Showing posts with label Computer Problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Computer Problems. Show all posts

Friday, February 19, 2010

Holdem Manager Again- Destruction, Tweaks, and Improved Performance



Well, yesterday didn't go as planned (but so is life). I performed a tweak on my computer to get rid of an error message in Event Viewer (turns out I was right, more on this later in post). Besides having to research and solve my problem (still on the trial version), I needed to bus some Paperwork to a State Agency. By the time I was done, blogging and Poker were the furthest things from my mind. I hopped on UB, and played some free money casino games (I like the challenge of Pontoon). I also observe and chat with the Blackjack Players. Recently, one was able to turn $20 into 1k (he's done it a few times), and another turned $80 into $2k (but I think he lost a bit). Personally, I would like to try that as a side challenge, but don't have time right now, and kinda feel like chicken (a lot of folks were losing last night).

But, enough with the rambling. I kept getting an error message in Event Viewer (its gone now, since there were so many, I cleared the log), but research had narrowed it down to a user sign off issue. The only new users on my machine was Postgres from Holdem Manager. So to test my theory, I blindly deleted postgres from net user. Walla, the error was gone. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH, there's no way without indepth study to add the user back, and Postgres SQL, along with Holdem Manager, will no longer work.

I Found the error:
Message: The COM+ Event System could not remove the EventSystem.EventSubscription object {CEB8B221-89C5-41A8-98CE-79B413BF150B}-{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}-{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}



Now its true, this is a fairly new installation, and reimporting hands, plus getting the tourney info from Stars for the last 13 tourneys (or even manually entering the data), would not be overwhelming. But by God, I was intent on fixing this WITHOUT disassembling my database. I had limited time for research (even though the deadline for getting my paperwork in was today, part of my new Poker Life includes keeping up with schedules and other outside issues). So a quick search of the Holdem Manager Forums, and some googling, brought me some answers. The redo of Postgres lead to a whole new improvement in performance, and easier reinstalls on this machine and others. The latest configuration has also rid the machine of the error regarding Users signing in and out.

First off, the newest Combo Installer for Holdem Manager has 8.4x Postgres SQL with a blank password downloaded and automatically configured on your machine. So, to reinstall Postgres SQL without losing my database, I needed the 8.4x version, do an installation WITH a password - its required, but the version offered on the HEM site is 8.3x. Now, a few folks have reported in the forums that they downloaded 8.3x and installed, then installed 8.4x, and everything was okey dokey. But I didn't have that kind of time. I downloaded 8.4x directly from the Postgres SQL site (the download for windows x86 machines, the non-64 bit version of Vista).

I then put a copy of the data folder under HEMdata off the main branch of my file structure (that is, directly off of the C; direcotry). This proved useful later, since from my earlier Win2k Network Certification days, I knew NTFS systems work better with file structures directly off the main branch, as opposed to deep filing under Program files, pseudo My Documents for users, etc. In fact, on my other Computer running Win2k pro, I had moved all the folders to the Main Tree.


I also left a copy of the Data for HEM under the current Program Files Postgres folder. I then uninstalled the Postgres that came with Holdem Manager, and installed the Full Version 8.4x using the Program Files directory as the data folder. This did not work. So I uninstalled, and resinstalled using the HEMData folder. This folder also contained my previous tweaks, and they were maintained as part of the reinstallation. With the new version, you need to set a password. THIS WAS A KEY TO SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, AND THE ERROR MESSAGES IN EVENT VIEWER. I use the XP Menu style in Vista, so pull up Postgres SQL, Start Server, right click Run As Administrator, and walla, we are up and running. Now, with my Data directory located where it is, the speed and Memory performance of Postgres and HEM are greatly improved. I thought I was missing hands, so did a test reimport from files for last three tourneys. Got Error messages saying that the HH's already existed (totally fun to learn about this kind of stuff, but that's just me).

Lessons learned: when download the Combo Installer, uninstall the version of Postgres that came with HEM, and reinstall from Postgres site with Password. To keep the Database, simply move to a file folder under the main directory tree. If need to move or place on a new machine, simply copy this database from the separate file folder over to new machine (may need to make new copy, if password info stored in old directory). No need to EVER RE IMPORT HANDS!! No more error messages in Vista when logging on and off Computer, or when starting, stopping Postgres (I have the service set to manual, not AUTOMATIC, so I can run when I want to, no need to use System Resources when not using Holdem Manager).

