Windows Useful Tips

Anyone can post any tips..
I'll start first

1. Disable Indexing Service
The Indexing Service in Windows XP indexes your files presumably to shorten the time needed to search your hard drive if you are looking for a specific file or part of a phrase inside a file.

Tweak - To disable the Indexing Service go into "My Computer", right click on all your hard drive partitions one at a time, left click "Properties". Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching". Select "Apply changes to subfolders and files". If any files can not be updated select "Ignore All".

2. Disable Windows XP Sounds
Having sound effects set for common Windows XP tasks slows your system down.

Tweak - To disable all Windows XP task sounds go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, click on the "Sounds" Tab, under "Sound Scheme" select "No Sounds".

3. Reduce Recycling Bin Drive Space Usage
In Windows XP the Recycle Bin is set at default to reserve 10% of your hard drive, this can be a big waste of drive space.

Tweak - To change the Recycling Bin Size, right-click on the "Recycle Bin", left-click on "Properties", click on the "Global" Tab, select "Use one setting for all drives". Move the slider to "3%".

4. Set A Static Virtual Page File Size
Virtual Memory acts like a second source of RAM. When you run low on Physical RAM your PC uses an allocated space on your hard drive to increase memory. Virtual Memory is much slower than Physical RAM. Windows XP is set to use a dynamic Page File that will resize during system operation consuming resources. A good rule of thumb is to set the minimum and maximum to 1.5 times the amount of Physical RAM you have. This works well as long as the 1.5 total is not greater than 256MBs. Any larger and it might even slow your system down. If you have over 256MB of RAM set the page file to 256MB.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" Tab, in the "Performance" section click the "Settings" button, "Advanced" Tab, in the "Virtual Memory" section click the "Change" button, change the "Initial Size" and "Maximum Size" to the same size then click the "Set" button and "OK".

5. Improve Windows XP Performance
Default Windows XP visual settings may look nice but they slow down system responsiveness. Here is how to keep the "look" of Windows XP while losing the sluggish feel.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" tab, in the "Performance" section click the "Settings" button. Leave only the following checked:
[*] Show shadows under menus
[*] Show shadows under mouse pointer
[*] Show translucent selection rectangle
[*] Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
[*] Use visual styles on windows and buttons
Then click "Apply" and "OK"

6. Uninstall Useless Windows Components
Windows XP installs some components by default that are not needed.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "Add or Remove Programs", click on "Add/Remove Windows Components", uncheck:
_ Indexing Service
_ MSN Explorer
Then click "Next" and "Finished".

Note - If you use MSN as your ISP leave "MSN Explorer" checked.

7. Reduce System Restore Drive Space Usage
System Restore creates periodic snapshots of your critical system files (like the registry files, COM+ database, user profiles, and such) and stores them as a "restore point." In case something goes wrong with your system you can revert back to a previous working state. The default size that System Restore can take up can be quite large.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "System Restore" Tab, for each drive partition highlight it then click the "Settings" button, under "Drive Space Usage" adjust the slider so System Restore is only using roughly 500MB of disk space per partition and click "OK".


forgot where i got these

rionix88 wrote:
4. Set A Static Virtual Page File Size
Virtual Memory acts like a second source of RAM. When you run low on Physical RAM your PC uses an allocated space on your hard drive to increase memory. Virtual Memory is much slower than Physical RAM. Windows XP is set to use a dynamic Page File that will resize during system operation consuming resources. A good rule of thumb is to set the minimum and maximum to 1.5 times the amount of Physical RAM you have. This works well as long as the 1.5 total is not greater than 256MBs. Any larger and it might even slow your system down. If you have over 256MB of RAM set the page file to 256MB.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" Tab, in the "Performance" section click the "Settings" button, "Advanced" Tab, in the "Virtual Memory" section click the "Change" button, change the "Initial Size" and "Maximum Size" to the same size then click the "Set" button and "OK".

All good things except I have different view of this one I qouted. Depending upon what you do with your system, you may need the extra paging file size. In fact, 256MB RAM is low nowadays and if you play games, you will need the extra Virtual Memory provided by the paging file. I have 1GB RAM and I reserve 1.5 GB of hard disk space as Paging file.

My own:

• Turn off unnecessary services:
  Windows comes preloaded with many services that are mostly unneeded and sometimes present a security risk.
  
  
  
  
  • If you are using a computer which is not on a network that utilizes printer and folder sharing, the following services can be disabled and kept from starting automatically:
    
    
    
    
    • Computer Browser
      
    • Server
      
    • Work station
      
    
    </li>
    
  • The following can be disabled depending upon your network connection (wired or wireless)
    
    
    
    
    • Wireless Zero Configuration (leave if you have wireless)
      
    • Wired Auto Config
      
    • Telephony (for dial up with a modem)
      
    
    </li>
    
  • The following should be disabled considering you should have better applications to replace those which windows comes with:
    
    
    
    
    • Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
      
    • Security Center
      
    • Windows Defender (if you have this installed...it is crap)
      
    
    </li>
    
  • For security reasons, you should disable the following:
    
    
    
    
    • Telnet
      
    • Messenger (NOT the same as msn messenger, this service can be exploited by spyware to present a genuine looking message alerting you to download something to protect your computer.. when you do as it instructs you will get infected by a virus)
      
