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feat: detailed changes.log with raw registry values, README reference
User asked for changes.log to show exactly what registry changes are made. Previous format was a single line with friendly state names ("Default -> Disabled (gaming)") which didn't show the actual DWORDs or REG_SZs being written. New format is multi-line and includes: - Mechanism: full registry path + value type, or Win32 API name - Before: raw bytes/number/string + friendly description - Wrote: raw target value + friendly description - After: what was re-read post-apply (verified vs NOT VERIFIED) - Reboot: only present for reboot-required settings - Verify: a PowerShell one-liner the user can paste themselves Sample entry: ---------------------------------------------------------------- [2026-05-06 22:14:08] [manual] OK USB Selective Suspend (global override) Mechanism : HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USB\DisableSelectiveSuspend (DWORD) Before : 0 (Default) Wrote : 1 (Disabled (gaming)) After : 1 (Disabled (gaming)) <- verified Reboot : required to take effect Verify : (Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USB' -Name DisableSelectiveSuspend).DisableSelectiveSuspend Implementation: - DriftItem + ApplyResult records gain RawBefore / RawDesired (and ApplyResult adds RawAfter, computed by re-reading via ChangeApplier post-apply). - Each of the 15 monitors now populates raw values: - DWORDs as decimal numbers (HAGS, MemInt, USB SS, Game Mode, Game DVR, Sys Resp, Network Throttling) - 0xFFFFFFFF for the magic disabled-network-throttling value - REG_SZ pairs for Games multimedia task profile - GUIDs for power plan - DEVMODE struct fields for refresh rate / resolution - DisplayConfig flags for HDR - Multi-value compositions for FSO / VRR / Game Mode (which write to multiple keys at once) - ChangeLogger.Format builds the multi-line block with the new fields. RotateIfNeeded behavior unchanged. README gains a top-level "Change log format" section with the schema, a fields table, and three worked examples (verified manual apply, verified auto-apply, failed apply with UAC cancel). TOC updated. Verification section's "change log" bullet now links to the new section instead of inlining a single sample. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
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‎README.md‎

