Suggestion for Sharktooth's x264 builds

[Inventive Software]

I have noticed that the shortcut to configure the VFW directly from the Start Menu uses "system32\rundll32.exe". Now this is fine for 2000, NT and XP users et al, but us Windows 98 people have to change the shortcut everytime. Bearing in mind how often I update my x264 binary, this can become tedious, especially if I cock-up. ;)

What I'm suggesting is this: try looking in the NSIS handbook for the correct syntax, but when you create the shortcut use $SYSDIR instead of dead-linking. That way it'll hit rundll32.exe directly no matter what OS.

Also, while I'm here, I can't seem to view the two text files that list changes. Perhaps some maintenance is required there?

By the way: Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all!! :D

[IvS]

I don't mean to sound so negative now that it's 7 minutes to 2006 here ;) I agree that sysdir should be used, but about Win98, why would anyone still care about it? Everyone should stop using that unicode unfriendly, buggy, old, unsafe operating system.
Happy new year :)

[Sirber]

Old hardware likes old OS ;)

[IvS]

Yeah but when I tried WinXP on a 733mhz (iirc) Celeron with 128mb sdram it liked it too.

[squid_80]

I don't mean to sound so negative now that it's 7 minutes to 2006 here ;) I agree that sysdir should be used, but about Win98, why would anyone still care about it? Everyone should stop using that unicode unfriendly, buggy, old, unsafe operating system.
Happy new year :)
The same problem occurs with 64-bit XP.

[IvS]

I know, and I said I agree about the sysdir issue.

[Inventive Software]

I have no problems with using Windows XP, but I'm due for an upgrade on my PC sometime this year, probably Xmas, and the amount of times I upgrade the innards in my PC to the point where I need to re-activate would drive me up the wall. I'd dual-boot Windows 98 and XP, because I have lots of games that don't work in XP at all, and I like Windows 98's simplicity.

Besides, there's no way I'd run Windows XP on my current PC. Like Sirber said, "Old hardware likes old OS". Windows XP would probably crawl on my current setup. I have to re-install 98 every 6 months just to get rid of the crap that bloats the registry.

[Sharktooth]

it is already that way:
CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\x264\x264 VFW Configuration.lnk" $SYSDIR\rundll32.exe x264vfw.dll,Configure $INSTDIR\x264vfw.ico

if there are any problems then it may be a NSIS issue.

[Inventive Software]

Did you update NSIS recently?

[Sharktooth]

Yep 2.12.

[Inventive Software]

Perhaps it's what happens on Windows XP. I can try compiling the NSIS script on Windows 98 if you like, and see whether the problem remains.

Having said that, I haven't downloaded the latest update yet. Bear with me, I'll grab it tonight. :D

[Sharktooth]

well, the NSIS manual says $SYSDIR is detected at runtime, so i guess it's a bug in NSIS.

[Inventive Software]

It's not a bug in NSIS. In Windows 95/98/ME, rundll32.exe is in the $WINDIR directory, not the $SYSDIR directory. Have a look in the NSIS handbook for the "Windows Version" example script, and use $WINDIR or it's equivalent for Win98 et al, and $SYSDIR for WinXP et al. This *should* solve the problem.

[ChronoCross]

I still can't figure out why your using windows 98. it's unstable and way less secure than XP. According to your solution he would have to make a multiple builds. Sounds like you need to upgrade.

[Sharktooth]

well, i'll check if i can detect the OS and set the outpud dir accordingly.

[Inventive Software]

@Chronocross: I use 98 because of reasons stated in previous posts. Read before you post!

@Sharktooth: Did it work?

[Sirber]

Besides, there's no way I'd run Windows XP on my current PC. Like Sirber said, "Old hardware likes old OS". Windows XP would probably crawl on my current setup. I have to re-install 98 every 6 months just to get rid of the crap that bloats the registry.I installed XP SP2 on my dual P3 450Mhz, 640MB SDRAM (133MHz), TNT2 M64 16MB PCI (AGP post is fried), WiFi B 11mbps. Works #1!

[Sharktooth]

@Chronocross: I use 98 because of reasons stated in previous posts. Read before you post!

@Sharktooth: Did it work?
not yet. at this point i'm "experimenting"...

[Doom9]

640MB SDRAM (133MHz)That's all you really need.. enough RAM, and XP will run just fine on old hardware.

[Inventive Software]

I installed XP SP2 on my dual P3 450Mhz, 640MB SDRAM (133MHz)
There's the problem. I have a single-core 800 MHz Celeron, with 192 MB SDRAM (see my sig for the rest of the details). Your's is a dual P3 with bundles of RAM.

