#windows cache

[rabbitcruiser]

Doors, Gates and Windows (No. 1)

Vancouver, BC (six pics)

Whitehorse, YT

Grande Cache, AB

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, CA (two pics)

[usagimen]

I think a lot about the power house that the Zen'in Clan would have become if the massacre didn't happen. Solely on the basis of Sayuri accepting her role within the family, having a son, while ultimately instilling the same assassination techniques but also the sheer guttural support she has for Naoya? (@antinomos) unrivaled, beautiful.

[govindhtech]

File Sync Azure: New Updates Announced by Microsoft

Companies of all sizes must address growing data volumes and the need for efficient, scalable, and economical file storage solutions. Microsoft Azure Storage understands these demands. This is why it keeps coming up with fresh ideas for Azure Files, its fully managed cloud file sharing service. Azure Files manages hundreds of millions of file shares with billions of files for department and general purpose shares, business-critical application data, and hybrid datasets with seamless cloud tiering.

Microsoft unveiled many creative upgrades to Azure Files and File Sync Azure to simplify file data management. These updates boost speed, cost optimisation, security, administrative convenience, and intelligent support for your company.

What's Azure FileSync?

With File Sync Azure, you can centralise your company's file sharing in Azure Files while keeping Windows file server compatibility, performance, and flexibility. File Sync Azure may transform Windows Server into a quick cache of your Azure file share, even though some clients may wish to keep a complete copy locally. Access your data locally using any Windows Server protocol like SMB, NFS, or FTPS. Worldwide, you may have as many caches as needed.

Provisioned v2 for Azure Files grows and minimises TCO

Cloud storage costs can be difficult to manage for many enterprises. While theoretically simple, hard disc drive (HDD) Azure Files' pay-as-you-go model can make file storage costs challenging to forecast and budget. Although you pay for storage and transactions, unpredictable workloads make it hard to predict transaction volumes. The new v2 pricing mechanism for HDD Azure Files from Microsoft Azure maximises cloud spending.

This provided model replaces usage-based pricing, giving you control and predictability over file storage costs. Grant v2 lets you reserve storage space, IOPS, and throughput based on business needs and pay for them. Because of this, you can confidently shift general-purpose workloads to Azure Files for the optimal price-performance balance.

The HDD provided v2 model's performance restrictions and cost savings have increased compared to the HDD pay-as-you-go technique. With 50,000 IOPS and 5 GiB/sec throughput, the maximum share size is now 256 TiB, double the previous limit of 100 TiB. These boundaries become more critical as your data footprint grows. Provisioned v2 allows your Azure file share to dynamically scale performance based on demand, preventing downtime. Avoiding complex and inconvenient workarounds like sharding lets you maintain a logical and user-friendly file sharing structure for your organisation.

Provisioned v2's per-share granular monitoring lets you optimise storage, IOPS, and throughput by file share. New indications include Transactions by Max IOPS, Bandwidth by Max MiB/sec, File Share Provisioned IOPS, File Share Provisioned Bandwidth MiB/s, and Burst Credits for IOPS provide complete resource utilisation insights for better provisioning control.

Increase workload efficiency via metadata caching

Many organisations use Azure Files SSD for AI/ML on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Moodle, CI/CD pipelines, and virtual desktops. These circumstances often have performance limits from frequent file system metadata operations. Although important, directory listing and file attribute retrieval can affect an application's responsiveness and efficiency if metadata operations are slow.

It cached Azure Files SSD information to address this critical performance requirement. This feature addresses this issue by reducing latency and improving metadata consistency via a caching mechanism. Organisations should expect 55% lower metadata latency and three times higher metadata IOPS and throughput.

Metadata Caching is improving Suncor Energy's GIS usage.

Optimise hybrid clouds using File Sync Azure

Big data upgrades and cloud migrations require efficient data transport and synchronisation. File Sync Azure now syncs 200 items per second thanks to speed improvements. This tenfold improvement over the previous two years supports File Sync Azure's ability to facilitate easy migrations and effective data management, especially for hybrid applications and branch office file consolidation.

This efficiency improvement is especially useful when implementing large file permission modifications or migrating from on-premises file servers. You can manage larger datasets better, transition to File Sync Azure faster, and accelerate cloud modernisation.