Lines changed: 72 additions & 6 deletions
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ It's also paranoid about not making your gaming worse. Polling pauses entirely d
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- [Usage](#usage)
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- [Performance & gaming impact](#performance--gaming-impact)
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- [How it works](#how-it-works)
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- [Verification](#verification--how-do-you-know-its-actually-doing-what-it-says)
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- [Change log format](#change-log-format)
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- [Files GamerGuardian writes](#files-gamerguardian-writes)
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- [Build from source](#build-from-source)
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- [Compatibility](#compatibility)
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- [Contributing](#contributing)
@@ -225,19 +228,82 @@ GamerGuardian doesn't ask you to take its word for it.
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| Power plan | `powercfg /getactivescheme` |
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| HDR / Refresh / Resolution | Settings → System → Display, or `dxdiag` |
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**4. The change log.** `%APPDATA%\GamerGuardian\changes.log` — every applied change (manual or silent auto-apply) is appended with a timestamp, source, before/after values, and verification status. Open it from *Settings → General → Open change log*, or from the Apply Results window. Auto-rotates at ~1 MB.
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**4. The change log.** `%APPDATA%\GamerGuardian\changes.log` — every applied change (manual or silent auto-apply) is appended with full detail of the actual registry write or API call. See [Change log format](#change-log-format) below for the full schema and a worked example. Open it from *Settings → General → Open change log* or from the Apply Results window. Auto-rotates at ~1 MB.
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Sample line:
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**5. The `--test` CLI flag** (`GamerGuardian.exe --test`) writes every monitor's current readout to `%TEMP%\gamerguardian_selftest.txt` — same call paths the live UI uses, so the file is always in sync with what Settings shows.
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**6. The source.** Every monitor is a single file under [`src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/`](src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/) that does exactly one thing each. Read [`HagsMonitor.cs`](src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/HagsMonitor.cs), say, to see the full code that reads and writes HAGS — about 30 lines.
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## Change log format
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`%APPDATA%\GamerGuardian\changes.log` is the authoritative record of every registry write or API call GamerGuardian makes. Each entry is multi-line and shows exactly what was touched and what the raw values were. Format:
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```
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[2026-05-06 22:14:08] [manual] OK USB Selective Suspend (global override) | Default -> Disabled (gaming) | now: Disabled (gaming) | reboot pending
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS] [source] STATUS Description
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Mechanism : <registry path or API call>
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Before : <raw before value> (<friendly description>)
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Wrote : <raw target value> (<friendly description>)
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After : <raw after value> (<friendly description>) <- verified | NOT VERIFIED
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Reboot : required to take effect (only for reboot-required settings)
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Verify : <PowerShell snippet to read the same value yourself>
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```
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Auto-rotates at ~1 MB (`changes.log.1` keeps the previous batch).
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Fields:
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**5. The `--test` CLI flag** (`GamerGuardian.exe --test`) writes every monitor's current readout to `%TEMP%\gamerguardian_selftest.txt` — same call paths the live UI uses, so the file is always in sync with what Settings shows.
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| Field | Meaning |
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|---|---|
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| **timestamp** | Local time of the apply |
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| **source** | `manual` (you clicked Apply) or `auto` (silent auto-apply during a poll tick) |
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| **STATUS** | `OK` if the after-read matched the target; `FAILED` otherwise (UAC declined, registry locked, etc.) |
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| **Mechanism** | The exact registry path + value type, or the Win32 / DLL function called for non-registry settings |
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| **Before** | The raw bytes / number / string GamerGuardian read before the write, plus a parenthesized friendly description |
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| **Wrote** | The raw value GamerGuardian asked the OS to set |
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| **After** | What GamerGuardian saw when it re-read the value post-apply. Should equal **Wrote** for verified entries. |
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| **Reboot** | Present only when the setting needs a Windows restart to actually take effect |
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| **Verify** | A PowerShell one-liner you can paste into a fresh terminal to read the same value yourself |
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**6. The source.** Every monitor is a single file under [`src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/`](src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/) that does exactly one thing each. Read [`HagsMonitor.cs`](src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/HagsMonitor.cs), say, to see the full code that reads and writes HAGS — about 30 lines.
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### Worked example
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A manual Apply that flipped USB Selective Suspend to gaming-optimized:
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```
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[2026-05-06 22:14:08] [manual] OK USB Selective Suspend (global override)
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Mechanism : HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USB\DisableSelectiveSuspend (DWORD)
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Before : 0 (Default)
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Wrote : 1 (Disabled (gaming))
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After : 1 (Disabled (gaming)) <- verified
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Reboot : required to take effect
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Verify : (Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USB' -Name DisableSelectiveSuspend).DisableSelectiveSuspend
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```
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A silent auto-apply that fixed Game Mode after a Windows update reset it:
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```
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[2026-05-07 09:14:33] [auto ] OK Windows Game Mode
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Mechanism : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar\AutoGameModeEnabled / AllowAutoGameMode
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Before : AutoGameModeEnabled=0, AllowAutoGameMode=0 (Off)
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Wrote : AutoGameModeEnabled=1, AllowAutoGameMode=1 (On)
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After : AutoGameModeEnabled=1, AllowAutoGameMode=1 (On) <- verified
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Verify : (Get-ItemProperty 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\GameBar' -Name AutoGameModeEnabled).AutoGameModeEnabled
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```
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A failed Apply where the user cancelled the UAC prompt:
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```
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[2026-05-07 09:18:02] [manual] FAILED Memory Integrity (Core Isolation) — requires reboot
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Mechanism : HKLM\SYSTEM\...\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity\Enabled (DWORD)
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Before : 1 (On)
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Wrote : 0 (Off)
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After : 1 (On) <- NOT VERIFIED
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Reboot : required to take effect
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Verify : (Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity' -Name Enabled).Enabled
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```
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The `<- NOT VERIFIED` marker plus matching Before/After tells you the write didn't land. For HKLM-write settings, the most common cause is a UAC cancel.
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## Files GamerGuardian writes
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‎src/GamerGuardian/Models/ApplyResult.cs‎

Lines changed: 4 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -9,4 +9,7 @@ public sealed record ApplyResult(
99
bool Verified,
1010
bool RequiresReboot,
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string Mechanism,
12-
string VerifyCommand);
12+
string VerifyCommand,
13+
string RawBefore = "",
14+
string RawDesired = "",
15+
string RawAfter = "");

