04-12-2006, 01:00 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 349
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Details of The "NeverDorkMemory" Registry Key Revealed
What started out as a quick forum post spread across other boards and spawned discussions on what the ominous "NeverDorkMemory" registry entry was really all about. Due to the lack of explanation (or an overly-technical one at that), the near timing of April Fools' Day, and the funny-sounding name, many thought it was a joke, while others swore that it helped out as an automatic memory defragmenter on their Pocket PCs. Initially Googling the term "NeverDorkMemory" when it first surfaced only revealed that same initial forum post and some other obscure link of a page in another language. I decided to get as close to the source as possible to find out the meaning of "NeverDorkMemory" and got a detailed response from none other than Mike Calligaro of the popular Windows Mobile Team Blog.
Mike responds, "I'm a bit embarrassed that we actually have a registry key with the word 'Dork' in it. I don't know what that developer was thinking. That key should have no effect on WM5. It was used on pre-WM5 PocketPCs that had a memory slider. The memory slider allowed you to determine how much memory was used as RAM and how much was used as Storage. However, as storage and RAM were consumed, the OS used to adjust the slider on its own (it basically tried to keep the amount of free RAM equal to the amount of free storage). In the vernacular of some dev who thought he was being clever, this was called 'Dorking' the memory. NeverDorkMemory disabled that automatic adjustment to the memory slider. It was generally believed that automatically adjusting the slider was the right thing to do, so we didn't make the key something configurable through the UI. Persistent storage means that we don't spend RAM on storage anymore, so there's no longer a need for the slider. With the slider gone, NeverDorkMemory shouldn't have any effect. I've had a few people ask where the slider went, so I was planning to write an entry explaining why it's gone..."
So, there you have it. What turned out to be a pre-Windows Mobile 5.0 registry entry became the "placebo effect" for those who claimed better handling of their device's RAM. At least it has no detrimental effects, so don't feel like a dork  , since this is how we've usually find out many little goodies that Microsoft or the ODM inadvertently (or intentionally) hides from us. Of course, if you have a Windows Mobile 2003SE or previous version and wish to take advantage of this registry entry to control memory management on your own, then follow the instructions in the link provided above.
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04-12-2006, 03:56 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Thanks for the explanation. Personally, I am going to try HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\NeverDorkTheUninstallProcess on my WM5 device and see if that helps with the "unable to uninstall" errors. :?
I wonder if HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\PutInADorkingClosebutton will help? :wink:
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04-12-2006, 04:07 AM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,111
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Sorry for the unproductive post, but:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
__________________
"A planner is a gentle man, with neither sword nor pistol.
He walks along most daintily, because his balls are crystal."
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04-12-2006, 07:13 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 702
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Wow! This is great info. I've been waiting for this information ever since PPC first started "dorking" the memory slider on me. Thank you for the great registry hack.
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04-12-2006, 11:22 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 539
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i can't understand why the microsoft guy was so embarrassed about this registry key, it's nice to find the occasional easter egg in programs.
i once had to design a button for a large austrian airline (), and in the process i me and the other guys in the department were joking around, and i created a button with a typ-oh on purpose. instead of "passagier streichen" (delete passenger) it said "passagier streicheln" (stroke passenger).
we all had a laugh, up until the point where we saw my joke-button actually being online on the live site.
well, that was funny too, and we took it down right away.
but still, there were about 5 customer "complaints" about the error, some just mentioning a spelling mistake, others being real pissed about our "inappropriate" naming of the button.
well, it's still funny when i think about it 
oh yes, we also sent out a test-newsletter by accident (that was another dept., by the way) that contained "blah blah blah" and "this newsletter is so cool" as well as a side-swipe at the competition. even though the sending of the newsletter was cancelled pretty quickly, it reached about 2000 subscribers.
we had a sh*tload of complaints after that as well, hehe
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04-12-2006, 11:26 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 312
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I am going to try
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\GetRidOfAKU2StupidBatteryMeterInTaskBar
DWORD = GiveMeBackMyTime
__________________
PDA Lineage:HS Visor->Visor Prism->Casio EM-500->Casio E-200->HP Jornada 568->Ipaq 1910->IPAQ 4150->IPAQ 2750 with Motorola RAZR V3->Imate K-JAM->Treo 750->HTC Touch Cruise
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04-12-2006, 12:42 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jngold_me
I am going to try
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\GetRidOfAKU2StupidBatteryMeterInTaskBar
DWORD = GiveMeBackMyTime
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Huh? the clock on AKU2 is just moved above the Name line on the Today Screen and you can put the time back in the bar for all other apps. Start|Settings|System|Clock|More and check the box.
I actuallly like the fact that on the Today Screen, the little battery pops up there. I only wish it was more detailed, maybe having a bar for every 20% instead of the two 50% bars.
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04-12-2006, 02:12 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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So if I create that key in WM2003 will memory allocation FINALLY do what I tell it to do?
:roll:
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04-12-2006, 02:37 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 312
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Quote:
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Originally Posted by jngold_me
I am going to try
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\GetRidOfAKU2StupidBatteryMeterInTaskBar
DWORD = GiveMeBackMyTime
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Huh? the clock on AKU2 is just moved above the Name line on the Today Screen and you can put the time back in the bar for all other apps. Start|Settings|System|Clock|More and check the box.
I actuallly like the fact that on the Today Screen, the little battery pops up there. I only wish it was more detailed, maybe having a bar for every 20% instead of the two 50% bars. |
The battery indicator is useless. Now in order to have the date and time I need to take up valuable space by using the date plug-in.
I think you just might be a minority (someone who actually likes the battery meter covering what used to be the date and/or time in the task bar:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=45784
Here's someone working to mask the battery icon and replace with Date/Time:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/view...c&start=25
__________________
PDA Lineage:HS Visor->Visor Prism->Casio EM-500->Casio E-200->HP Jornada 568->Ipaq 1910->IPAQ 4150->IPAQ 2750 with Motorola RAZR V3->Imate K-JAM->Treo 750->HTC Touch Cruise
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04-12-2006, 05:21 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 481
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathan1
So if I create that key in WM2003 will memory allocation FINALLY do what I tell it to do?
:roll:
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Yeah, it did for me :crazyeyes:
Jeff- :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
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