File Sync Azure now supports Microsoft's latest server architecture. From Windows Server 2025 to Windows Server 2016, the File Sync Azure extension for Windows Admin Centre supports several server operating systems, allowing enterprises flexibility independent of their server architecture.

Integrating with Windows Admin Centre (WAC) lets you manage all File Sync server configurations from one place. Saves time, simplifies administration, and reduces complexity. This powerful combo lets you utilise Windows Server as a fast cache for your Azure file sharing and cloud tiering for cost-effective and optimal data management.

Copilot in Azure for File Sync Azure gives you an AI-powered assistant to analyse your environment and find the root causes of common issues like network connection, permissions, and missing file shares. Step-by-step instructions and practical solutions are provided by Copilot. It can save storage costs by automating lifetime management rules that tier or destroy data based on access patterns.

Improve workload and data security with Azure Files

File Sync Azure supports Managed Identities (MI), a key security and authentication upgrade. This technology allows Azure File Sync resources to authenticate and communicate with Azure File shares using Entra ID-based authentication without shared keys, boosting security. Managed Identities may increase File Sync Azure deployment security, automate credential management, and meet cloud security best practices.

Vaulting makes Azure Files HDD layer data protection easier. This functionality meets security and compliance standards and protects against ransomware by isolating backups in a Recovery Services vault. Snapshots provide fast recovery, while vaulted backups protect against ransomware and unintentional destruction. Backup data may be stored in economical, safe, and unchangeable storage for 99 years. Cross-region restoration lets you recover from a deleted file share.

Migrate to Azure Files using integrated tools

If you want to effortlessly transfer your Windows Server, Linux, or NAS systems to Azure, you may use easy tools. File Sync Azure and Azure Mover simplify Windows Server migration. Azure Storage migration allows you to utilise industry-leading file transfer tools like Komprise, Data Dynamics, and Atempo to identify, evaluate, and migrate data from NAS systems to Azure for free.

Prepare to revamp File Storage

Azure Files empowers your firm with lower TCO for business-critical tasks, greater scaling and data protection, Managed Identities, robust migration capabilities, and Copilot in Azure. Expect more, as always. Azure Files' goal for the coming year will prioritise security, performance, and management updates to help clients achieve more.

[sofiaflorina2021]

This is a Very Unconventional Way to Uninstall a Program Right?

Like this, I ever installed an application and somehow I didn't know how to uninstall it so I just deleted all of its files from program files folder, included its uninstall file. Little did I know that the cache of it still appear in the settings. 

When I wanted to uninstall it Windows told me that Windows cannot find uninstall.exe. After looking for the solution online, I did a very unconventional way to delete it, I deleted the program key from Windows Registry. After that, I can delete the cache of that application. 

I'm actually scared of what I've done but I'm pretty sure that I only deleted one folder from the registry, the folder titled the name of the application developer. It is one of the most important parts of Microsoft Windows operating system. Hopefully there won't be any problems with my sister's laptop.

[techdirectarchive]

Cross Domain Folders Access: Reference account is Locked out

When dealing with cross-domain shared folder access. Issues could arise and sometimes, this might lead to account lock out. In this article, we shall discuss “Cross Domain Shared Folders Access Failed: The reference account is Locked out”. The reason for this issue could be due to several factors. Please see how to Configure Local Administrators Account lockout, and how to Configure WinRM to…

[bluedesertbruja]

discord app via desktop stopped working but i learned how to fix it on my own before i started crying and giving up forever.

[angleformation]

PHOTO SECRÈTE CACHÉE ? IMPOSSIBLE ! - Tuto INVISIBLE pour Espions & Pro...

[crazyprocessedsynth]

It obviously meant pistachios. He was the one who called them "pistachio-lovin'." It obviously meant the pistachios. He was doing this on purpose. Its shutters twitch again, and its fans reach a constant dull whir from their stress level at his sheer audacity. He was doing this on purpose.

If you looked close, you could even see a small amount of steam rising from the gaps in their plating that allowed airflow.

This obnoxious man was doing a professional job of getting under their metal skin.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

This is why it hates humans so much. Everything about them is just infuriating, down to the simplest mannerisms. And the way they presume everything is about them? Ugh. Can't you just get out of my space already?

