Windows XP Pro
NEWS & EVALUATIONS BY @MACARLO

Default Test Machine: Compaq Presario 5000 1GHz 512MB RAM 2x40GB HDD Quantum/Seagate

 The Ultimate Tool for XP Improvement
Priority Master III
Has Arrived
 Just evaluated here by Macarlo: ratted the maximum
UPDATE 10/15/2002: Version 3.06 - READY FOR PRIME TIME!

The Maximum: 5 Butterflies 

Photo above shows Service Pack 1 automatic install online running on @Macarlo's XP Pro (NTFS)

WHAT IS PRIORITY MASTER III?

A program that is used to run your programs so it performs like a faster computer. You get faster responses when multitasking. It is a program that allows you multitask while burning a CD or DVD or multiple CD’s and DVD’s. It reduces or eliminates the overhead of virus scanning and similar programs. It helps CD and DVD playback to eliminate or reduce skips in the playback. In short, it is a multitasking helper.

Priority Master III is a system and method that exposes the internal priority of applications to the user. This allows instant visual identification of a program's priority via the main window title bar and supports storing and retrieving of programs quickly with the capability to dynamically change the programs priority.

It also employees a priority-less concept in which programs are automatically entered into one of three lists of programs that are automatically prioritized any time that they are running.

It also provides an automated method for priority scanning which locates the first available priority Level which is not locked out by another program and insures timely execution of the selected program.

Priority Master III is a novel and useful program that is fully protected by US Patent #5,428,789.

 Photo above shows Priority Master III Setup running on @Macarlo's XP Pro

 WHY USE PRIORITY MASTER III?

Because when you hit a button or click on something, you want the answer as fast as possible so that you can take the next action. It also gives you error free CD/DVD recording, better CD/DVD playback and reduces the response robbing effect of anti-virus scanning and similar programs.

Currently there are two ways to get the fastest possible User-Response-Time (URT):

Use Priority Master III to increase or decrease the amount of CPU time the application receives to get the desired URT in multitasking scenarios. This will directly effect how long it takes to get the answer back from the program.

The priority of a program is not important when the CPU has a lot of idle time. When the CPU gets busy and two or more programs want the all of the CPU time, it is decision time. You can let Windows decide for you, decrease your program load or you can set the program’s priority to which program is more important.

On Windows NT4/2K/XP(SP1), Priority Master III delivers superior performance and control by allowing the user to determine which applications are important (need high priority) and which applications are less important (need less priority).

Photo above shows Priority Master III Insttall conclusion

OVERVIEW ON THIS TOOL

Priority Master III Version 3.0 improves your computer's multitasking capabilities on Windows NT4/2000/XP (Requires Service Pack 1 on XP). It displays the program's priority in the main window and gives a list of the running windowed application in highest to lowest priority order. You control how fast your system responds at all times.

Simple to use in Automatic mode, it employs a "priority-less" prioritization methodology by adding programs into three distinct categories using only a few mouse clicks. This instantly gives you these features:

• Error-free CD/DVD recording using the Auto CD/DVD Burn Mode Status MAXI-PROTECT Package.
• Better CD/DVD playback when multitasking.
• Reduces or eliminates slow responses when running anti-virus, disk defragmentation and similar software.
• Allows you to set the priority of the foreground application.
  

The DEFENDER Mode 1 option instantly restores fast system responses no mater how many programs are running and Mode 3 allows you to soft terminate all running windowed programs with a single button. This gives you instant full control in any situation when the system responds slowly.

The Class Analysis feature evaluates your machines performance against its inherent maximum potential and reports UNDERLOADED, NOMINAL or OVERLOADED for each priority class.

The Manual Override feature allows you to:

• Instantly change the priority of any running windowed application.
• Start a list of prioritized programs in a specific order at system boot time using a Hot List.
• Build and maintain a bulk store of programs and priorities for quick recall and running.
• Selectively close applications started from the Hot List or Run List when Priority Master III exits.
  

Photo above shows  Priority Master III Folder

ADVANCED TACTICAL SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

Inherent in the design of the product is some security features that may not be part of your overall security coverage. This also may not be apparent to a casual user, so some of the more esoteric uses are covered in this section.