I stand by my previous posts. Until I get a decent PC, I stick with 98, and even then I'll dual-boot.

not yet. at this point i'm "experimenting"...
:D

[Sirber]

There's the problem. I have a single-core 800 MHz Celeron, with 192 MB SDRAM (see my sig for the rest of the details). Your's is a dual P3 with bundles of RAM.Your single core Celeron might be faster than my dual P3 450MHz in speed, but my large ammount of RAM sure help :)

[Inventive Software]

As Doom9 said, the RAM is probably why it works. Windows XP is known to have large RAM needs! :)

[Sharktooth]

ok. the script seems to work...
i'll have it working for the next releases.

[Inventive Software]

Great! I'll try it tonight, if you get the builds up by then, and report back ASAP.

[bob0r]

@sharktooth
If it works, give me the nsis file please (files.x264.nl), then ill use it too.

[ChronoReverse]

As Doom9 said, the RAM is probably why it works. Windows XP is known to have large RAM needs! :)

Well, I've ran Windows XP on a Celeron 333MHz with 128MB of RAM for while too. It wasn't too bad actually. The trick is to turn off services to the point where the memory footprint is at Windows 2000 level. That way, you get WinXP's compatibility coupled with Win2k and Win98SE's more frugal memory usage.

Of course, you won't be able to open up tabs like there's no tomorrow in Firefox nor will you want to use Photoshop, but for web browsing in a single window, normal spreadsheets, word-processing, MIRC and watching less demanding videos (no 720p H.264 for instance), it works quite well.

[falcon2000eg]

@Sharktooth when you will include the full MeGUI in the pakage.

[Inventive Software]

Right, 397 doesn't have the fix. Fingers crossed for 398!

[Sharktooth]

!Doh! for 398 i used the old script...
however the change was easier than i thought:
CreateShortcut "$SMPROGRAMS\x264\x264 VFW Configuration.lnk" rundll32.exe x264vfw.dll,Configure $INSTDIR\x264vfw.ico
Just remove any NSIS stuff before rundll32.exe (it's in the OS path...)
:)

[Sharktooth]

398A has the new installer.

[Hyper Shinchan]

Well, I've ran Windows XP on a Celeron 333MHz with 128MB of RAM for while too. It wasn't too bad actually. The trick is to turn off services to the point where the memory footprint is at Windows 2000 level. That way, you get WinXP's compatibility coupled with Win2k and Win98SE's more frugal memory usage.

Of course, you won't be able to open up tabs like there's no tomorrow in Firefox nor will you want to use Photoshop, but for web browsing in a single window, normal spreadsheets, word-processing, MIRC and watching less demanding videos (no 720p H.264 for instance), it works quite well.
Yeah, that's right! I'm here with a PIII 1GHZ 128MB. A small off topic question:
Thsi idiot (of course I'm talking about myself) don't have the SP2. Now if I download the Windows Installer 3 and .NET 2.0 can I use the new builds? Or I have to upgrade to SP2? Tnx
P.S.: please don't kill me for the off topic but the more stupid topics are mine, so I prefer to don't open a lot of them.

[Sharktooth]

There's no reason to not install SP2 and no reason to not upgrade to a bigger memory configuration.
Nowadays 512MB of RAM is pretty cheap.

[Inventive Software]

(it's in the OS path...)
Can you elaborate more on that?

Excellent, will try tonight!

[Sharktooth]

Can you elaborate more on that?

Excellent, will try tonight!
you can launch rundll32 without specifying its path

[squid_80]

Try that on win x64 and you end up with the 64-bit rundll32.exe not the 32-bit.

[Hyper Shinchan]

There's no reason to not install SP2 and no reason to not upgrade to a bigger memory configuration.
Nowadays 512MB of RAM is pretty cheap.
Of course! I'm planning to upgrade my RAM (I'll buy it on Internet), upgrading the OS is a little more hard (without a good connession), anyway, .net framework 2.0 works or not on XP SP1 (the M$ site talks only about XP2 and also other old OS like 98 1&2 edition, 2000 and exc...)?

[Hyper Shinchan]

It works. At least it seems so. Now I'll download the latest build of x264 (I've tried it with the 395).

[Sharktooth]

Try that on win x64 and you end up with the 64-bit rundll32.exe not the 32-bit.
well... for x64 get the lite version coz MeGUI has problems...:)

Of course! I'm planning to upgrade my RAM (I'll buy it on Internet), upgrading the OS is a little more hard (without a good connession), anyway, .net framework 2.0 works or not on XP SP1 (the M$ site talks only about XP2 and also other old OS like 98 1&2 edition, 2000 and exc...)?
it installs but i heard reports of ppl run into troubles.