"HOW WOULD IT BE WORKING? HARASSING ME AND SHOVING FOOD ON ME AS A BRIBE?"

If they didn't want to tear his throat out, it would be working. Maybe he would be bearable if he couldn't speak...

"FORCING GIFTS ON A SUPERIOR DOESN'T MAKE UP FOR BEING A COMPLETE NUISANCE."

They huff, and return their view to the smoothie in their hand. Their frustration was leading to a feeling of distaste for the flavor, from being teased about it, but it was at least a bit sweet, and that made up for it for now. They'd file this away for later and revisit what they thought about pistachio when they weren't being actively aggravated. A long, loud, deliberately irritating sip, and then they continue complaining.

"YEAH, WELL, WHATEVER IDIOT BROUGHT ME HERE DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK I NEEDED ANY." None of the periodic clothing handouts from the nightmare queen had been retained on arrival. Just their luck. Even if they feigned indifference, playing dress-up and being cute was fun. "I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS EITHER, FLESHLING."

" if you'll like what? " will returns to the half-finished sentence, head tilting like a confused dog's. men? humans? choosing the path of most annoyance, his shoulders roll in a dance-like gesture. " pretzels? i had a pretty good clue when i saw you eating one earlier. "

he shrugs, pretending that is what wx means ( he knows damn right it's not ). unstopped, he walks along in direction of the clothing stores, humming casually. the only acknowledgement he gives the befuddlement caused in the other is a glint in smooth blues as he looks at it through the corner of his eyes.

" i'm not trying to buy your approval, " then, brushing his hair back with fingers as a provisory comb, will smiles. " if i was, would it be working, though? "

another big gulp, nearly uncomfortable down his throat. there's visible relief when wx expresses a neutrality towards the drink - he happily bids farewell to the already-expected act he'd put on just so they could seemingly share an opinion. " it's fine, right? i don't know what i was expectin'. "

tilting his skull backwards, will downs the remainder of the drink in one go, tosses the paper cup into a trashcan as he walks. " and i could say the same for your fashion sense. what kinda clothes do you like, seventy? "

[hackeocafe]

How to Clear RAM Cache in Windows 10/11 (2023) | 🚀 Make Computer Faster

[panstag]

How to Clear Computer Cache in Windows 11

Introduction:

Computer cache, an essential component of modern computing, helps improve system performance by storing frequently accessed data and programs for quicker retrieval. However, a cluttered cache can slow down your Windows 11 computer over time. In this article, we'll explore what computer cache is, why clearing it is important, and provide you with a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to clear computer cache in Windows 11 using two effective methods.

What is a Computer Cache?

Computer cache, often referred to as system cache or memory cache, is a high-speed data storage layer that temporarily holds data and programs that your computer frequently uses. The purpose of cache is to speed up data retrieval, reduce latency, and enhance overall system performance. Windows 11, like its predecessors, utilizes supply to store files, applications, and components for quicker access.

Why Clearing Computer Cache in Windows 11 is Important:

While cache serves its purpose effectively, it can accumulate over time and become cluttered with obsolete or unnecessary files. This can lead to various issues, such as sluggish system performance, application crashes, and storage space wastage. Clearing your computer cache in Windows 11 is essential to maintain the system's speed and efficiency.

How to Clear Computer Cache in Windows 11

[falltumn]

hiiiiiiiie i redid my neocities page <3 i'm orange now

[loolay]

Built-In Home Office in Paris Inspiration for a large contemporary built-in desk with no fireplace, a medium tone wood floor, a brown floor, and a tray ceiling in the home office.

[darkbluekies]

What is your yandere's reaction if their darling suddenly asks, "You'd rather have me dead than let me go, right?"

Warnings: mentions of isolation, captivity, death, threats,

Silas:

He would be appalled to hear that. That's not at all what he's doing ― or trying to convey. All he wants is you to be with him, and to not do stupid things that could cause pain for the both of you. He would try to take you in his arms, try to cach your attention.

"No, what? What are you saying? Never in a million years would I want you dead! But I can't let you go, I can't be without you. You're mine and you're stuck with me. That's that. No one is leaving and no one is dying. Say such nonsense again and I will show you that being dead is far worse than being stuck with me."

