Hello. To start off I'll just say this isn't a complaint or anything alike. More or less it's a simpler way to show people how to afk/idle on LZ's server with minimal PC resource need. Funny thing is that not that many people know of it. So here's a brief explanation. TF2 Usually requires a lot of ram if you're thinking of playing another game you'll most likely turn off your tf2 because it takes around 450-500 mb of your ram. Even while inactive. hl2.exe is the TF2 process. Now if you were to play another game in the same time this would slow it down. A bit, usually depending on how much ram you have available, but it still does it. Note: To get the exact occupied ram memory by a single process divide the number by 1024, since it shows the memory take in kb. (Example: Divide 461,508/1024=450.69mb from that picture since 461,508 is displayed in kb and 1024kb=1mb) Now let's see how it looks when using text-mode It takes 125-150 mb of your ram. It is still tf2, just a thing called text mode. Also this is more stable so there's a lot less unusual spikes that cause other processes to lag. To any that think this hl2.exe isn't tf2, please first try what it will say by the end. Now..how to do it? I'll put in an attachment for you to download a .bat file, editable in text mode. Here's what it executes and shuts down a split second after starting it. The access denied part is a command that usually works, but sometimes it fails due to valve messing around with some of their coding. But it's one command that if fails a beep occasionally plays on your speakers (note if you turn of speakers/headphones, you can't hear it) and it gets irritating. It's the only down side of idling like this. And now for the screen that the small .bat file starts Green - Server IP, check it with LZ servers it's the LZ TF2 Idle server. (Lower green is proving one of LZ's adds on their servers) Blue - Server info that shows upon connecting. Yellow - People on the server dying due to idling in a trigger hurt. This is what you will see (without the coloring) Good sides to using this are: -That the process is taking less memory than a normal TF2 - You can launch other source games while it's running unlike you would normally if TF2 was running (Example: L4D 1/2) - Running other games or processes will not be affected as much as it would normally with TF2 running normally - You don't have to do anything but double click on the .bat file (will be in attachment latter) and you just wait a few seconds for it to start, after that you can do what you want. Bad sides to using this are: -The annoying beeping which if the command fails to execute you're gonna realize it did for sure.. beeping is pretty annoying Install: Download the .bat file and put it anywhere you like. NOTE: IF YOU INSTALLED STEAM IN A DIRECTORY OTHER THAN C:\PROGRAM FILES\STEAM IT WILL NOT WORK So follow the next step If you have installed steam in a directory other than C:/Program Files/Steam follow this part if not then skip it >Right click on it >Edit >Change the "C:\Program Files\Steam" to the directory your steam folder is at. Remember not to touch the "\Steam.exe....." part since you need that to run it correctly So when you download it you can freely test it out. Double click it and see how it works out for you. How does it work? Basically when you start it the program will start TF2 for you in text-mode and connect to LZ's very own TF2 Idle server You will automatically join spectate and stay there. To claim items that you earned by idling you just shut tf2-text-mode off and start the game normally. Give it a few sec and check your inventory (Of course you would have to have idled for a few hours and have not earned all items for that week tf2 rules for gaining items still do apply) Attachment: http://www.mediafire.com/?mfbcwdf5m8m6m5e I probably missed to mention something so if there's anything you're interested about, or anything at all, just reply. Enjoy.
That's a great summary of the subject We've been talking about this possibility in this post a while ago, but you made it easier to read. By the way, I for one don't use .bat files but simple shortcuts (with Code: target="C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -applaunch 440 -textmode -novid -console +connect 78.46.73.57:27015 for AM2 for example), but then I can't start another source game. Or, as said in the above-mentionned post, you can use Q-ball's GUI.
You should be able to start another source if you use tf2 text. I'm using this one and it works for me. Example I'm able to play Left 4 Dead 2 and have it on at the same time. No problems. Try it.
What you saw in my post from pictures is literally made as I was typing. So.. I'd like to know how you did it to help you out resolving the numbers and getting them lower. Also why do you have 5 same processes running? Did you run it 5 times? The overlay usually doesn't exist more than once so that's a bit strange.
You're right. Also depends on side programs running some are conflicting with some processes, this might be one of those cases.
its 5 times cos its running 5 accounts in 5 Sandboxie boxes. (can do about 10 on my PC). vmware: - quite a big footprint of itself (services, network components etc) - has another OS running within your OS, with its own demands etc.
Have you tried seeing how much just 1 of the text modes takes? Never tested if the more you have the more they take. What about side programs, antivirus, and similar, something might be affecting the performance as well as memory taking
lol, doesn't matter really... a process has that much regged to it, any other process isn't adding to that. Antivirus for example will scan the data, but in its own memory space. If it wouldn't, we would all be VAC banned.
Hello, Thanks for sharing. I stayed on the Idle server for 12 hours, but didn't received any items. Do i do somehting wrong? Ciao, Hakim
Only reason you may have not gotten items is because you have a limit per week valve made. You probably got it by playing or idling before you started using it. Try it next week and you'll get it. I believe 1 item per 1.5 hour or so, I think they made it more random between 1-2 hours or something. Check here for more Item Drop info http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Item_drop_system