step.

 

Shell32.dll substitution easy, not shlwapi.dll or no ntkrnlpa.dll, posted on January 20, 2012 at 15:44:52
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 My experience: I did win2k substitutions down to WLDAP32.DLL on your list. Shlwapi.dll caused a halt just before cMP saying cicsmemory player could not find dynamic links in shlwapi.dll.

Shell32.dll reshacked down to about 1.6MB from 2.2 loaded fine the first time.

With xp kernel and no ntkrnlpa.dll bootup kept auto-restarting from a very early point so was literally a non-starter. So I am back to win2k kernel with ntkrnlpa.dll.

This is all with a mini-xp installation, which is not getting the attention it deserves. It sounds the best I've heard and is much easier to setup and get great without slimming.

 

Please, be more specific, posted on January 20, 2012 at 16:08:23
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Hello, Have you substituted shlwapi.dll after all? Also, very impostant, have you substituted shell32 that was hacked in another folder? It seems, I have done smth. similiar, then hacked it to the end. What is now left inside your shell32? At what point in hacking shell32 other inmates should stop to insert it in place wo a problem?
Please MORE info, as I cannot recreate it myself, too.
About mini-XP... But You are wrong. It deserves indeed and is getting all due attention. It's nothing other than just somebody's well thought through universal NLITE installation. Mine is 98 mb and assures awe and minlogon and everything. The difference is that you are using a side product instead of using what is suggested here and in plenty of flavours specifically suited for our purpose. If You want, I will send you my ini files. Download nlite. Making an iso with it is MUCH easier than substituting files, kernel, reshacking them.
Also, yes such installations sound very good from the start, read Rick's and Junaid's posts. But after that we tweak such installations TO THE LIMIT, and this is another story soundwise. I only suggest that you delete all unnecessary files - see my pic. You will surelly hear the great difference. But, please, first give us more details on shell32,sir.
Serge.
I am glad that You find these tweaks usefull.

 

RE: Please, be more specific, posted on January 20, 2012 at 16:50:19
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 There is not much to tell about shell32.dll. With reshacker I deleted all the animations and bmps and many of the icons. I refrained from taking on the dialogues and menus though clearly going a good bit further wouldn't be difficult. I did this to an shell32.dll extracted from a win2k .iso on my desktop computer then substituted the result into my mini-xp install on the laptop I use in lieu of a cMP box.

I passed on substituting shlwapi.dll since I don't see how given what I encountered. I can't try reinstalling cMP to work with the substituted shlwapi because I can't boot up with it.

I have read just about every post in the cPlay thread for many months so am familiar with all you write of. I have tried almost all of the tweaks and all your and Mihaylov's and Junaid's steps. The only 'further' step I haven't taken is the xplite very minimal install or rick's latest radical registry stripping. I had trouble over and over with attempts to reduce the registry before so hesitate at this. I also feel that at some point practicality comes in for me. If I can get 95% of the improvement and still retain some useful functions that are all foregone for the final 5%, which is where I thing I am now, I start questioning the worth of it beyond the 'science' of it, that is, the exploration and defining the limits that you and a few others have productively pursued to the great benefit of all of us. I care about every last bit of sound quality but not only that and not about having the least number of MB to my install per se.

I guess I would be willing to try the install you describe from things you send me, if you do, to see if perhaps it brings more than 5%. riboge@gmail.com

 

Changes to CPlaylist Editor, posted on January 20, 2012 at 20:00:51
aljordan
Audiophile

Posts: 1252
Location: Southern Maine
Joined: November 4, 2003
 Hello,

I've decided to revive what I've considered a dead project by making some changes to CPlaylist Editor that will hopefully make it more useful to CMP setups.

The first change is that it no longer requires Java to be installed on the PC. I've compiled the application into a native executable that can run without the Java virtual machine. Along with this, the application comes as a standard Windows setup package, with an uninstall feature as well.

The second change was suggested by Ken Stuart. When set, CPlaylist Editor will quit after launching CPlay, so no other programs will be resident in memory. Obviously, it would be a bad idea to set this option of you are using CPlaylist Editor to control CPlay over a network.

I am hoping someone could test this program on a CMP box, as my CMP partition is currently hosed and randomly freezes whenever I boot into it.