Dr Kry:

He stares at you, absolutely shocked to hear you say that. How could you ever think that he wants you harm? He doesn't want to hurt you ... it is just necessary, But he doesn't expect you to understand that. Your poor, pure brain is foggy with medicine, you're not in your best state. Dr Kry would try to comfort you to the best of his ability, knowing that there is no reason to try to hide it anymore.

"Darling, you are my most beloved patient ... do you think I want to hurt you? I am doing this to keep you safe. If I didn't, who knows what would happen to you? You could run around and hurt yourself. The world is menacing and would destroy you. You are so perfect, so pure. I don't want you dead. Never."

King Edmund:

He would give you a long look, hesitating on what to say. He doesn't want you to leave him, wouldn't be able to live without you. But would he rather have you dead? Yes, he would rather have you dead than sharing you with anyone. You are for his eyes only, created for him by a higher power that saw what he needed.

"You're damn right in that. You think anyone else is worthy of having you? I don't share anything else in my life, do I? No, exactly. But you don't have to worry about dying, my jewel. It's not like I'm going to let you leave?"

Jerry:

Jerry would weigh the outcomes. You dead ... or you gone? The only light in her life being put out without a chance to ever return ... or alive? It's a clear question ... and a clear answer, but she won't let you know that.

"Have you gone mad? I'm not even going to answer such a stupid fucking question. I'll teach you what happens when asking such stupid ass questions."

Hedwig:

The question would break her. She doesn't want to keep you locked in her room and it certainly doesn't help her case that you like to sit in the window and gaze longingly out towards the garden. She wants things to go back to how they used to be. But to do that, she would have to let you go. Would she rather have you dead? No, of course not. Not in a million years. She wouldn't be able to ansswer the question, only replay it in her head until she couldn't take it anymore. She would press her hands to her ears and crouch down, shaking her head.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop .... please, stop. Stop saying that! I don't want that! None of it! Stop! Oh, my God, stop, please ..."

[minkiverse]

JUNG WOOYOUNG FIC RECS

Poly!Ateez Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Kim Hongjoong - Park Seonghwa - Jeong Yunho - Kang Yeosang - Choi San - Song Mingi - Choi Jongho

Happy Valentine's to Ateez's biggest loverboy, Jung Wooyoung!!! My love for this guy knows no bounds, and he deserves all the love in the world!!!! Please make sure to visit these authors blogs and leave lots of love to them!!

DISCLAIMER none of these works are mine and majority are MATURE 18+, please read all warnings before reading!!!

Key:

✨ - My Favs

🔥 - Smut (MINORS DNI)

⛈️ - Angst

💗 - Fluff

🍑 - Humor

SERIES

Cache - @songmingisthighs ⛈️🍑 Chaebol!Wooyoung ✧ SMAU

Be ready to hate ateez and become a txt stan! it would be funny if i left it like that but truly the angst in this author's social media au's 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 readers be warned you will not catch a break adgffgdfhdfhg

Right Here Part 2 - @0097linersb 🔥💗🍑 Friends to Lovers AU

I'm obsessed with the banter in this fic, it flows so well and i literally had to put my phone down because i would start laughing adfsdgsfgfgdfg but goddammit is this wooyoung charming as hell 😩😩 mc is so strong for holding out so long 👏👏

Written in the Stars - @ennysbookstore 💗 Office!AU ✧ Ongoing

*BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL* ID DIE FOR WOOYOUNG 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 it may only have one chapter BUT I DONT CARE I LOVE HIM SO MUHUHUHCUCUHHH 😭😭 he is just so sweet n kind 🥹🥹🥹

vivrant thing - @hwaslayer ✨🔥⛈️💗 Bestfriend's Brother AU

i have a soft spot for this series, because the mc hasnt been pining over wooyoung forever which i think stands out for this au 👏👏 like they just fall together like a cute lil puzzle piece 🥹🥹 and the sibling banter is extremely realistic adfsdgdfdgfg

