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WinNT is able to give different amount of CPU time to each program dependent on their priority. This can be used to launch an application (Like a Game) in high priority so other applications will have a hard time stealing the CPU time:

Start "StartHigh" /HIGH C:\Q3\Quake3.exe

It can also be used to launch certain background applications (SETI, Folding, Grid etc.) with low priority, so they cannot take CPU time from other applications.

Start "StartLow" /LOW C:\Ud_Agent\Ud.exe

To see the possible startup options run:

Start /?

Besides using HIGH you can use these (Avoid RealTime if having only one CPU):

Priority	Level
Realtime	24
High	13
Normal	8
Low	4
Abovenormal	(Win2k+ only) 10
Belownormal	(Win2k+ only) 6

Note instead of making a batch file for every application to launch it with a certain priority, then one can send an application into a certain priority by creating a batch file High.bat with the following contents and save it in the SentTo-Folder:

Start "StartHigh" /High "%1"

Note one can also add a new item "Start High Priority" to the context menu, so when right clicking an exe-file, one have the option to launch the exe-file with a certain priority.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\StartHigh]
@="Start &High Priority"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\StartHigh\Command]
@="cmd.exe /c start \"StartHigh\" /High \"%1\""

Note one can also change the priority right on the fly for a running application by using the Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC).

More Info MS KB Q103475
More Info MS KB Q103810
More Info MS KB Q106253
More Info MS KB Q191771

Related Change your Processor quantums to tweak your applications

Credits ntfaq.com