I am in the process of updating the help file, but the program can be found at the link below.

Alan

 

RE: cPlay error message, posted on January 21, 2012 at 03:00:19
domgoh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Joined: January 10, 2012
 Hi
I'm using cPlay for the first time. Got this error message. What should I do?

ASIO start aborted. Only 32 bit ASIO format supported. DSP does NOT support current ASIO output format (only 32 bit supported).

 

RE: cPlay error message, posted on January 21, 2012 at 03:26:21
Ryelands
Audiophile

Posts: 1867
Location: Scotland
Joined: January 9, 2009
 Only 32 bit ASIO format supported.

There's a Settings button in the bottom LH corner of the main cPlay window. Check that your output device is set for (supports) 32-bit ASIO. What the settings dialogue displays varies with the driver but it should be easy enough to work out.

What device are you using? It's just possible that it will not work with cPlay though most do.

 

RE: cPlay error message, posted on January 21, 2012 at 04:31:31
domgoh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Joined: January 10, 2012
 I can't access the ASIO settings button. It's shaded. Do I need to download something?

My soundcard is an ASUS Xonar Essence STX and is supposed to be ASIO compatible

 

RE: cPlay error message, posted on January 21, 2012 at 04:34:59
smicyta
Audiophile

Posts: 125
Joined: February 19, 2010
 On the right hand bottom corner right click on the Xonar icon to change ASIO settings. Latest Asus software supports 32bits.

Make sure you have the latest drivers.

 

RE: cPlay error message, posted on January 21, 2012 at 05:19:21
domgoh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Joined: January 10, 2012
 Thanks for the tip
I downloaded one of the latest drivers 5.12.8.1792, but when I open the ASIO settings, I cannot choose the bits. It is fixed at 16 bits and the button is shaded.

I can't open the newest driver from the website as it is a .rar file. How do I open this?

 

RE: cPlay error message, posted on January 21, 2012 at 05:25:42
domgoh@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Joined: January 10, 2012
 OK, I found the 32 bit tab and changed the setting.
Now I got "ASIO start failed"

 

This time no problems with shell32, posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:09:38
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 Who knows what the problem was?

This time no complaints at all.

Substituted all in three operations. No problems at all.

I do think it sounds better. I was becoming skeptical due to my frustration with the win2k shell32 refusing to work. But now I can see what you are talking about. Yet another increase in clarity and good tone.

Found the reason I could not do some of the registry deletions - I had had /minint in the boot.ini before and took it out when you said I should. I put it back in since it was the only difference in the two set-ups (between h55 and h61) and deletions stay deleted.

My WINDOWS folder is now 23,076,605 bytes. Config - 416kB.

I still have some RESOURCE HACKING to do but I see no way I will get the folder below 20mB. A few more items to be removed in the config, too.

I do, and had been, getting a blue screen that can show up at any time. It could be fifteen minutes or hours, no rhyme or reason. It could be (still) because of my BIOS settings or some other setting, Says something about paging area - I will write it down next time. Not a big problem. Starts right back up.

 

URGENT!, posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:37:57
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006
 Rick! When I was doing deletions according to your hives I have noticed a setting, I thought was strange - that is clear page cache or smth on shutdown. As cmp is using rpc, the system may have too little time to clear this cache and it is trying to restore the cache settings (not lost completely in the previous session) prior to booting. I think it's the legacy of nt 3,5 or 4. I remember from my printshop business times, if ever you abort a print job and force reboot, nt4 would restart with the spooler full and retrying a print job. Try to find this setting and remove (set to 0) in the system hive session manager, IIRC.
Serge.
It's here, I hope
ClearPageFileAtShutdown

 

samlib.dll only together with samsrv.dll substitution took out network drive, posted on January 21, 2012 at 10:51:04
riboge
Audiophile

Posts: 675
Joined: June 25, 2008
 Access to the network was denied with these substituted and returned when I reverted.

I got shlwapi.dll substitution to work with version supplied by steppe which was slightly smaller but also from win 2k pro source.

 

Try these settings in session manager, posted on January 21, 2012 at 11:02:16
steppe
Audiophile

Posts: 641
Joined: September 28, 2006



nt

 

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