ONE SHOTS/DRABBLES

One on One - @beginningofwonderland 🔥 Fighter!AU

Untitled - @kitten4sannie 🔥 Hybrid!AU

Untitled - @multiwreckedmess 🔥Roomates!AU

Drive you crazy - @sxcret-garden 🔥

first snow - @cheollipop 🔥💗

Study Games - @muntitled 🔥💗 Idol!AU

Marks - @last-words-ofashootingstar ✨🔥💗

I love brat!woo just as much as the next person, BUT soft domestic woo is my FAAAAAAAAAVVVVV!!!! like he is just so full of love that him in a relationship would be DEVASTATING 🥺🥺 also its more subby!wooyo so it feels like this was made for me adfssgdff

Sweet Dreams - @yuyusboyfriend 🔥 Friends to Lovers AU

realistic sex with wooyoung - @byuntrash101 🔥

Freaks on a Friday - @thisthatpinkvenom 🔥 College!AU

Untitled - @bandgie 🔥

Untitled - @k-hotchoisan 🔥

Untitled - @cheollipop 🔥 Hybrid!AU

5:40am - @xuchiya 🔥

late night cravings - @cheollipop 🔥

21:23pm - @adoringsan 💗 Tattoo Artist!Wooyoung

bf texts w/ wooyoung - @beenbaanbuun 🍑

Untitled - @thetypingpup 🔥 Hybrid!AU

"i'm just bein' curious." - @teeskz 🔥

mirror mirror - @seonghwaddict 🔥⛈️💗

Untitled - @secretsecretbunny 🍑 Friends to Lovers AU

Strawberry Mocha - @pirateprincessblog ✨🔥⛈️ Barista!Camboy!Wooyoung

aaaaaaaaaaaah this fic 😭😭😭 if you like a side of pain with your smut you will LOVE THIS! ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOVE YUNHO😭😭 but god was this fic fun to read, just incredibly written dialogue, smut, characterizations, just everything was really well done👏👏

enemies w/ wooyoung - @beenbaanbuun 🔥⛈️

shampoo w/ wooyoung - @beenbaanbuun 💗

Whatcha Gonna Do About It? - @songmingisthighs 🔥

i like you, i do! - @sungbeam 💗 College!AU

Lock your windows - @mingtinysworld 🔥

Untitled - @baby-boy-chan 🔥

Untitled - @cheollipop 🔥

Untitled - @bunnliix 🔥

Birthday Surprise - @pocketjoong 💗

Mug w/ Jung Wooyoung - @beenbaanbuun ⛈️💗

after the game - @pantherxrogers ✨🔥 Baseball Player!Wooyoung

i will never, not for one single second, get over wooyoung in a baseball uniform like it changed something inside me 😩😩 and this smut is hot (i don't even fuck with daddy kink like that but goddamn 😵‍💫😵‍💫) but it ends super cute and someone needs to give woo some kids STAT

milkshake - @byuntrash101 🔥 Office!AU

Untitled - @sxcret-garden 🔥

marked - @igbylicious 🔥💗 Werewolf!AU

home run! - @vampzity 💗 Baseball Player!Wooyoung

Imagining Wooyoung as a girl dad - @redzie02 💗 Dad!Wooyoung

[15:41] - @songmingisthighs ⛈️💗

If Without You - @sorryimananti-romantic ⛈️💗 Friend to Lovers AU

Jeju Thoughts - @hee0soo 💗

Star 1117 - @sorryimananti-romantic ⛈️💗 Space Apocalypse!AU

Untitled - @gojosnympho 🔥🍑

how to tame a brat tamer - @k-hotchoisan 🔥

Good Lil Boy - @sorryimananti-romantic ✨🔥⛈️💗 Royalty!AU

of course my fav bside would be one of my fav fics 😩😩 what really sells me on woo fics is banter I JUST LOVE IT!! i mentioned this in my reblog but this was a fic i read early into getting into ateez and it just hits even harder reading it now 😭😭 and with these two its just meant to be i love them dearly 🥹🥹

random bf!wooyoung texts - @sativateez 🍑 SMAU

sleepover - @kitten4sannie 🔥

Pull of Passion - @crimsonbubble 🔥

friens to fwb to lovers with wooyoung - @lxvemaze 🍑 SMAU

drive (me crazy) - @cheollipop 🔥

blood pact - @kitten4sannie 🔥⛈️ Vampire!Wooyoung

I Still Hate You - @starskq 🔥⛈️ Enemies to Lovers

Almost Home - @shadowkoo 🔥

Untitled - @intheemptymirror 🔥

Challenge Accepted - @mikrokosmoslove 🔥 Friends to Lovers AU

Just Trust Me - @wwooyology 🔥⛈️💗 Fox Hybrid!Wooyoung

Night Drives - @tinybeetiny 🔥

Untitled - @sxcret-garden 🔥

Xmas Dinner Goes Wrong - @hwallazia 🔥

random bf!ateez texts // wooyoung - @nightbeforethend 🍑 SMAU

very bad things - @frenchkisstheabyss 🔥 Mafia!Wooyung ✧ Stripper!Reader

Needy texts - @sugarbaybeetexts 🔥🍑 SMAU

[nornities]