The key to any security programs is to insure that they intercept all possible entry paths or to make certain that the security programs are running! If the security program is not running, then you have no security. Just because the program is loaded in memory, does NOT mean that it is running. The CPU could be running a possibly hostile program during idle cycles or running a hostile program at a higher priority than the security program! The defensive posture of Priority Master III could be quickly brought into action protecting your system in the following two scenarios:

Photo above shows  programs under Priority Master III administration here

ZED_ZED ALPHA 1:

A hostile program or hacker has penetrated your computer and you want quick containment. You can use the DEFENDERMode 3 and soft terminate all running windowed applications. That may eliminate the threat, but you may not catch the person(s) or program(s) involved.

Another alternative is to do a bait and switch. Once that you know that security has been compromised, you can add your security programs into the Automatically Prioritized Programs, Setup and Statususing the Add CD/DVD Burner Software (RealTime priority). This will start the Auto CD/DVD Burn Mode logic that knocks down all RealTime programs into the High Class. This insures that the security program is running ahead of every other windowed program in the system. Of course, you loose the ability to reliably burn CD or DVD’s when you fool the CD/DVD burner logic. It may help you to discover the identity of the hostile program or hacker if your security programs are designed for that purpose. Remember to remove the security program from CD/DVD list when you are finished so that you do not overburden the CPU unnecessarily. Note that the priority response is instant. As soon as you add the program to the list, it will be immediately set to RealTime and as soon as you remove it from the list, it will be instantly set to Normal.

Another alternative is to do all of the steps above and keep the security program(s) in the list. This may soak up a lot of CPU time, so use with discretion.

Photo above shows  Priority Master III Help built-in (complete)

ZED_ZED ALPHA 2:

Many companies only run their virus scanning programs at night on both the servers and the clients. Here, you would include all of your virus scanning, pest scanning ( ie. PestPatrol) and security software (zone alarm or firewall) on the client machines using the Automatically Prioritized Programs, Setup and Statusdialog. Select the box Add Virus, Pest, Defrag and Game Software (Idle priority). and add them into the list. If possible, have the scanning software run continuously. It will not effect the performance of the machine noticeably. This could give you a quick heads up on a virus or related problem and allow you to take action before it spreads.

Obviously, if any problems are encountered, you can go directly to a ZED_ZED ALPHA 1 condition.

What does the ZED_ZED ALHPA 1 & 2 mean? The names were just made up to help identify the situations that they represent. They just sound so much better than Mode 1 or Condition 1 and so forth.

Photo above shows  Priority Master III Manual Override ready for sets

MANUAL OVERRIDE (DIALOG)

Use this to view and change the priority of any programs that are running, add to the Hot List and add to the Run List.

Shortcut: Key F2

NOTE: The Priority Master III program must remain active due to internal processing of thread and process information to use this command. Therefore, if you start programs and want to be able to change their priorities later, DO NOT exit Priority Master III until you shutdown the system or close all of the programs that were started. If exit and then restart the program later, you can still change the priority of your programs.

The list is sorted by Class then by Level with the highest priorities at the top of the list. Note that the real priority is the Combined Priority. Levels of Idle and Time Critical may not appear correct in the list, but this is in correct Combined Priority order.

Any changes will cause the list to be resorted and redisplayed. This displays the number of programs started, Class, Level and icon. On the File Details button, the program's path is also displayed. If the Modify button is enabled, then the program’s priority can be modified. The new priority is reflected in the program’s main window title bar.

Fields of the dialog are as follows:

Top controls left to right:

Application(s) Running and number: The total number of windowed application running.

Pop Up on Start Up: If checked, this dialog will be displayed as soon as the program starts. If unchecked, the Automatically Prioritized Programs Setup and Statusis displayed.

Information Messages: The Global Information Messages. It is strongly recommended that you leave this ON for the first few weeks. Additional information is available at: Information Messages

Warning Messages: The Global Warning Messages. It is strongly recommended that you leave this ON for about the first few weeks. Additional information is available at: Warning Messages

Auto CD/DVD Burn Mode Status is ON or OFF (ON if there are any CD/DVD burner programs currently running).

DEFENDER Mode 1 Status On or OFF (ON if the Mode 1 was selected)

Automatic (button): Starts the Automatically Prioritized Programs Setup and Statusdialog.

