SA is trolling me with epic framerate failure

[Starcutter]

So, I finally got SA, but it seems to have a massive problem.
The FPS drops down to 3 right on the main menu, before I even start to play.
I admit my computer is an old pile of junk, but it can play 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 and only lags when there's huge swarms of bullets.
I doubt that this is caused by simple lag (seriously, why would the MENU lag?!).
So does anyone know whats going on and/or how to fix this?
Thanks in advance.

[Momiji]

Sounds like you have serious harddrive IO issues.  Try setting it to load all the music in to RAM.

Also, remember that TH10 and up are quite a bit different from all the previous games.  You do need at least a fairly fast machine to run without issues (and a good videocard too, with at least full DirectX 9 compatibility).

[Starcutter]

Sounds like you have serious harddrive IO issues.  Try setting it to load all the music in to RAM.

How do you do that?
Sorry if I sound like a noob, but I'm no good with computers.

[MTSranger]

Try setting it to load all the music in to RAM.

I think that only works from EoSD to IN.
I mean, starting at PoFV, I don't see that option in custom.exe anymore.

[Agent of the BSoD]

I think that only works from EoSD to IN.
I mean, starting at PoFV, I don't see that option in custom.exe anymore.

Correction: PCB, IN, PoFV, and StB are the only games that can load bgm into memory. (PCB was hard to tell because the people that made the english patch left that in japanese)

As for the reason SA framerate drops is probably due to your graphics card. Your graphics card should have DirectX 9 support in order to play that game. (it doesn't need OpenGL or 3D acceleration because mine doesn't and it stays at 59.9 frames)

The best way to see how directx is running is to click start, click run, (I think XP has a run option, if not, it's a text box in the start menu) and type in dxdiag and hit enter. Make sure in that app that the display and all that stuff have no problems found, and that it says that you have DirectX 9 or above on your machine.

[Momiji]

As for the reason SA framerate drops is probably due to your graphics card. Your graphics card should have DirectX 9 support in order to play that game. (it doesn't need OpenGL or 3D acceleration because mine doesn't and it stays at 59.9 frames)

It does need some 3D hardware acceleration (specifically for the 3D backgrounds, and some advanced texturing), which is why you need a graphics chip or card with real DirectX 9 support.  OpenGL support also comes with your video drivers, so having it is moot, whether you need it or not.