How to use DXVK with The Sims 3

Have you seen this post about using DXVK by Criisolate? But felt intimidated by the sheer mass of facts and information?

@desiree-uk and I compiled a guide and the configuration file to make your life easier. It focuses on players not using the EA App, but it might work for those just the same. It’s definitely worth a try.

Adding this to your game installation will result in a better RAM usage. So your game is less likely to give you Error 12 or crash due to RAM issues. It does NOT give a huge performance boost, but more stability and allows for higher graphics settings in game.

The full guide behind the cut. Let me know if you also would like it as PDF.

Happy simming!

Disclaimer and Credits

Desiree and I are no tech experts and just wrote down how we did this. Our ability to help if you run into trouble is limited. So use at your own risk and back up your files!

We both are on Windows 10 and start the game via TS3W.exe, not the EA App. So your experience may differ.

This guide is based on our own experiments and of course criisolate’s post on tumblr:  https://www.tumblr.com/criisolate/749374223346286592/ill-explain-what-i-did-below-before-making-any

This guide is brought to you by Desiree-UK and Norn.

Compatibility

Note: This will conflict with other programs that “inject” functionality into your game so they may stop working. Notably

Reshade

GShade

Nvidia Experience/Nvidia Inspector/Nvidia Shaders

RivaTuner Statistics Server

It does work seamlessly with LazyDuchess’ Smooth Patch.

LazyDuchess’ Launcher: unknown

Alder Lake patch: does conflict. One user got it working by starting the game by launching TS3.exe (also with admin rights) instead of TS3W.exe. This seemed to create the cache file for DXVK. After that, the game could be started from TS3W.exe again. That might not work for everyone though.

A word on FPS and V-Sync

With such an old game it’s crucial to cap framerate (FPS). This is done in the DXVK.conf file. Same with V-Sync.

You need

a text editor (easiest to use is Windows Notepad)

to download DXVK, version 2.3.1 from here: https://github.com/doitsujin/DXVK/releases/tag/v2.3.1 Extract the archive, you are going to need the file d3d9.dll from the x32 folder

the configuration file DXVK.conf from here: https://github.com/doitsujin/DXVK/blob/master/DXVK.conf. Optional: download the edited version with the required changes here.

administrator rights on your PC

to know your game’s installation path (bin folder) and where to find the user folder

a tiny bit of patience :)

First Step: Backup

Backup your original Bin folder in your Sims 3 installation path! The DXVK file may overwrite some files! The path should be something like this (for retail): \Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin (This is the folder where also GraphicsRule.sgr and the TS3W.exe and TS3.exe are located.)

Backup your options.ini in your game’s user folder! Making the game use the DXVK file will count as a change in GPU driver, so the options.ini will reset once you start your game after installation. The path should be something like this: \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 (This is the folder where your Mods folder is located).

Preparations

Make sure you run the game as administrator. You can check that by right-clicking on the icon that starts your game. Go to Properties > Advanced and check the box “Run as administrator”. Note: This will result in a prompt each time you start your game, if you want to allow this application to make modifications to your system. Click “Yes” and the game will load.

2. Make sure you have the DEP settings from Windows applied to your game.

Open the Windows Control Panel.

Click System and Security > System > Advanced System Settings.

On the Advanced tab, next to the Performance heading, click Settings.

Click the Data Execution Prevention tab.

Select 'Turn on DEP for all programs and services except these”:

Click the Add button, a window to the file explorer opens. Navigate to your Sims 3 installation folder (the bin folder once again) and add TS3W.exe and TS3.exe.

Click OK. Then you can close all those dialog windows again.

