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/13 Doubtfire’s RAMDisk Installation and Configuration Guide – Updated March 18th 2008

Doubtfire’s RAMDisk Installation and Configuration Guide.

UPDATE: Trinity 1.1 Boost Patch has moved your settings!

Step 1 ‐ Preparations:

Important: Close your EVE Online client before starting this guide!

Users with the “/end /LUA:OFF” option enabled on the EVE shortcut look below.

As far as I can see users using this option on the EVE shortcut, still have their cache located in the installation directory. So remember to follow this guide with that in mind.

Users NOT using the “/end /LUA:OFF” option look below(most common option)

Locate your EVE Online Cache folder. Users running Windows XP will have to look in “C:\Documents and settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\”.

Users running Windows Vista will have to look in “C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\CCP\EVE\”.

With Trinity 1.1 Boost Patch, CCP has made the cache folder name so it corresponds with the location EVE is installed in. Fx. If you have EVE installed in “C:\Program Files\CCP\EVE”, the cache folder will be named “c_program_files_ccp_eve_tranquility”. Inside that folder your cache will be located. This is your cache folder, and this guide should be followed with that in mind.

So the cache folder for a standard installation will be in this location(picture below): “C:\Documents And Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\CCP\EVE\c_program_files_ccp_eve_tranquility\cache”

NOTE: If you can not find the “Local Settings” folder, it is because your system is set up to hide hidden folders. To show hidden folder, goto “My Computer” in the top menu select “Tools‐>Folder Options”. Select the “View” tab. Navigate down the list, until you find “Hidden files and folders”. Mark “Show hidden files and folders”, then click “OK”.

Once you have located your cache folder a good idea is to back it up in case anything goes wrong. Right‐click it and select “Copy”. Paste it onto your desktop or any location of your choice. This folder is not needed for installation of RAMDisk, merely a safety precaution. You may wish to skip this part.


Step 2 – Installing RAMDisk:

Download and install RAMDisk from this location: https://www.cenatek.com/product_page_ramdisk.php

Once installed open the “RAMDisk Configuration Utility”. Under “Settings” choose a Disk size of 100MB(You may select the size you like, but I find 100MB to be enough), select “Unformatted”.


Select the “Load And Save” tab. Tick “Load Disk Image at Startup” and “Save Disk Image on Shutdown”, as shown on the picture above. Start the RAMDisk by clicking “Start RAMDisk”.

NOTE: You might receive an error upon starting the RAMDisk Image file load failed, view image above, ignore this and press “OK”.


Step 3 – Creating new partition:

Your RAMDisk is now created, but one more step is needed for Windows to see the drive properly. Goto “Control Panel‐>Administrative Tools‐>Computeradministration”. Click “Disk Management” and wait a few seconds for it to load.

Right‐click the “Unallocated” disk and select “New Partition”.

Click ”Next”.


Select ”Primary Partition”, then click ”Next”.

Windows will automatically select the entire disk size, click ”Next”.


Choose a drive letter you have available, I choosed V. Click “Next”.

Format the partition with above settings. Click “Next”.


Partition created, click ”Finish”.

RAMDisk is now ready for use, close this window.


Step 4 – Copying folders:

Goto your EVE cache folder, mark the folders as shown on the picture above. Leave out the Picture and Settings folders. Press “CTRL+X” on your keyboard. The folders will go grey, this means you have selected the “Cut” option.

Now open your RAMDisk disk, press ”CTRL+V” you will see your cache files being inserted onto your RAMDisk. It should look like this when it is done. NOTE: Make sure the above folders are gone from your cache directory, and are now located on your RAMDisk in stead. If they are still in your cache folder, repeat this step.


Step 5 – Redirecting EVE cache folders:

Download and install awxLink from this location: http://www.arniworld.de/downloads.htm

NOTE: Remember to download the correct version of awxLink if you’re running 64‐bit Windows.

When the installation has finished, reboot your computer.

NOTE: It’s important you reboot, or this will NOT work!

Once your system is running again, go to the EVE cache folder, as described in Step 1.

Your cache folder should now look like this, with only Pictures and Settings in there. If you still have the other folders in here, repeat step 4. Let’s move on with linking the folders now situated on your RAMDisk. Right click in a blank spot, select “New‐>Folder JunctionPoint”.


This window will pop up, navigate to your RAMDisk in the list, select ”Browser” then press ”OK”. Repeat this until you have linked all the folders.

NOTE: Do NOT link subfolders. Only Browser, Fonts, MachoNet, Map, Shader, Temp and Texture should be linked.


If done correctly your cache folder will look like this. You now need to rename all these JunctionPoint folders their original name. Right‐click the folder, select “Rename” from the list. Rinse and repeat until all folders are renamed.


Your cache folder should now look like this. If so, you are all done ☺ Close this window and start up EVE. You will notice a performance boost in many scenarios in EVE, making the game more enjoyable.


FAQ:

Q: Will I have to do anything to make this work again, when my computer has been turned off? A: No, if RAMDisk works as intended you don’t need to do anything, just start up EVE.

Q: I have a brand new computer running 4GB RAM and Quad‐core, will I still see performance boost using RAMDisk? A: Yes, no matter your computers specifications, RAMDisk will improve loading times.

Q: I only have 512MB RAM, will RAMDisk help me? A: Probably not, I would recommend at least 1GB of RAM, for this to give a noticeable performance boost.

Q: I’m running multiple accounts, do I have to do anything special for RAMDisk to work on all of them? A: No, all your characters will be using the same cache folder, except if you use the “/END /LUA:OFF” option on your shortcuts(you will know what I mean if you have this option enabled).

Q: RAMDrive says I only have 30 days remaining of the trial period. Will I be able to use RAMDrive after this? A: Yes, RAMDrive should still work after the 30 days are gone, but will be limited to 400MB. You can also purchase RAMDrive from their website.

This guide was created by Mrs Doubtfire – QUAM Singulari

Questions or remarks? EVEMail me.