Section 1, Stopping RuneScape's new lag: WARNING: What this section is focused on causes data loss in the end if you can't fix the problem. This method is only for Windows based computers. *DOESN'T WORK ON MACINTOSH IN THIS TUTORIAL*. If you have a method that you'd like me to post for Mac, PM me and I'll give you 100% credit. Also, this method erases everything from your computer and re-installs Windows if you just can't fix it. Please see chapter 3.0 on how to back up your important files. Disclaimer to this tutorial: I'm just making a guide to help people. You're not obligated to do this. I'm not responsible for any damage done to your computer. I've done this to my computer many times and nothing has happened. If you follow everything in this guide and try something on your own, I have no control over that. As I have no control over your actions. Now that you have read that mean and totally un-necessary disclaimer -.- , let's get started : ! Table of contents: 1.0 Introduction on reformatting Windows. 2.0 Common warnings and mistakes. 3.0 Backing up your data. 4.0 Running 'System recovery'. 5.0 Feedback suggestions. 5.1 Cooling your processor. 5.2 Defragment your Local disk. 5.3 Update your graphics drivers. 1.0 Introduction on reformatting Windows. Here's the story: You go to Best buy and pick out a beautiful computer with lots of RAM, the best anti-virus software, the best graphics card, etc. You pay for it and go set it up and you're loving life. Now, fast-forward 1 year into the feature. You have half eaten french fries crammed between your keyboard's keys, you have a cat sitting on top of your monitor for some weird reason :lol:, you have dust on the inside of your computer, and the list just goes on and on... Worst part is, you go to play RuneScape (after 15-30 minutes of booting) and you find yourself screaming at your monitor. Don't do this for two reasons: it's torture for your vocal cords, and next, you may break your computer out of anger. Now, in this guide, we will fix all of this so your computer is like brand new. This is a free way to do it. Many people don't know it, but if your computer has been made in about the past 4-5 years, it has an RP in it. What is this? It stands for a recovery partition. When your computer was in the factory, they partitioned your hard drive and installed Windows on it, so that way you can reformat it if you get into trouble with it. Here is a picture of a Recovery Partition: 2.0 Common warnings and mistakes [hide=This an annoying part, so I hid it] Never, never, never, ever, EVER turn off your computer while it's reformatting. This will corrupt Windows and prevent you from starting. Have Lot's of patience! As stated above never turn it off while it's reformatting. Don't do this while lightning outside, this can turn it off and you don't want that. Do this at your own risk. This is a very risky process. My brother turned his off, it corrupted and when it finished, there was no sound driver. Never 'Format' your recovery drive!!! I did this in one of my other computers and I had to use my Windows disk to reformat.[/hide] color=#BF0000]3.0 Backing up your data[/color].[/color] Hey, let's face it. If you are 18+ I'm sure you have important bank statements and other important information stored in your computer. You will have to back this all up. Follow this .GIF to help you: Basically it tells you to put all of your stuff on to a folder and then put it on to a Flash drive or External drive and then safely remove it after it's done. There's certain programs that make it easy to back it all up. Spare backup is an easy one. Some, maybe including Spare backup have online storage, but back it up to a Hard drive too. Files that are recommended to backup: Pictures Documents Installers (can be accessed via C:\Program files\"Program here"\Installer should be in there.) *TIP* If your computer is unbearably slow, there's a really easy solution to it. For those of you don't know what Safe Mode is or how to get into it, it is just a process that only loads Windows, drivers and your files. You computer will be at a terrible resolution that you can't change and there's no sound driver. To get to Safe mode, restart your computer and then repeatedly press F8 and select Safe mode. Just copy everything like the .GIF says. into it and proceed to the next step. 4.0 Running 'System recovery'. Well... If you have done everything explained, eg: Backing up files, then you are go. What you are going to want to do now, is either print out these instructions or write them down the best you can. You will probably need to know what to do and you can't access you PC while reformatting unless you have another one. First, turn off your computer from the 'Start menu'. Next, disconnect all printers and other hardware (except for internal hardware, mouse, keyboard, and monitor.), Then, power the computer back on and in some