What is hex?

Clarifications

Hex as related to PCs refers to hexadecimal (base 16) numbers. I don't understand the rest of the question. Can you elaborate?

I don't know why you would want to change it on your machine. Can you be a bit more specific? I am not sure what it is you want to change.

I read somewhere of someone changing it and it doing something positive and I was just curious what it does and why someone would want to change it.

Can't remember if there is is anything you could change unless your into programming and architecture.

Conversion Code - Chart
DECIMAL HEX BINARY
0 0 0000
1 1 0001
2 2 0010
3 3 0011
4 4 0100
5 5 0101
6 6 0110
7 7 0111
8 8 1000
9 9 1001
10 A 1010
11 B 1011
12 C 1100
13 D 1101
14 E 1110
15 F 1111

To change a setting in the Registry. The setting is in hex notation. The setting tells Windows what the size of the L2 cache is.

The reason it was changed in the post you read was because Windows did not properly detect the size of the cache when Windows was installed.

The L2 cache is some memory built into the CPU or motherboard that helps with system speed.

The best way to determine your L2 cache size is to refer to your system documentation under processor specs. Failing that, look up the exact model of your machine at the manufacturer website. Get the motherboard and processor specs. Find out what size the L2 cache is.

After that we can look it up in the registry, and see if the setting is correct. If it isn't we can adjust it.

The one where you saw the post? It explicitly tells you how to find the cache size. It gives you a script to copy and paste and name and run. It tells you where to look in the registry, how to read the setting, and how to change it if applicable.

It also tells you to back up the registry before editing it.

Tell us what you found out about your cache, what it says in the registry, and what you think you should do.

Windows runs VBScript just fine. You can write all sorts of code with just a text editor. In this case, you just need to paste it in!

Don't bother with Visual Studio. It would be a HUGE download and install, if available. Not worth the trouble, and you don't need it.

You are still making this harder than it needs to be. Just take it one step at a time.
Relax. :)

I found it, it's Organize > Folder and Search Options > View > Hide extensions for known file types (check box).

I can't open the .vbs file. The 'thinking' cursor comes on for about a second or less and then disappears. There's an option for open with command prompt, I tried that but as soon as it opens it closes. I'm having big time memory problems on my computer and I just ordered 2 x 1GB SDRAM that should solve the problem. I may not be able to do this before then, that is, if that is the reason why I can't open the file.

OK. So you found the setting. You don't need Visual Studio. You can now paste that text into Notepad or something (as plain text) and save it with the .vbs extension. Double-click the file to run it, and get the result. Compare it to the registy entry. If it doesn't match, you can edit the registry to bring it in line.

Post back if you are still having any difficulty. Good luck. :)

The thread that sparked all this off is a Tech Tip for XP!

Thanks for the Thumbs.

Does the system seem more responsive now?

I would advise that when the registry hack corrupts your installation of Vista, you don't come here looking for a solution. :)

Well, it does seem like internet explorer is running crisper. Also, programs that weren't working before are loading up now. I'm still getting error messages for low memory, but I think those will go away once I add the Crucial 2GB KIT ( 2 X 1GB ) DDR2 Memory PC2-4200 533MHz 240-pin Ooooooh yeeeaaahh 8-)

Tended by wizards in the High Energy Magic building. Anthill Inside. Sometimes suffers from Out of Cheese errors.

+++ This may be the time for the Roundworld Project +++