Setting up the DXVK.conf file

Open the file with a text editor and delete everything in it. Then add these values:

d3d9.textureMemory = 1

d3d9.presentInterval = 1

d3d9.maxFrameRate = 60

d3d9.presentInterval enables V-Sync,d3d9.maxFrameRate sets the FrameRate. You can edit those values, but never change the first line (d3d9.textureMemory)!

The original DXVK.conf contains many more options in case you would like to add more settings.

A. no Reshade/GShade

Setting up DXVK

Copy the two files d3d9.dll and DXVK.conf into the Bin folder in your Sims 3 installation path. This is the folder where also GraphicsRule.sgr and the TS3W.exe and TS3.exe are located. If you are prompted to overwrite files, please choose yes (you DID backup your folder, right?)

And that’s basically all that is required to install.

Start your game now and let it run for a short while. Click around, open Buy mode or CAS, move the camera.

Now quit without saving. Once the game is closed fully, open your bin folder again and double check if a file “TS3W.DXVK-cache” was generated. If so – congrats! All done!

Things to note

Heads up, the game options will reset! So it will give you a “vanilla” start screen and options.

Don’t worry if the game seems to be frozen during loading. It may take a few minutes longer to load but it will load eventually.

The TS3W.DXVK-cache file is the actual cache DXVK is using. So don’t delete this! Just ignore it and leave it alone. When someone tells to clear cache files – this is not one of them!

Update Options.ini

Go to your user folder and open the options.ini file with a text editor like Notepad.

Find the line “lastdevice = “. It will have several values, separated by semicolons. Copy the last one, after the last semicolon, the digits only. Close the file.

Now go to your backup version of the Options.ini file, open it and find that line “lastdevice” again. Replace the last value with the one you just copied. Make sure to only replace those digits!

Save and close the file.

Copy this version of the file into your user folder, replacing the one that is there.

Things to note:

If your GPU driver is updated, you might have to do these steps again as it might reset your device ID again. Though it seems that the DXVK ID overrides the GPU ID, so it might not happen.

How do I know it’s working?

Open the task manager and look at RAM usage. Remember the game can only use 4 GB of RAM at maximum and starts crashing when usage goes up to somewhere between 3.2 – 3.8 GB (it’s a bit different for everybody).

So if you see values like 2.1456 for RAM usage in a large world and an ongoing save, it’s working. Generally the lower the value, the better for stability.

Also, DXVK will have generated its cache file called TS3W.DXVK-cache in the bin folder. The file size will grow with time as DXVK is adding stuff to it, e.g. from different worlds or savegames. Initially it might be something like 46 KB or 58 KB, so it’s really small.

Optional: changing MemCacheBudgetValue

MemCacheBudgetValue determines the size of the game's VRAM Cache. You can edit those values but the difference might not be noticeable in game. It also depends on your computer’s hardware how much you can allow here.

The two lines of seti MemCacheBudgetValue correspond to the high RAM level and low RAM level situations. Therefore, theoretically, the first line MemCacheBudgetValue should be set to a larger value, while the second line should be set to a value less than or equal to the first line.

The original values represent 200MB (209715200) and 160MB (167772160) respectively. They are calculated as 200x1024x1024=209175200 and 160x1024x1024=167772160.

Back up your GraphicsRules.sgr file! If you make a mistake here, your game won’t work anymore.

Go to your bin folder and open your GraphicsRules.sgr with a text editor.

Search and find two lines that set the variables for MemCacheBudgetValue.

Modify these two values to larger numbers. Make sure the value in the first line is higher or equals the value in the second line. Examples for values: 1073741824, which means 1GB 2147483648 which means 2 GB. -1 (minus 1) means no limit (but is highly experimental, use at own risk)

Save and close the file. It might prompt you to save the file to a different place and not allow you to save in the Bin folder. Just save it someplace else in this case and copy/paste it to the Bin folder afterwards. If asked to overwrite the existing file, click yes.

Now start your game and see if it makes a difference in smoothness or texture loading. Make sure to check RAM and VRAM usage to see how it works.

You might need to change the values back and forth to find the “sweet spot” for your game. Mine seems to work best with setting the first value to 2147483648 and the second to 1073741824.

