Optimizing Windows XP:

Windows operating systems are never streamlined by default. Part of the reason is that their install base is huge--many times that of any other operating system (in fact, probably every other operating system combined). No matter how well polished and optimized any Windows OS may be, Microsoft must balance performance with ease of use and across-the-board compatibility. Order to install XP, Drivers & Patches Registry Hacks XP Options Disable Services Removing Software Changing the search function Folder Options Links

Order to Install XP, Drivers & Patches:

XP SP2 (If you didn't make a slipstreamed CD) Chipset drivers Video Card Drivers. (run disk cleanup) NIC/Modem Drivers and ISP software Windows Update, High Priority Updates (SP2 if you didn't download ahead of time) + Windows Update, Optional hardware updates + Windows Update, Optional software updates (don't load unnecessary items) Other Drivers (try to automatically update first) (run disk cleanup) Backup Create partitions for Docs, data, etc... Major applications. Fully update each application before installing the next. The rest of your apps. (run disk cleanup) Anti-Virus software and update it. Configure email, move My Documents to another drive Cleanup System Tray, organize Start Menu, activate XP Safe Mode, disk cleanup (advanced) and defragment. Backup Tweak it! Backup

Registry Hacks:

Speed up browsing AVI files By default, opening folders containing AVI files (audio/video) can be very slow because Windows is trying to extract non important information. This can be solved, by deleting the following key: HKCR\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}\   A faster NTFS file system You probably use the NTFS file system (see the properties of your C: partition). You can improve performance by making some changes in the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem Change the following registry values, as you wish: DisableNTFSLastAccessUpdate = 1 (last file access is no longer registered). NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation = 1 (no more double filenames: long names and the old 8.3 variant (the 8.3 file notation is used for the older Windows versions). NtfsMftZoneReservation = 2 (if there are many files on a partition, the master file table (MFT) can get fragmented, with this tweak there will be no more fragmenting of the file master file table (default value = 1, range 1-4).   Boost the System Cache: By loading the kernel in the RAM-memory it is quickly available which will improve the system performances. This option will consume some of the free RAM-memory, however this will not be much. Change the DWORD-value LargeSystemCache to the value 1 to enable to load the kernel in the RAM-memory (use the value 0 to disable this option). HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ Session Manager\Memory Management

XP Options:

Disable File Indexing This indexing service gets info from files on the hard drive and creates a "searchable keyword index." You can turn this feature off, and the difference you'll notice is a slight increase in the time it takes for your computer to find a file, but an overall increase in general speed for everything else. From My Computer > right-click on the C: Drive > select Properties. Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Apply changes to "C: sub folders and files," and click OK.   Disable Visual Effects Instructions - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" tab, in the "Performance" section select "Settings" Select "Adjust for best performance. And then click ok. The Paging File To prevent frequent changes to the size of the virtual memory, you probably better fix the custom size and the maximum at the same level. Mostly, there is no need to set the virtual memory higher then 1 GB. If you are already provided with a lot of RAM-memory, it can be more proffitable to disable the virtual memory. You can change the virtual memory (or change it to another partition) with the button Change. Don't forget to press Set to make changes permanent. In this case, the location of the virtual memory is moved to the F:-partition.   Tab System Restore: I prefer to switch off system restore on all disks, this is done by enabling the option Turn off System Restore on all drives. The system restore function is useless (I prefer a system image) and consumes a lot of system resources (one of the biggest consumers.....). By disabling system restore, you are no longer able to turn back in time to a previous state. Be careful with the system restore function, I have seen cases where people lose data or have boot troubles afterwards. The system restore is responsible for creating the folders System Volume Information on each disk (those can be deleted after disabling system restore). Tab Remote: Windows XP offers the possibility of remote control. You can invite a (trustworthy...) friend to take control over your computer, even if he is on the other end of the world. Your friend is able to view your desktop, just like he is behind your monitor. With this option your friend is able to show you how to fix a certain problem (you see his mouse moving over your screen.....). For security reasons, I prefer to switch this option off.

Disable Services:

Disables Windows Messaging Service. This will prevent online spammers from abusing this and causing non browser related message Pop-ups during normal system operation. Installing SP2 will disable the messenger service for you. Disables Windows potentially dangerous and exploitable Universal Plug and Play networking capability. UPNP allows software applications to automatically open ports on a UPNP router without your permission.   The following is a list of Services that you can disable on most systems: Disable Alerter Disable Distributed Link Tracking Client Disable Help and Support - (If you use Windows Help and Support leave this enabled) Disable Indexing Service Disable IPSEC Services Disable Messenger - (Shoot the Messenger and installing SP2 will disable this) Disable Portable Media Serial Number - (Leave enabled for use with security dongles) Disable Remote Registry Service Disable Secondary Logon Disable SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n' Pray will disable this) Disable Telnet Disable Upload Manager Disable Wireless Zero Configuration - (If you are on a wireless network leave this enabled) Notes - Windows Updates can enable services that you have previously disabled. Check which services are running after a future Windows Update is completed. If applications stop working after this it is usually due to being to aggressive with disabling services. Enable the services you disabled one at a time until the application works. In the future leave this service on automatic. If you run into any problems set all services back to their Defaults and start over.

Removing Software:

Windows Messenger By default Windows XP has been provided with the Windows Messenger. With the Windows Messenger you can see who of your friends are online, and if they are you can chat with them. Although Windows Messenger is very popular, most people would like to disable or remove it (if you don't need it or rather use the much better Live Messenger (download: messenger.live.com)). With the following command you are able to remove it (Start, Run, paste the command): RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\Windows\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove If removing the Windows Messenger a bit to much for you, you can also deactivate the Windows Messenger as well. Start the Messenger, Tools, Options, tab Preferences. Disable the options Start this program at Windows start and Run this program in background.

Changing the search function:

Windows XP has a search function, which is a bit annoying (even irritating...) if you are familiar with searching. You can change the preferences of the search function by opening the search function, choose Change preferences. Select Without an animated screen character to remove the annoying dog. Select the op Don't show balloon tips as well to remove the annoying balloon tips. At the part Change files and folders search behavior choose Advanced to enter the search function with one click.

Folder Options:

By default, many (system) files and folders are hidden. If you are not that experienced, you probably like this setting, but I prefer to see all files and folders. For that purpose, I especially like the following changes within the Windows Explorer: Tools, Folder Options, tab View: * enable Display the content of system folders, enable Show hidden files and folders. * disable Hide extensions for known file types (for example it is nice to know if a picture is JPG-, GIF- and BMP). * disable Hide protected operating system files. I prefer to disable the first option (Automatically search for network folders and printers), if there are no files and printers to share on the network. Showing files and folders will be noticeably faster. If there are troubles with one of the Windows of the Windows Explorer process, all Windows will be closed automatically. If you don't like this setting, you can enable the option Launch folder windows in a separate process (remember that enabling this option, Windows Explorer will use more system resources). Furthermore, I prefer to see all file and folder details (filenames, dates, file size, file type): this makes analyzing your files a lot easier. To view all details, like below: View, select Details. Go back to Tools, Folder options, tab View, button Apply to All Folders, to make sure all folders will have the detailed view. Go to your My Pictures folder, which will be in details as well. If you are used to see the small pictures, change the view by View, Thumbnails (in stead of Details).