‎src/GamerGuardian/Models/DriftReport.cs‎

Lines changed: 3 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ public sealed record DriftItem(
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bool AutoApply,
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Func<Task> Apply,
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bool RequiresReboot = false,
13-
bool IsMonitored = true);
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bool IsMonitored = true,
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string RawBefore = "",
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string RawDesired = "");
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public sealed record DriftReport(IReadOnlyList<DriftItem> Items)
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{

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/FullscreenOptimizationsMonitor.cs‎

Lines changed: 9 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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if (current.Value == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
1818

1919
bool desired = pref.DesiredOn;
20+
string rawBefore = current.Value
21+
? "FSEBehaviorMode=0, DXGIHonorFSEWindowsCompatible=1, HonorUserFSEBehaviorMode=0, EFSEFeatureFlags=0"
22+
: "FSEBehaviorMode=2, DXGIHonorFSEWindowsCompatible=0, HonorUserFSEBehaviorMode=1, EFSEFeatureFlags=0";
23+
string rawDesired = desired
24+
? "FSEBehaviorMode=0, DXGIHonorFSEWindowsCompatible=1, HonorUserFSEBehaviorMode=0, EFSEFeatureFlags=0"
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: "FSEBehaviorMode=2, DXGIHonorFSEWindowsCompatible=0, HonorUserFSEBehaviorMode=1, EFSEFeatureFlags=0";
2026
yield return new DriftItem(
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SettingId: Id,
2228
DisplayKey: "global",
@@ -26,7 +32,9 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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DesiredValue: desired ? "On" : "Off",
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AutoApply: pref.AutoApply,
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Apply: () => Task.Run(() => Apply(desired)),
29-
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor);
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IsMonitored: pref.Monitor,
36+
RawBefore: rawBefore,
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RawDesired: rawDesired);
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}
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3240
public static bool? ReadCurrent()

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/GameDvrMonitor.cs‎

Lines changed: 5 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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if (current.Value == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
1717

1818
bool desired = pref.DesiredOn;
19+
int rawBefore = current.Value ? 1 : 0;
20+
int rawDesired = desired ? 1 : 0;
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yield return new DriftItem(
2022
SettingId: Id,
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DisplayKey: "global",
@@ -25,7 +27,9 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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DesiredValue: desired ? "On" : "Off",
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AutoApply: pref.AutoApply,
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Apply: () => Task.Run(() => Apply(desired)),
28-
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor);
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IsMonitored: pref.Monitor,
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RawBefore: $"GameDVR_Enabled={rawBefore}, AppCaptureEnabled={rawBefore}",
32+
RawDesired: $"GameDVR_Enabled={rawDesired}, AppCaptureEnabled={rawDesired}");
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}
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public static bool? ReadCurrent()

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/GameModeMonitor.cs‎

Lines changed: 5 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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if (current.Value == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
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1919
bool desired = pref.DesiredOn;
20+
int rawBefore = current.Value ? 1 : 0;
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int rawDesired = desired ? 1 : 0;
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yield return new DriftItem(
2123
SettingId: Id,
2224
DisplayKey: "global",
@@ -26,7 +28,9 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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DesiredValue: desired ? "On" : "Off",
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AutoApply: pref.AutoApply,
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Apply: () => Task.Run(() => Apply(desired)),
29-
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor);
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IsMonitored: pref.Monitor,
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RawBefore: $"AutoGameModeEnabled={rawBefore}, AllowAutoGameMode={rawBefore}",
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RawDesired: $"AutoGameModeEnabled={rawDesired}, AllowAutoGameMode={rawDesired}");
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}
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3236
public static bool? ReadCurrent()

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/GamesTaskProfileMonitor.cs‎

Lines changed: 5 additions & 1 deletion
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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if (current.Value == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
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2828
bool desired = pref.DesiredOn;
29+
string rawDesired = string.Join(", ", Values.Select(v => $"{v.Name}={(desired ? v.Gaming : v.Default)}"));
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string rawBefore = string.Join(", ", Values.Select(v => $"{v.Name}={(current.Value ? v.Gaming : v.Default)}"));
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yield return new DriftItem(
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SettingId: Id,
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DisplayKey: "global",
@@ -35,7 +37,9 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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DesiredValue: desired ? "Gaming" : "Default",
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AutoApply: pref.AutoApply,
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Apply: () => Task.Run(() => ApplyValues(desired)),
38-
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor);
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IsMonitored: pref.Monitor,
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RawBefore: rawBefore,
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RawDesired: rawDesired);
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}
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public static bool? ReadCurrent()

