Once we have the primary OS (Windows 2000, XP, or Vista) optimized there are some more
Performance optimization
tips
that can be done to make your computer as fast or maybe faster than it was the
first time you started it. Want to know more? Read on!
Startup, a lot of install programs dump their main program short cut into the
startup folder. There are two startup folders you will need to look in to
determine if you want a program to start automatically or not.
All users, and your profile, open explorer, when it is
open it will default to your user profile, open Programs under Start
Menu, go to Start up folder. Have a look at any programs in the folder, if you
think you can do with out the program starting automatically then move it up to
a higher folder or delete it. Do the same for the All users profile.
Next look at the tray on the main task bar, there are a lot of icons there,
some can be turned off at the tray others will have to be turned off either in
the control panel or through other means. Some of the icons (programs that are
run as services) may not be turned off, the icon for 'Safely Remove Hardware' is
one such icon. Turning off these icons will save you some memory depending on
the service, there is no set memory usage size for these icons. If you need to know how much
memory an icon is using you can open the Task manager, go to the 'Performance'
tab look at the graph 'PF' under the graph is a number, this is the amount of
memory all programs running at this time is using. Turn off the icon/service
display, note the change now you know how much memory that specific icon was
using. Although this may be nit-picking but if you have a lot of icons sitting in
the tray waiting for you to click on them but never do it is a waste of memory
that you could be using for your more important programs like Doom!
The next tweak concerns services, now this may not be something you feel
comfortable doing then skip this section. You do not need every service that is
running, how do I know? Because of experience of over 20 years fixing the
problems that the OS and install programs cause.
To get to the services right click on
My Computer, go to Manage on the menu, or go to Control Panel, open System.
there are three main topics in the left window, select Services and
Applications, then click on services. It is easier to use the standard view than
the Extended unless you open the page up.
So now which ones do you turn off (Disabled)?
And Why?
Name
Comments
Alerter
Not required unless the computer is a Server in a domain
ClipBook
Unless you use the Clipbook function to copy large amounts
of data you don't need this (by large I am speaking of Gigs at a time
Error Reporting Service
This is also a server function
Fast User Switching Compatibility
I turn this one off because it is a security risk, some
viruses use it.
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
Even if you have a CD/DVD drive that you can burn with
turn this off, will cause problems with 3rd party burning software
Infrared Monitor
Turn this off unless you want to connect two computer by
using the Infrared device in some systems. I was never successful in
making it work reliably.
Messenger
Always turn this one off. This is a domain utility only,
viruses use it also.
Network DDE
Legacy network service
Network DDE DSDM
Another legacy network service
Portable Media Serial Number Service
If you want the Microsoft video player seaching the
internet every time you put a CD/DVD in your drive leave this on.
Routing and Remote Access
If you use Dial Up to connect to the internet, this needs
to be on.
Secondary Logon
This needs to be turned off because the Fast user
switching is turned off.
Telnet
Always turn this one off. It is the hackers dream to get
into your computer!
Themes
Provides user experience theme management.
When you disable the 'Themes' Service your desktop will revert to the
Windows 2000 version of the desk top. If you want to use a custom desktop
do not disable this service, although the system will load faster and use
less memory with out custom themes.
WebClient
If you are not building web sites, turn this off.
Windows Media Connect Service
Turn this one off, you do not want to share media with
anyone, you can upload your media to a lot of places, never share, opens
the doors for hackers.
The next thing we want to look at is
your display properties. You can gain back valuable video memory and processor
speed with these changes. (Look at
Themes in the chart above).
Your Theme, if you have a background
that is a high resolution graphic this will consume most of your video memory,
it also consumes up to forty percent of your processing power. So you will want
to either turn off the background or change it to a less graphic intense
background. I have found that a solid color is the best for a back ground. It is
also easier on your eyes. Go to Control Panel, then open Display. On the first
page select your Theme, then go to the Appearance tab. You can change the
Windows and buttons style, Color Scheme, and the Font size. Look at the bottom
right there are two buttons we will look at Effects and Advanced.
Under the Effects button I always
turn off all options, The only one I an think of that would be of use also
corresponds with the Font size in the paragraph above, Large Icons. If you
increase the font size to large or extra large then it may make the Icons look
out of proportion.
Under Advanced you can change the
color of the background only. Because I used to work in a 'Data Center' where
there are banks and banks of computers and they keep the lighting low I started
to notice that bright blue or other colors bother my eyes so I use green, very
smoothing in my opinion. Your back ground is important because of the contrast
between the background and the document or program you are working on.
For your security I would recommend that you set the screen saver. You know
your work habits and do not want the screen saver to come on while you are
working and a long telephone call comes in. Then again you want it to be set at
a short enough duration if you leave the computer unattended the screen save
will come on. Be sure to select the option to lock the computer when the screen
saver is on. Here is a small antecedent of a friend of mine:
My friend is normal computer user, in other words he was a typical
business person that used a computer. He would often take his work and laptop
home. One day something was going on and he left his computer on. His two year
old decided that Daddy wasn't quite done working and started banging on the
keyboard, moving and clicking the mouse. Need less to say he leaned his lesson,
because jr deleted a lot of his current documents.
There are two more areas that you should consider optimizing:
Your hard drive would server you better if you defragmented it on a weekly or
monthly basis, here is the link to my defragmentation page:
Defragment your hard drive.
Your last performance optimization tweak is the policies. This is for the advanced user and
not the faint of heart. Although these items can be undone the effects are
wide ranging on the computer.
There are more things you can do to speed up your computer. I have a seven
part E-Course to assist you
sign up here.
Another thing that will speed up a computer that has been
used for some time is to clean out the registry. This is a program I use and
highly recommended if you have completed all the above steps and you computer is
still slow - Registry Fix!
Note: If you purchase
Registry Fix! stop by this page
and send me your order number and I will send you a free copy of my e-book How
to... This is a compiled e-book of all my how to articles, very handy.
This site contains a lot of information. As
with any publication not all information is available due to space, time, or
subject constraints.
If you have a question that you did not find the answer
on this web site you a can
ask your question here and we will endeavor to get you the most up to date
answer possible!