cases of a Compaq Presario, repeatedly press F11. One for sure I know on Gateway computers, repeatedly press F8 until you get a menu (that goes for Compaq Presario as-well). On the menu you should see some of the following Safe mode. Safe mode with networking. Enable boot logging. Last known good configuration. In most cases, if you see it, press 'Repair your computer' and then let it load. You'll notice sometimes it'll prompt you to enter your computer's password. Select your computer's name from the drop down menu and enter your password. If you don't have a password, leave it blank and hit enter. You should now see: Restore your computer from a backup. Command prompt. Memory diagnostic tool. Look at the very bottom. You should see something like 'Dell factory image restore'. Select it and confirm that you want to do it and follow the on screen instructions. It should now reformat. ONLY when it tells you to, restart your computer. If all went well, you should have to set your computer up from just like it was when you first got it. \ 5.0 Feedback suggestions. It's been brought to my attention that people have been posting easier ways to solve this. If you have a shared computer that you aren't allowed to reformat, there's still hope. This requires a simple download which has been tested and has proven to be Virus/Spyware free. 5.1 Cooling your processor. Someone named WingedFish posted a very handy program that is designed to cool your processer and overall computer. This program called SpeedFan. SpeedFan works using a Temperature reader for your processor that detects how hot it is. This can be useful when you're running more than one program. Especially when running RuneScape in full screen, as this uses up alot of your processor. SpeedFan will lower CPU usage by cooling it down. 5.2 Defragment your Local disk. We have alot of un-nessacery files and folders in our computer, taking up precious disk space. This can be fixed by Defragmenting our Local disks. Or the ones we have Windows installed on. To do this, either follow the below .GIF or follow these instructions: First, go to 'My computer' and right click the Local disk C: icon and click Properties, then press Tools and click Defragment. This will run Disk Defragmenter. This clean up un-nessesary files that you computer doesn't use. 5.3 Update your graphics drivers. Well, the title speaks for itself, this is a very important part of RuneScaping in full screen. If you hve a graphics card and your computer is more than a year old, you need to go to you graphics card's website and there should be a download there. I hope this guide has explained what you can do to fix your lag. You never know, JAGeX may just fix the lag somehow. But so far probably the best thing to do would be to update your drivers and defragment. __________________________________________________________________________________ Section 2, Cleaning your tower: This section is just as risky as reformatting. But if you do as this tutorial says, you'll be able to do it with no harm. :thumbup: . Table of contents: 1.0 Introduction of this chapter. 2.0 What you need. 3.0 Getting started. 1.0 Introduction of this chapter. Well, as you can see if you've ever taken a look inside of your computer, it'll be very dusty and may even cause you to sneeze. This is caused by the fans that provide cooling air for the CPU (processor. Intel, Amd.) What happens here is that the incoming air contains tiny amounts of dust, which eventually get built up on the fans and CPU. There's a pretty easy way to do this. The way that I'm covering is the best way. 2.0 What you need. Q-tips. (a must have) Can of compressed air. (highly recommended) Small wash cloth. Mild soap. Access to a sink. Dry, clean towel. Possibly a Philips head screw driver A brain (added for humor -.-) 3.0 Getting started. First, here is a shot of a computer tower and the access points to open it. (computer access points vary. Check with your manufacturer): Open it and carefully slide off the cover. And here is how it should look when it's open. To clean it just take a Q-tip and swab all the parts with dust VERY GENTLY! Then take the can of compressed air and attack the straw. Blow this on the CPU located in the center. It says AVC on the fan to give you a clue where it is. Be careful with this. Blow it between the metal bristles and on places you can find on the motherboard that have excess dust build up. When done with this, gently slide the side cover back on. Now wet a small towel or wash cloth in a sink and ring it out as tight as you can so it's just damp. You don't want it dripping. Now put a small amount on soap on it and ring it out once again. Rub it on your computer's outside tower and immediately wipe it with the dry towel. Do this to the entire OUTSIDE ONLY. Never use any type of water or soap in the inside. This can damage it. Please write feed back. \