Uninstallation

Delete these files from your bin folder (installation path):

d3d9.dll

DXVK.conf

TS3W.DXVK-cache

And if you have it, also TS3W_d3d9.log

if you changed the values in your GraphicsRule.sgr file, too, don’t forget to change them back or to replace the file with your backed up version.

OR

delete the bin folder and add it from your backup again.

B. with Reshade/GShade

Follow the steps from part A. no Reshade/Gshade to set up DXVK.

If you are already using Reshade (RS) or GShade (GS), you will be prompted to overwrite files, so choose YES. RS and GS may stop working, so you will need to reinstall them.

Whatever version you are using, the interface shows similar options of which API you can choose from (these screenshots are from the latest versions of RS and GS).

Please note: 

Each time you install and uninstall DXVK, switching the game between Vulkan and d3d9, is essentially changing the graphics card ID again, which results in the settings in your options.ini file being repeatedly reset.

ReShade interface

Choose – Vulcan

Click next and choose your preferred shaders.

Hopefully this install method works and it won't install its own d3d9.dll file.

If it doesn't work, then choose DirectX9 in RS, but you must make sure to replace the d3d9.dll file with DXVK's d3d9.dll (the one from its 32bit folder, checking its size is 3.86mb.)

GShade interface

Choose –           

Executable Architecture: 32bit

Graphics API: DXVK

Hooking: Normal Mode

GShade is very problematic, it won't work straight out of the box and the overlay doesn't show up, which defeats the purpose of using it if you can't add or edit the shaders you want to use.

Check the game's bin folder, making sure the d3d9.dll is still there and its size is 3.86mb - that is DXVK's dll file.

If installing using the DXVK method doesn't work, you can choose the DirectX method, but there is no guarantee it works either.

The game will not run with these files in the folder:

d3d10core.dll

d3d11.dll

dxgi.dll

If you delete them, the game will start but you can't access GShade! It might be better to use ReShade.

Some Vulcan and DirectX information, if you’re interested:

Vulcan is for rather high end graphic cards but is backward compatible with some older cards. Try this method with ReShade or GShade first.

DirectX is more stable and works best with older cards and systems. Try this method if Vulcan doesn't work with ReShade/GShade in your game – remember to replace the d3d9.dll with DXVK's d3d9.dll.

For more information on the difference between Vulcan and DirectX, see this article:

https://www.howtogeek.com/884042/vulkan-vs-DirectX-12/

[blueiscoool]

Medieval Game Pieces Emerge From the Ruins of a German Castle

A small cache of medieval game pieces has been discovered in the ruins of a recently discovered castle in southern Germany. The finds provide a window into leisure time, possibly among actual knights, dating back nearly a millennium, approximately the time that chess arrived in Europe as an import from Asia.

The find includes a six-sided die, assorted game pieces including four in the shape of flowers, and a very well-preserved 1½-inch-high chess piece, all carved from antlers.

“In the Middle Ages, chess was one of the seven skills that a good knight should master,” said Jonathan Scheschkewitz, of the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Baden-Württemberg. “It is therefore not surprising that known finds mostly come from castles.”

There is evidence that these are not just display objects, but pieces that were actually used. “Under the microscope,” explained Flavia Venditti of the University of Tübingen, “a typical sheen from holding and moving the pieces can be seen.”

An international team of experts from the University of Tübingen, the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Baden-Württemberg and the German Archaeological Institute is now examining this evidence of early gaming culture.

“The discovery of an entire games collection [from] the 11th/12th century came as a complete surprise to us,” said Lukas Werther, of the German Archaeological Institute, “and the horse-shaped knight piece is a real highlight.”

The pieces came to light during excavations by the DFG Collaborative Research Centre 1070 Resource Cultures and the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments Baden-Württemberg in a previously unknown castle in the Reutlingen district of southern Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region.

“They were lying under the debris of a wall where they were lost or hidden in the Middle Ages,” said Michael Kienzle of the University of Tübingen. They are in such good condition, he added, precisely because they had been covered under those materials.

They will go on display this month in two exhibitions: “Excavated! Knights and Castles in the Echaz Valley” at the Schlössle Pfullingen (June 15–August 30) and “The Hidden Länd: We in the First Millennium” at the Archaologisches Landsmuseum Baden-Württemberg (September 13, 2024–January 26, 2025).