Add to List:

Auto-Close List (button): Go to the Auto-Close Program Status and display the programs that will close automatically when this program exits.

Go to List on Add: Displays the Hot List or Run Listwhen a program is added to it’s list.

Box: Number of programs in the Run List.

Box: Number of programs in the Hot List.

Add/Run: Add the program in this row to the Run List.

Add/Hot: Add the program in this row to the Hot List.

Center:

Refresh: Reload the dialog data.

No.: Program number that is sorted highest to lowest for the windowed programs.

Modify: Select this to modify the program’s priority.

Combined Priority: The numeric value of the Class and Level combination.

Class: The program's Class.

Level: The program Level.

Icon: The icon associated with the program.

Started by PM III: Yes means that the program was started using the Hot List or Run List. This allows the user to control the priority Level in addition to the Class. No means that the program was dynamically acquired and only the Class can be modified.

Modify program Priority:

Set FGND Priority: Displays the Set Foreground Program Priority dialog.

FGND Active: Checked if active.

Modify: Displays the Set Class and Level dialog. Note that programs not started by using the Hot list or Run List can only modify the Class.

Combined Priority: This is the real priority of the program. For additional information see Combined Priority DescriptionClass: See ClassLevel: See Class

Bottom buttons:

Hot List: Display the Hot List of up to 10 key programs

Run List: Display the Run List that contains the bulk storage of programs and their priorities.

Priority Graphic: Display the Priority - Graphic Overview - Web Site

Class Analysis: Display the Class Analysis

Scroll Up: Scroll up to the previous 5 entries.

Scroll Down: Scroll down to the next 5 entries if present.

Program Details: Display the applications path or window title to help identify the program. Minimum functionality to identify and change the priority is provided on this dialog. If you want to add the program to the Hot List or Run List, then select Cancel/Exit and go back to the main Manual Override dialog and select the appropriate button.

DEFENDER: Display the DEFENDER=HID_DEFENDER_DLG dialog for security/performance.

Cancel/End: Close the dialog.

Reset User Options: Display the Reset User Optionsdialog.

Note: Please wait for all of the entries to be presented before selecting the SCROLL UP/SCROLL DOWN buttons. If you press them while entries are being displayed, the mouse clicks can get lost. Simply scroll back up to the 1st entry and it will be reset.

For programs started by PM III:

Note that in multi-threaded applications containing various priority Levels, a priority modification of only the Level may result in the sliding of the various internal program Levels based on the new priority Level. If only the Level is modified, then only the application’s main thread will be effected. It may be necessary to change the Class of the application to actually get an increased CPU eligibility status.

Version 3.06 is out on October 15th, 2002 and you can get it at:
http://prioritymaster.com/primast3.htm


Here is what it has:

Version 3.06 - READY FOR PRIME TIME! Bug fixes: 1)The system menu "X" now hides the icon from the Task Bar. 2) Removes the system tray icon on exit (did fail some times before). 3) Fixed auto/manual pop up option settings when auto only was specified. 4) You can now delete the 4 CD/DVD programs that are included if you do not want them. New features:

  bluedot.gif (923 bytes) Added Browse button to add programs not currently running into the 3 automatically prioritized lists (CD/DVD, Favorites, Virus etc).

  bluedot.gif (923 bytes) Added Set Foreground button and Activate to the Add Virus/Pest/Defrag dialog.

  bluedot.gif (923 bytes) Added Show invisible windows to show/hide invisible windows on the Manual Override & Program details, and the 3 automatically prioritized lists (CD/DVD, Favorites, Virus etc).

  bluedot.gif (923 bytes) Added  Request foreground immediately button on the Manual Override Modify for Set Class and Level dialog. This allows you change priority and bring the program into the foreground with a single button click or select OK and bring the program into the foreground without changing the priority.

VISIT AUTHOR

Get full control of your machine and run as many programs as you want. Website is at http://www.prioritymaster.com

BTW, LOOK AT THIS TESTIMONAL:

PS Great product, my 400Mhz machine runs great, I thought about upgrading it because I was getting used to my 1.2Ghz machine, but I see no reason now thanks to your Priority Master III program! M. Pirlot

HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

@Macarlo, Inc.
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