Windows Vista optimization
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Windows Vista optimization
This article will be helpful for Windows Vista users who want to improve their PC performance.
Did you know that after the Windows Vista installation there is a number of useless programs and processes running in your system and eating your valuable CPU and RAM resources? In this article we'll be giving you some tips and tricks on how to disable useless system applications and programs which is also going to help you to optimize your Windows registry and Virtual memory.
As an example we are going to take Windows Vista Ultimate SP1(32bit) and all the software components that came with it. It should be mentioned that the amount of different services varies on hardware and software the computer is supplied with but all the main services are invariable.
Uninstallation of useless Windows components
Go to Start Menu, click on Control panel menu, then on Programs and features button and then click on «Turn Windows features On or Off» button on the left. It's obvious that an ordinary home PC user doesn't need the following features: Telnet server, Telnet client, TFTP client, Tablet PC optional components, SNMP feature, Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications, RIP listener, ISS Management service, Windows DFS Replication Service and Services for NFS. You may also not need: Indexing Service (if you rarely perform a computer search), Print Services (if you don't have either virtual or physical printer installed), Windows Fax and Scan (if you don't have a scanner or a fax machine). In order to disable these features you need to uncheck them, click Ok button and then restart your computer.
Interface optimization
If you're not a fan of bright interfaces or your RAM is less than 1GB, it's advisable to disable the Windows Aero glass interface. To do this click on right mouse button on your Computer icon, click Properties,click Advanced system settings and press Settings button and then click Adjust for best performance and press Apply.
Then click the right mouse button on the task bar and choose «Properties». This will open a window where you can disable the following elements which affect the system performance: Show window previews (thumbnails) and Group similar taskbar buttons.
Go to Start menu section now. Here you can change it to Classic Start menu, but if you don't like the way it looks, you can also optimize the Vista menu. In order to do this click on Start menu and then press Customize button. The most affective feature on system performance is Highlighting newly installed programs and it would be better if you disable it.
Registry optimization
Performing the registry optimization can boost your system performance up to 40-50%, though this method is a bit risky. This article will be considering only safe ways of changing the registry which guarantee a stable system performance in the future.
Go to Start menu then click the Run button or «Windows»+«R» key combination. In the window appeared you need to type "regedit" and press OK. The registry editor will open. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch, then SYSTEM, then CurrentControlSet section and its subsection – FileSystem.
Our next advise is for those who use NTFS file system. Double-click on NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entry and set up a value of 1 in a Value window. This entry disables creating backup file names in the system in MS-DOS format which is currently absolutely unnecessary.
Open the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entry and set value to 1 which will accelerate your HDD performance. Also check the NtfsEncryptPadingFile value and set it to 0 if it isn't set up yet. This ensures that the page file encryption feature which is absolutely useless for most computer users is disabled.
Scroll down then looking for a PriorityControl section.
Win32PrioritySeparation entry is responsible for dividing CPU's resources between background and active applications. It can be set from 0 to 32, but the advisable value is 6. Don't set it to 0 anyways, 'cause your PC will only freeze.
Services are needed for various system features normal performance, but not all of them are necessary for an ordinary user. We suggest you to get rid of services which only eat your PC’s resources.
Let us remind that a feature list may vary on different computers due to different hardware and software installed. Go to Control Panel, then Administrative Tools and then click on Services.
If you point on any of these services there will be its description on the left and a double-click on its name will launch a dialog box where you can choose a start up type, which can be:
- Automatic (Delayed Start)
- Automatic
- Manual
- Disabled.
We provide you a services' name list which are showed up in current Windows Vista version. Their names are inner names – one that's being used when accessing. So below are the settings which are good for most users:
- DHCP Client – Manual (If you use DHCP for the Internet access you should set it to Automatic)
- DNS Client – Manual
- InstallDriverTableManager – Manual
- KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator – Disabled
- Version number – Automatic
- Plug-and-Play – Automatic
- Quality Windows Audio Video Experience – Manual
- ReadyBoost - if you don't want to use flash memory for system acceleration – Disabled, in other way – Automatic
- Superfetch – Automatic
- Windows Audio – Automatic
- Windows Audio – Automatic
- Windows Card Space – Disabled
- Windows Driver Foundation – User-Mode Driver Framework – Automatic
- WmiPerfomanceAdapter – Manual
- Offline Files – Disabled
- Network Access Protection Agent – Disabled
- IPSec Policy Agent – Disabled
- Windows Backup – Manual
- Windows Firewall – Disabled (in condition of using different firewall, otherwise – Automatic)
- WebClient – Disabled
- Virtual Disk – Manual
- IP Helper – Disabled
- Secondary Logon – Disabled
- Peer Networking Grouping – Manual
- Remote Access Auto Connection Manager – Manual
- Print Spooler – If there's no any printer installed – Disabled. Otherwise – Automatic. Note: printer icons can disappear if this feature is disabled.
