============================================================
Readme for Boost-It v1.4  2000-08-13

Boost-It Home Page: http://boostit.up.to/
 
Contents:

first there will be the formal rules,
then the cautions and warnings,
but then comes the happy fun time stuff.
============================================================

Unzip the boost-it.exe file in the directory of another executable.  It is used to 
change the priority of programs, either at the start of the program, or programs 
that are already running.

============================================================

The command line "boost-it -h" produces this output:

Boost-It.exe v1.4 - Copyright (c) 2000 Roger Cody Venable. All rights 
reserved.
Boost-It Home Page:  http://24.30.47.64/boost-it
This software is SHAREWARE, this Evaluation version will run for 30 
days.

Boost-It.exe: Spawns / Changes priority of processes.

Usage:
        Boost-It.exe [options] <target.exe> <target args>

Options:
-h              this help
-l              show list of processes (ignore other options)
-dnn            sleep for #nn seconds before runnning
                (do not put a space between -d and number)
-#nnn           boost process with ID #nnn
                (IDs shown in listing, do not put a space between -# 
and number)

-s              start new target process
                (if not already running)
-f              force start new target process
                (even if others are running), -a ignored
-a              set priority of all processes matching target
                (default to just first)
-p(l|n|h|r)     set priority to low, normal, high (default), realtime

-q              quiet mode (overrides -l and -v)
-v              verbose

Specify valid target executable for -s and -f,
otherwise target is case-insensitive substring.

============================================================

USE WITH CARE
Ok, be serious now.
This is a powerful but tiny program which can change some fundamental 
functions on your system.  Misuse can render a system practically 
unusable.  Proper use can make your games, business, web server, etc. 
run much faster.

CAUTION
Don't skimp on the typing.
Boost-It will match (case insensitive) all process names containing the 
target substring, including directory names.  Use of a commonly occurring 
substring (such as "C:\") rather than a more specific term (such as 
"C:\Windows\Notepad.exe") will match more than one process and will 
cause unexpected results.  Use a full path name for the target if possible, 
and include the ".exe" extension.  To provide a list of currently running 
processes, use the -l option.

WARNING
The user is cautioned against foolhardy use of the Realtime priority, ANY 
use of Realtime CAN cause systems to hang or freeze.  ALL use of the 
Realtime priority level, especially with programs and drivers which 
automatically start upon boot-up is NOT recommended unless performed 
by a competent computer system technologist.
This thing might work for rocket scientists, but if you just want to stop getting fragged because your game lags, stick with 
High priority.

============================================================

HAPPY FUN TIME STUFF
(whew, you made it)

Edit the properties of a shortcut and add "boost-it -f " at the start of the 
'target' executable.  The shortcut will now open the program in high-priority 
mode.

Target (Command Line) Examples:

C:\whereeveryouunzippedthefile\boost-it -l
 -- This will show a listing of the currently running programs on your 
system.  The processes that the Boost-It program can affect are shown 
(some system processes and system services are not shown).  Here is a 
fictional example listing showing the priority and name of processes:

D:\bin>boost-it -l
Boost-It.exe v1.4 - Copyright (c) 2000 Roger Cody Venable. All rights 
reserved.
Boost-It Home Page:  http://24.30.47.64/boost-it
This software is SHAREWARE, this Evaluation version will run for 30 
days.

Current Processes

64369 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
59873 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
72957 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
116997 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MNMSRVC.EXE
111697 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
140993 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
181641 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RPCSS.EXE
228349 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
263961 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MDM.EXE
299573 Normal   E:\APACHE\APACHE.EXE
296709 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WINOA386.MOD
304021 Normal   C:\PROGRAM FILES\WAR-FTPD\WARTRAYICON.EXE
375897 Normal   C:\DYNAMIX\TRIBES\EZSERVER.EXE
414537 Normal   E:\APACHE\APACHE.EXE
436013 Normal   C:\DYNAMIX\TRIBES\EZCONSOLE.EXE
474761 Normal   C:\DYNAMIX\TRIBES\TRIBES.EXE
514105 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
516865 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WINOA386.MOD
629649 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
703269 Normal   C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WINOA386.MOD
752169 Normal   C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE\WINWORD.EXE
692769 Normal   E:\WORK\BOOSTIT\BOOST-IT.EXE
No target specified. 


D:\bin>

More examples:

C:\any_dir\boost-it -s "f:\more stuff\Happy Fun Game.exe"
 -- This starts 'Happy Fun Game' with high-priority, or if it's already running, 
sets the priority to high.  Note that the multi-word enclosing quotes are 
required.

C:\any dir\boost-it -#474761 ph
-- This boosts the program 'Tribes.exe' in the listing above to high-priority.

C:\game\boost-it -f -pl crawler.exe
 -- This starts the program 'crawler' with low-priority.

C:\any_dir\boost-it -ph game.exe
 -- The running program 'game' will be changed to high-priority.  If the game 
is not running, the command will have no effect.

C:\any_dir\boost-it d120 -f -pl "f:\more stuff\maintenance 
process.exe" -a -b -c
 -- Boost-It starts, sleeps for two minutes, and then starts 'maintenance 
process.exe' with low-priority and command line arguments (a,b,c).  Any 
other 'maintenance process.exe' already running is not affected.
-- The delay allows Boost-It to be used in the Start-Up folder and for the 
computer to settle before launching an application.

C:\Industrial Stuff\boost-it -s -pl "Service_Which_Crashes_A_Lot.exe"
 -- Boost-It starts 'Process_Which_Crashes_A_Lot.exe' with low-priority if it 
is not already running.  If any processes are already running, a new one is 
not started, but the running process is changed to low priority.
 -- If using an NT system, the 'at' command can be used to schedule this 
type of command to occur at regular intervals, ensuring that the process 
restarts after crashing, and always runs at a specified priority.

BAD EXAMPLES - DON'T DO THIS
C:\any_dir\boost-it exe
 -- Finds all processes which match the target substring "exe" and makes 
any or all of them high-priority.  In the listing sample above, all processes 
would be affected, and you might just have to reboot.

C:\any_dir\boost-it a pr windows
 -- This is really, really bad.  Instant death.

C:\any_dir\boost-it -l -v -q
 -- Wow is this boring... this command would verbosely list processes, if it 
weren't set for quiet mode, which suppresses output.

REAL ACTUAL LIVE BUGS?  NO WAY, JOSE!
This program is written and tested using the safest, meanest, efficient, 
error-free coding practices and we certify it against any known defects.

If you find a real problem with Boost-It, and not a problem with the user, the 
computer, the virus scanner, the operating system, your mother-in-law, or 
anything else but just the Boost-It program itself, and it's a matter of real 
technical concern, not just that you like computer people, and not because 
you're soliciting junk mail, please write to visualecho@yahoo.com and 
describe in as much detail as possible the problem with the Boost-It 
program.  Otherwise we got our fingers in our ears, not even listening, la la 
la la la.

Contact for purchase and licensing information:

boost_it_2000@yahoo.com