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/HagsMonitor.cs‎

Lines changed: 10 additions & 6 deletions
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -14,22 +14,26 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
1414
{
1515
var pref = config.Global.Hags;
1616

17-
var current = ReadCurrent();
18-
if (current is null) yield break;
19-
if (current.Value == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
17+
using var k = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(SubKey, writable: false);
18+
if (k?.GetValue(ValueName) is not int rawValue) yield break;
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var current = rawValue == 2;
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if (current == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
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2122
bool desired = pref.DesiredOn;
23+
uint desiredRaw = desired ? 2u : 1u;
2224
yield return new DriftItem(
2325
SettingId: Id,
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DisplayKey: "global",
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DisplayLabel: "Global",
2628
Description: "Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) — requires reboot",
27-
CurrentValue: current.Value ? "On" : "Off",
29+
CurrentValue: current ? "On" : "Off",
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DesiredValue: desired ? "On" : "Off",
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AutoApply: pref.AutoApply,
30-
Apply: () => Task.Run(() => ElevatedRegistry.SetHklmDword(SubKey, ValueName, desired ? 2u : 1u)),
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Apply: () => Task.Run(() => ElevatedRegistry.SetHklmDword(SubKey, ValueName, desiredRaw)),
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RequiresReboot: true,
32-
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor);
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IsMonitored: pref.Monitor,
35+
RawBefore: rawValue.ToString(),
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RawDesired: desiredRaw.ToString());
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}
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public static bool? ReadCurrent()

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/HdrMonitor.cs‎

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Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
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DesiredValue: desired ? "On" : "Off",
3232
AutoApply: pref.Hdr.AutoApply,
3333
Apply: () => Task.Run(() => SetHdrState(display, desired)),
34-
IsMonitored: pref.Hdr.Monitor);
34+
IsMonitored: pref.Hdr.Monitor,
35+
RawBefore: $"advancedColorEnabled={(current ? 1 : 0)}",
36+
RawDesired: $"advancedColorEnabled={(desired ? 1 : 0)}");
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}
3638
}
3739

‎src/GamerGuardian/Monitors/MemoryIntegrityMonitor.cs‎

Lines changed: 10 additions & 6 deletions
Original file line numberDiff line numberDiff line change
@@ -15,22 +15,26 @@ public IEnumerable<DriftItem> CheckDrift(AppConfig config)
1515
{
1616
var pref = config.Global.MemoryIntegrity;
1717

18-
var current = ReadCurrent();
19-
if (current is null) yield break;
20-
if (current.Value == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
18+
using var k = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(SubKey, writable: false);
19+
if (k?.GetValue(ValueName) is not int rawValue) yield break;
20+
var current = rawValue != 0;
21+
if (current == pref.DesiredOn) yield break;
2122

2223
bool desired = pref.DesiredOn;
24+
uint desiredRaw = desired ? 1u : 0u;
2325
yield return new DriftItem(
2426
SettingId: Id,
2527
DisplayKey: "global",
2628
DisplayLabel: "Global",
2729
Description: "Memory Integrity (Core Isolation) — requires reboot",
28-
CurrentValue: current.Value ? "On" : "Off",
30+
CurrentValue: current ? "On" : "Off",
2931
DesiredValue: desired ? "On" : "Off",
3032
AutoApply: pref.AutoApply,
31-
Apply: () => Task.Run(() => ElevatedRegistry.SetHklmDword(SubKey, ValueName, desired ? 1u : 0u)),
33+
Apply: () => Task.Run(() => ElevatedRegistry.SetHklmDword(SubKey, ValueName, desiredRaw)),
3234
RequiresReboot: true,
33-
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor);
35+
IsMonitored: pref.Monitor,
36+
RawBefore: rawValue.ToString(),
37+
RawDesired: desiredRaw.ToString());
3438
}
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3640
public static bool? ReadCurrent()

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