- Remote Access Connection Manager – Manual
- Desktop Window Manager Session Manager – Is responsible for Windows Aero Interface. If you use it, then set it to Automatic, otherwise – Manual
- Peer Networking Identity Manager – Disabled
- Security Accounts Manager, SAM – Automatic
- Human Interface Devices Access – Automatic
- Windows Event Log - Automatic
- Performance Logs & Alerts – Manual
- Windows Defender – Disabled. Better install different program.
- Protected Storage – Manual
- CNG Key Isolation – Manual
- Windows Management Instrumentation – Automatic
- Application Experience – Disabled
- Group Policy Client – Automatic
- Distributed Links Tracking Client – Disabled
- Protected Storage – Manual
- CNG Key Isolation – Manual
- Windows Management Instrumentation – Automatic
- Application Experience – Disabled
- Group Policy Client – Automatic
- Distributed Links Tracking Client – Disabled
- Distributed Transaction Coordinator – Disabled
- Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache – Manual
- Software Licensing – Automatic
- SNMP Trap – Disabled
- RPC, Remote Procedure Call Locator – Disabled
- Routing and Remote Access – Disabled in condition that a computer isn't connected to a Local net, otherwise – Automatic
- IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules – Disabled
- DCOM Server Process Launcher – Automatic
- Windows Media Server Service Launcher – Manual
- TCP/IP NetBios Helper – Disabled
- Terminal Services Configuration – Disabled
- Windows Connect Now – Config Registrar – Manual
- SSDP Discovery – Disabled
- Interactive Services Detection – Manual
- Computer Browser – Disabled
- Internet Connection Sharing – Disabled
- Shell Hardware Detection – Automatic
- TPM Base Services – Disabled if you don't use TMP and/or BitLocker chips
- Terminal Services UserMode Port Redirection – Manual
- PnP-X Bus Enumerator – Manual
- Task Scheduler – Automatic
- Multimedia Class Scheduler – Automatic (otherwise the sound will disappear)
- Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support – Manual
- Windows Searcher – Disabled, if you don't use Search on your PC
- Smart Card Removal Policy – Disabled if there are no smart cards
- Wired AutoConfig – Manual
- Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider – Manual
- Peer Name Resolution Protocol – Manual
- Function Discovery Resource Publication – Disabled
- Workstation – if your PC is not used as a Server - Manual
- Certificate Propagation – Disabled
- Extensible Authentication Protocol – Manual
- DFS Replication – Disabled
- Parental Control – Disabled
- Windows Event Collection – Disabled
- Application Information – Manual
- Server – if your PC isn't used as a Server and there's no need in sharing files and folders – Disabled
- Thread Ordering Server – Manual
- Netlogon – Disabled
- Network Connections – Automatic
- COM+ Event System – Manual
- COM+ System Application – Manual
- SSTP Service – Manual
- WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service – Disabled
- WLAN AutoConfig – Disabled unless you use WiFi on your PC – Automatic
- Base Filtering Engine – Automatic
- Tablet PC Input Service – Disabled unless you have a tablet PC device installed
- Windows Time – Disabled
- Windows Image Acquisition, WIA – Manual (If your scanner of a digital camera won't work after this then set it to Auto, if you don't have either a scanner or a camera – Disabled)
- Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service – Manual
- Network Store Interface Service Manual
- Block Level Backup Engine Service – Manual
- Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service – Disabled
- Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service –Manual
- Portable Device Enumerator Service – Disabled
- Windows Media Center Scheduler Service – if you don't use it – Disabled
- Bluetooth Support Service – if you use Bluetooth – Automatic, otherwise – Disabled
- Diagnostic Policy Service – Manual
- Program Compatibility Assistant Service – Disabled
- User Profile Service – Automatic
- PNRP Machine Name Publication Service – Manual
- Windows Error Reporting Service – Disabled
- Windows Media Center Receiver Service – Disabled if there's no need in it
- Network Location Awareness – Automatic
- Network List Service – Automatic
- SL UI Notification Service – Manual
- System Event Notification Service – Manual
- Windows Remote Management (WS-Management) – Disabled
- Application Layer Gateway Service – Manual
- Cryptographic Service – Automatic
- Terminal Services – Manual
- Smart Card – if there's no Smart Card installed – Disabled
- Windows Audio Endpoint Builder – Automatic (otherwise the sound will disappear)
- Telephony – Manual
- Themes – if you don't use them – Disabled, otherwise – Automatic. To ensure Windows Aero interface normal work this entry should be set to Automatic
- Volume Shadow Copy – Manual
- Link-Layer Topology Discovery Manager – Manual
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC) – Automatic
- Remote Registry – Disabled
- Diagnostic System Host – Manual
- Diagnostic Service Host – Manual
- UPnP Device Host – Disabled
- Application Management – Manual
- Health Key and Certificate Management – Disabled
- Windows Installer – Manual
- Windows Modules Installer – Manual
- Fax – if there's no Fax machine installed – Disabled, otherwise – Automatic
- BITS (Background Intelligence Transfer Service) – Disabled
- Function Discovery Provider Host – Disabled
- WCS (Windows Color System) – Manual
- Security Center – Disabled
- Windows Update – Manual or Automatic
Other components of optimization
Disabling UAC (User Account Control)
This feature is very annoying for many users, but first of all you need to remember that it has been created in order to improve the security on Windows Vista. To disable UAC press «Windows»+«R», type «msconfig» in the appeared window and click OK. Click on the Tools tab. Scroll down till you find "Disable UAC" and click on that line. Press the Launch button. A CMD window will open. When the command is done, you can close the window. Close MSCONFIG. You need to reboot the computer for changes to take effect. You can re-enable UAC by selecting the "Enable UAC" line and then clicking on the Launch button.