    • Terminal Services (used in remote desktop connections)
      
    • Remote registry (allows remote users to alter your registry)
      
    • Remote Desktop Help session manager (sets up and sends an invitation for someone to remote desktop into your machine)
      
    
    </li>
    
  • Other unnecessary services:
    
    
    
    
    • Help and Support (if you don't use the help and support center, this can be disabled)
      
    • Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service (shares your windows media player library with other computers on the same network)
      
    • System Restore Service (can be turned off if you never use it)
      
    
    </li>
    
  To turn off these services, do the following</li>
  
• Go to start menu
  
• Click on "run"
  
• type in "services.msc" (w/o quotes), then press enter
  
• search for each service as mentioned - then right click it, choose "properties"
  
• stop the service if it is running and change the startup type to "disabled" if you never use it, or "manual" if you want the ability to turn it on if need be (if you use something that needs the service, you will be prompted by a popup asking if you want to turn the service on).
  

Clean out old junk (temporary files) as well as your registry by using CCleaner

eww.. the html parsing came out ugly. something very wrong with that. it totally altered my tags and added in some stuff that was not needed.

Create shortcut icons to shutdown or reboot the computer:
1. Right click the desktop
2. Point to "new" and then "shortcut"
3.a Shutdown: type "shutdown /s /t 00" (w/o quotes) and continue
3.b Restart: type "shutdown /r /t 00" (w/o quotes) and continue
4. change the display name to either "shutdown" or "restart" and finish
5. to change the icon, right click the new shortcut and click on properties
6. click the button to "change icon"
7. select the icon you want

You can now double click the new icon to shutdown or restart your machine, or you can drag it onto the taskbar so that all you have to do is single click the icon in order to shutdown or restart. This should work on Vista as well.

restart- i like it...and i'll do that at my comp...
but for shutdown i just push the on/off button... the easy way i think...

great..normally I just press on/off button if I need to rush time or just put in in stand by mood...

Windows: Display the Start menu
Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
Windows + F: Display Search for files
Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer
Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center
Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
Windows + break: Display System Properties dialog box
Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows
Windows + L: Lock the workstation
Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
Windows + Q: Quick switching of users (Powertoys only)
Windows + Q: Hold Windows Key, then tap Q to scroll thru the different users on your pc

dan lupa lg dpt dr mn.. haha

4. Set A Static Virtual Page File Size
Virtual Memory acts like a
second source of RAM. When you run low on Physical RAM your PC uses an
allocated space on your hard drive to increase memory. Virtual Memory
is much slower than Physical RAM. Windows XP is set to use a dynamic
Page File that will resize during system operation consuming resources.
A good rule of thumb is to set the minimum and maximum to 1.5 times the
amount of Physical RAM you have. This works well as long as the 1.5
total is not greater than 256MBs. Any larger and it might even slow
your system down. If you have over 256MB of RAM set the page file to
256MB.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel",
"System", "Advanced" Tab, in the "Performance" section click the
"Settings" button, "Advanced" Tab, in the "Virtual Memory" section
click the "Change" button, change the "Initial Size" and "Maximum Size"
to the same size then click the "Set" button and "OK".

ak xbrapa phm sket bhgn ni???brpe nilai ak kena set lbh2 lg ak ni suke men game..RAM ak pkai skng 1gb je...

aaa... lupe2.. yg tu utk komp lama..
komp skang da power2 da.. klu ram 2G seswai wat virtual memory 3G...
pendapat ak la..

if my labtp RAM have 1gb capicity so i shout set it about initial 2gb and maximum 2gb..is it right???

aaaaa..dalam byk2 nie...korang jgn lpe defrag..laju tak laju pc nie bkan sekadar RAM n CPU nyer keje je..HDD penting coz dia akan efek accesss time ko..kalo men game pon dia kene read / write dari HDD gak..HDD nie temporary storage , walaupun nampak cam tak penting tapi dia smmgnyer akan efek performance pc..

Miow wrote:aaaaa..dalam byk2 nie...korang jgn lpe defrag..laju tak laju pc nie bkan sekadar RAM n CPU nyer keje je..HDD penting coz dia akan efek accesss time ko..kalo men game pon dia kene read / write dari HDD gak..HDD nie temporary storage , walaupun nampak cam tak penting tapi dia smmgnyer akan efek performance pc..

okies...that's also is a useful tips..it's very important that you need to defragement your pc maybe once a day....

Switching off all firewall, antivirus, ah n side bar for those windows vista might be one of the way to reduce burden for ur pc so it can run faster... Any way reducing those auto start up program oso effect the performance... A good start up lead to a good process i believe ahha

To short your Windows time loading please make sure that you don't set your YM or skype autorun when windows start because this program will take your windows time to finish loading...

yaya... My fren laptop just to wait for start up ready, so long man... got skype lah, side bar lah, msn lah, qqplayer lah, powerISO lah, and many many lah haha

to alter the autostartup programs on your computer:
Start -> run -> type "msconfig" (w/o quotes) go to "startup tab" uncheck the programs that you do NOT want to start automatically...

leave only security and hardware related applications. you can check what is what by going to www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups

you can also maintain this list by using the utility provided with CCleaner (free application).