Links Runs Very Slowly or Your Computer Stops Responding During Game Play (243662)

RESOLUTION

To improve game performance in Links, use the following methods in the order that they appear. After each method, test to see if game performance improves. If game performance does not improve, continue with the next method. Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Method 1: Verify the minimum video, processor, and RAM system requirements

Verify that your computer meets or exceeds the minimum video, processor, and random access memory (RAM) requirements to play Links.

For additional information about the Links system requirements, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to determine how much memory, processor speed, and video memory is available on your computer:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type dxdiag, and then click OK.
3. On the System tab, note the value next to Memory and Processor.
4. On the Display or Display 1 tab, note the value next to Approx. Total Memory.
5. Click Exit.
6. Compare the values on your computer to the system requirements.

If your computer does not meet the minimum system requirements, contact the manufacturer of your computer for more information about how to obtain upgrades.

Method 2: Restart your computer by using a clean boot procedure

When you start Microsoft Windows, typically there are a number of programs that start automatically and run in the background that may interfere with the game. These programs may include antivirus and system utility programs. When you perform a clean boot, you prevent these programs from starting automatically.

You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.

To restart your computer by using a clean boot procedure, follow these steps if you are using Microsoft Windows XP:

Note You may experience a temporary loss of some services functionality when you follow these steps. Restoring the settings restores the functionality, but the original error message or behavior may return as a result.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type msconfig, and then click OK.
3. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
4. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the following check boxes:
   • Process SYSTEM.INI File
   • Process WIN.INI File
   • Load Startup Items
5. On the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
6. Click OK, and then click Restart.

Click the Play button to view this streaming media demonstration.

For additional information or to view steps for other operating systems, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Method 3: Select a lower screen resolution and color palette setting

If Links is configured to run at a screen resolution higher than 800 x 600 pixels or with a color palette of more than 65,000 colors, select a lower screen resolution and color palette setting:

1. On the Links startup screen, click Options.
2. Click Display Setup.
3. Under Display Mode, click 800 x 600 16 bit (65 thousand colors).
4. Click OK, and then click Close.

Method 4: Disable sound in the game

1. On the Links startup screen, click Options.
2. Click Sound Setup.
3. Under Sound Control, click Off.
4. Click OK, and then click Close.

Method 5: Check your hard disk for errors

1. Locate, and then double-click My Computer.
2. Right-click the hard disk that you want to check, and then click Properties.
3. On the Tools tab, in the Error-checking pane, click Check Now.
4. Click to select the Automatically fix file system errors check box, click to select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.

Method 6: Defragment your hard disk

When a program is installed on your computer, the program's files may be stored in multiple, noncontiguous locations on your hard disk. This is fragmentation. If your hard disk is fragmented, programs on your computer may run slowly. The Disk Defragmenter tool optimizes the performance of your computer by reorganizing the files on your hard disk into contiguous blocks. When the Disk Defragmenter tool completes the defragmentation of files on your hard disk, your programs may run faster.

Note You can use your computer while Disk Defragmenter is running. However, your computer operates slowly during the defragmentation process, and the defragmentation process restarts if the contents of the drive change during the process. To defragment your hard disk, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Programs (or All Programs), point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
2. Select the drive where the game is installed, and then click Defragment.
   
   Note On Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Millennium Edition, click OK.

Method 7: Increase the amount of available hard disk space by using the Disk Cleanup utility

Disk Cleanup helps free space on your hard disk. Disk Cleanup searches your disk, and then shows you temporary files, Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that you can safely delete. You can direct Disk Cleanup to delete some of or all those files.

To open Disk Cleanup, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, click Disk Cleanup, and then follow the instructions to remove unnecessary files.

For additional information about how to increase the amount of available space on your hard disk in Microsoft Windows 95, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: .