Hope you found the Above Post Useful. PPS, I have McAfee firewall set to Standard, no ports open, and SHOW SMART RECOMMENDATIONS. Therefore, when a program attempts to go in or out of computer, I can allow access. I have never had to manually configure McAfee as the HEM site instructs (just allow access when the Pop Up window appears), and have never had to disable UAC (User Account Control).

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Well, Starting to get a Little Tired

As you can see, did a little tweaking of the site. Hope you like some of the Blogs at the Bottom. Some of the Newbies need your Support, (just like me), so give them a cheer. Others are great from everything to stats, strategy, and rush poker. Something for everyone out there.

While trying to get to one of the blogs, "areallybigfish.com", Avast sent off a JS:Small-C Trojan warning. This site must be using Wordpress, because googling has shown an exploit in the older programs. Would have loved to read it, but it redirects to oriental porn sites, NOT exactly what I was looking for. So if you don't have Avast, please don't follow the link (unless you have a Mac). And if anyone knows the site owner, might want to email them (I may start a chain later on that, but fairly busy).

Tomorrow is Full Tilt day, because of the freeroll for the FTP Academy. Starts at 1:59 PST (I think). Happy Valentines Day to everyone. I have a purchased movie, and some TV to catch up on. Might play another game on Stars, or not. Might just observe some small play or large play. Pizza is in my future I believe.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Just Dealing with Life Here

There are a ton of Poker Blogs out there, decided to follow a few. This takes time and research. If you check my profile, you will find some good reads.

Decided for a small subscription to Sharkscope (200 searches, plus your 5 free a day, for 9.99). This allowed for some more searches above and beyond, plus I can do advanced searches on myself.

Played tweaks on Holdem Manager and Postgres SQL, will be changing those. Might switch to Poker Tracker 3 Trial, see what it is like, if I can get the databases to cooperate.

Usually, I tend to rest after 12 or 1 pm pst. So if doing research, not much time left for poker.

Check out the Full Tilt Poker Academy. My game has greatly improved because of them. Work the challenges, not just the sit n gos. I personally am not in rush to earn points (as some are), so I work them one at time.

P.S. Rebooting, cleaning Temp Files, and defragging are very important. Not only do these actions extend the life of your system, helps to keep memory optimal, and helps those constant connection client (Full Tilt, PokerStars, any online Gaming Client, Holdem Manager, Poker Tracker, etc.) to run optimally on yur machine. Just an FYI.

Links Useful to This Article:


P.S. - Sharkscope is not allowed while you are playing on site, Stars checks if you are at a table when you run it. Once again, it is a centralized database.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Holdem Manager Ties Me Down

Sorry took so long, couldn't play any tourneys last night.

Decided to do the trial version of Holdem Manager, blah, what a nightmare installation. I also have 3 GB mem, but this and Postgres SQL, take up just about all of it.

Little bit of info. I have a Toshiba Laptop. I'm also a bit of a Computer Geek, and former Network Certified individual. After uninstalling and installing (didn't have to worry about databases, since the program could never connect), discovered through Google Searching that the Combo Installation from Holdem Manager's site, while allowing for admin access of the appropriate programs in Holdem Manager, doesn't set for starting the PostGres Server with blank Password on most machines.

Mode is default mb5, and blank password. That is for starting the server. Mb5 will never work with a blank password. Kept getting Postgres Failed to Start errors. A common error on my particular machine is "Unable to initialize the security package Kerberos for server side authentication." Mb5 requires Keboros. The Microsoft Knowledge Base and Technet will say this is a common error, and not to worry about it. However, the default login will never work, even if put in SuperUser.

So, first was to set the Authentication Mode in Postgres to Trusted. No problems after that. Did note no hands were downloaded during observation on Pokerstars (FullTilt has put a stop to this), but I didn't mind.

The memory problems may prevent me from using the HUD. At my current level of play, I can only see purchasing the Microstakes one, until I work up several limits. I do see the value in importing and analyzing hand histories, but don't know about the hud. For tourney play, prefer the quick reads I get on folks (its turbo anyways). Can keep notes on the players themselves.

Since my play was kinda erratic over the past couple months, I am only paying attention to play after 2/1/2010 (plus, the challenges on FullTilt cause you to make some plays that won't necessarily win you the tourney, but are worthwhile tools to learn). So graphing my play on PokerStars will be interesting.

Now, I have to work on the Memory hogging since downloading these programs. I have set Postgres to Manaul, which set the .Net Optimization service (need 3.5 for this, that also Mem Hog) to manual. Will only use to import Hand histories for now. But even with rebooting, defrag, etc., the Mem is not the same after installing these programs.