Disabling system restore feature
The Windows Vista System Restore feature ensures you that software installations, drivers, and other updates can be restored. The only price to this feature is some disk usage. You may also disable this feature for a better performance.
Press «Windows»+«R» and type «system», then pick the 4th item down, just labeled “System”. (You could also right-click the computer icon and choose properties). Now click the System protection link. You’ll see the checkboxes next to your different disks. Once you uncheck the drive, click the “Turn System Restore Off” button and now you’ve got system restore feature disabled. Isn’t that easy?
Final touches
Manually cleaning out the Temp folder in Window Vista is often a necessary maintenance step when the Windows Vista Disk Cleanup utility fails to completely clean out the Temp folder.
Removing temporary files is a quick and easy task that can help save disk space and keep your PC clean of file clutter. Just follow the step by step instructions below to manually clean out the Temp folder. It usually takes less than 5 minutes and this is also pretty easy to do.
So, click on Start menu and type «%temp%» the following command in the search box, and then press Enter.
This will open the folder that Windows Vista has designated as the Temporary folder. These are folders and files that Windows needed at one time but are no longer useful. Everything in this folder is safe to delete.
To remove individual folders or files, hold down your Ctrl key while left-clicking on each item you want delete. Release the Ctrl key when you're finished.
To delete these items, hit your Delete key or click the Organize button on the toolbar menu, followed by the Delete option.
You will probably be prompted to confirm that you wish to Delete Multiple Items. Click on Yes to confirm.
If you would like to remove everything inside the Temp folder instead, click on the Organize button and then choose Select All from the menu.
Note: If you're prompted that there are hidden files in this folder, just click on OK to bypass the message. A few hidden files hanging out in the Temp folder probably aren't important enough to worry about.
Again, to delete these items, hit your Delete key or click the Organize button on the toolbar menu, followed by the Delete option.
You will probably be prompted again to confirm that you wish to Delete Multiple Items. Click on Yes to confirm.
After all of the files have been deleted you can close the folder window and empty your Recycle Bin, permanently removing the files from your PC.
NOTE: You may receive a Error Deleting File or Folder message while the files are being deleted. This just means that one of the files is in use by a program right now. Click OK, close all open programs, and repeat the steps above. If you still receive the message, try restarting your PC and repeating the process again.
Also we strongly recommend to perform your HDD defragmentation on your computer once in a month to bring together the fragments of files and thereby reduce their load time.
Changing virtual Memory
Windows sets the default size to the minimum of the paging file at the amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer plus 300 megabytes. If you are continually receiving warnings that your virtual memory is too low, you need to increase the size of your virtual memory.
In order to do this click the Start button. Go to Control Panel, then click on System. Click on Advanced System settings on the left panel. Once the new tab comes up, now click on the Advanced tab. Under Performance, click on Settings. Click on the Advanced button again, and then under Virtual Memory, click Change. Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box. Under Drive, select the drive that you want to change the virtual memory size on. Click Custom size, and now choose the new size that you want to set your virtual memory to. Click Set and then OK.
You can calculate your virtual memory by the following formula:
• 2 * number of installed memory 1024 + - for systems with memory less than 1024 Mb;
• 2 * number of installed memory - for systems with RAM of 1024 to 2048;
• 1024 + number of installed memory - for systems with RAM of 1024 to 2048.
NOTES:
If you increase the size of your virtual memory, you don't need to restart your computer.
However, if you decrease the virtual memory, you will need a restart.
Now, the Windows Vista optimization is finished and your PC has to work faster and more efficient.
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