[dk75]

I'd like to see a process priority settings in x264.
I like to set priority to "below normal" and run my system and other aplications smoothly when encoding.
I've tried some DOS command ("start") for this but... it isn't useable for me.

[DeathTheSheep]

Process priority settings?
Oh, you mean something like this, like the one in Sharktooth's builds:
http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/5120/MEGUI2.PNG

[unmei]

dk75:
either use the task manager to set the priority of the x264 process after you launched it,
or on the CLI use: start /belownormal /b x264.exe <x264_switches>
to set the priority already on launch

[dk75]

Process priority settings?
Oh, you mean something like this, like the one in Sharktooth's builds
1st: it isn't form Sharktooth's builds of x264 - i have one, build 399 to be correct and it haven't it. It's from MeGUI and i'm not using it.
2nd: yes, i've had someting like this in mind, but for CLI command, like: C:\x264 --priority below

[dk75]

unmei:
Have you read my entire post?

At first, i've used TM to do chage priority manual for each instance of x264 but it wasn't what i've liked.
If encoding proceed at night - i don't care.
But, at a day, when i'm doing many other things on my computer it's pain in the ass. ;PPPp

Then, i've discovered "start" DOS command. After few tests i've reached conclusion that it's rubish.
One could use it in two mode: open sepearate window to print report and open every command in "mother" window.
When it's openning separate window then "x264" report is printed in it but, soon after encoding ends, these window is closed and every reports is going to "/dev/null".
When "start" command works in mode without child windows, it... don't print any output verbose from any running command in this window - verbose > "/dev/null".

Then i've stoped to use it and come back to TaskManager manual setting.

But it isn't what i like.

[Inventive Software]

OK, having actually found this thread, I can categorically say:

IT WORKS!!!!

Thank you Sharktooth.

Now I gotta see about updating that VFW interface. :D

[Sharktooth]

won't happen. at least i wont update VFW.

[bob0r]

@Sharktooth: I think he meant himself, that he will update it.
If not, you both need english leassons :P

[Inventive Software]

@bob0r: Yes, I was talking about myself. Forgive Sharktooth, as we all make silly mistakes. ;)

[Doom9 clone is here]

@bob0r: Yes, I was talking about myself. Forgive Sharktooth, as we all make silly mistakes. ;)

Well, finally someone will update VFW interface. I am waiting for that too long.

@ Inventive Software

What's your plan's about updating vfw codec, please tell us.:thanks:

[Inventive Software]

@Doom9 clone is here: I didn't say I "will" update the VFW interface, I merely said I'd gotta see about updating it. My coding skills aren't great, so I may not bother at all. There's a difference. Don't get your hopes up.

[Doom9 clone is here]

Ok, but Death the Sheep perhaps do it. I really hope. Because my coding skills, also ,aren't great.

[bond]

Kostarum Rex Persia, you have been striked for rule 14

edit:
damn, cant strike for 14, guess the only way to solve this is account deletion ;)

[Doom9 clone is here]

What, who is Kostarum Rex Persia???

[Inventive Software]

@bond: :goodpost:
Rule 14: Multiple registrations are prohibited and are grounds for immediate account deletion.

It's fairly obvious who you are, "Doom9 clone is here". The style of posting sorta gives it away.

[Doom9 clone is here]

Ok, if you think like that, who am I to say that you aren't right. Fine.

[ChronoCross]

not only that but he was dumb enough to do this.

Location:
Serbia

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed.

[Inventive Software]

Can someone close this topic to stop it going off topic please?

[Doom9 clone is here]

Sharktooth, I suggest that you, in the next builds, start packing full version of MeGUI, instead only MeGUI_x264 in your builds.

And, someone should integrate more detail help in MeGUI.

[Mutant_Fruit]

Well, if someone wanted to update the XML file, i'll gladly hook the XML file into the MeGUI itself...

[FFWD]

Can I suggest DXVA2.0 (http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/8/f/98f3fe47-dfc3-4e74-92a3-088782200fe7/TWEN05003_WinHEC05.ppt) GPU accellerated encoding with x264?

[Inventive Software]

Fat chance. :D You want something like that, propose it to the developers, and see what they say. Bear in mind DXVA 2.0 acceleration is only available for MPEG-2, WMV9 and H.264 decoding. As far as I know, the decoder in x264 isn't even compilable. For the record, I'm not a developer, just an end-user trying to help the community in some small way. ;)

I have made some small progress in updating the VFW, if you can call it that. As yet, I don't know what features have been integrated into the VFW but haven't been enabled. Once I know, I can enable them.

Guess that means diving deep into source code. *GULP*

Priority 1 is making a "Profile" tab, or similar that restricts the options to the profile limit, much like XviD does. So far I've created the tab, it just doesn't have anything in it yet! ;)