Windows Performance

Windows 7

Windows 7 beta is out now - check it out using dualboot on a gamers machine.
Get Instant access to all control panels using their Canonical Names

Powermanagement

disable Hibernate

misc
disable some unwanted features in Microsoft Security Essentials

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Security Essentials]
"DisableGenericReports"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware\SpyNet]
"SpyNetReporting"=dword:00000000
;A value of 0= No Membership
;A value of 1= Basic Membership
;A value of 2= Advanced Membership
;The same as the values for Windows Defender.

Profile management

Copying profiles

[HLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background]
OEMBackground = DWORD = 1
[c:\Windows\System32\oobe\backgrounds]
backgroundDefault.jpg <= 250KB

To keep your SSD in good shape

Disable SuperFetch
Disable PreFetch
Disable ReadyBoos
Disable Defragmentation Schedule

Vista Performance

it is said that Microsoft Windows Vista is a real resouce hog. I grabed a MSDN
version and tested if it is possible to improve the performance means reduce the
resouces needed.
Test environment is a VMware emulation with 512MByte RAM and 8GByte harddisk.
Updated 20090317 - Vista SLIMDOWN and also Vsp1cln.exe
Autologon

Installation

Right after the installation - Windows uses
- 241MByte RAM
- 7GByte harddisk
- 33 Processes running
The VMware emulation doesnt support the AERO desktop and the sidebar.

Settings

Disable Sidebar
Disable Aero interface and switch to classic
Disable Indexing on Files
Change from 24/32bit to 16bit display color depth
Disable Remote Assistence
Remote Swiss French Keyboard Layout
Automatic Updates - never check for updates (do it manually)
Power Options - maximal Performance and
change at advanced power settings the level sleep to shutdown on button and startmenu
Delete Fax Printer
Solic color instead of full features background image
Disable Screensaver
Delete RUN Key for Windows Defender

Desktop - Advanced Settings - Performance: Adjust for best performance
Startup and Recovery: Write debugging information NONE
System Protection: turn System restore OFF
Windows Security Center: Disable the several warnings about not running programs
Disk Cleanup for C: do it :-)
Defragmentation: do it - it has no GUI any more

defrag -w -v c:

helps with a report - but here no progress indicator too - Use Smart Defrag instead
Network and Sharing Center: Turn off network discovery
Start Menu: Classic Start Menu, Privacy - no storage and display lists
Autoplay: No action on all topics
Task Scheduler: delete all tasks and folders

Services

Disable Application Experience
Disable Base Filtering Engine - and the follwoing 3 services
Disable IPsec Policy Agent
Disable Windows Firewall
Disable IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
Disable Themes
Disable Windows Defender
Disable Windows Error Reporting System
Disable windows Search (really disable - manually does not work)

NTFS

HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlFileSystem: NtfsDisableLastUpdate 1 (was already 1)
HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlFileSystem: NtfsDisable8dot3Creation 1

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Infodelivery\Restrictions]
"NoSearchBox"=dword:00000001
IPv6 ... 
HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerMemory Management: DisablePagingExecutive 1

open questions

 

summary

For such configuration tasks - the user access control UAC is a pain in the ass.
Take ownership of System- and program files
More Tweaks one can find using X-Setup