Windows XP: Overclocking Windows - optimizing Windows XP

Before you arm yourself with a huge cooler, thinking about overclocking the processor, try to overclock the operating system to begin with. As experience shows, the speed of Windows XP can be significantly increased by properly setting up the system and removing excess garbage from it. And all this can be done with our own hands, without resorting to the help of specialized utilities. After all, hands - it is always safer, and it will be more pleasant.

SELF, SELF, SELF - AUTOMATIC OPTIMIZATION

The developers of Windows XP are able to automatically optimize themselves. This happens in this way: the operating system (OS) monitors which applications the user runs, and writes this information to the layout.ini file (windows \ prefetch \ layout.ini). By selecting a time when the computer is not used, the OS changes the location of some programs on the hard disk, according to the information in the layout.ini. In addition, Windows XP accelerates the launch of programs using predictions. The system keeps track of which components and files are used by an application, and the next time it starts, it provides a list of files that will be required for its operation.

BEAUTIFULLY DOES NOT MEAN QUICKLY - VISUAL EFFECTS

As you know, beauty requires sacrifice, in our case - sacrifice on the part of productivity. Turning off unnecessary visual effects, you can achieve a significant acceleration of the user interface, which saves us from the tedious waiting for drop-down menus and unfolding windows.

First, look at the properties of the monitor in the "Appearance" tab. Click on the "Effects" button and in the window that appears, you can drop the effect of falling shadows and transition effects.

Further configuration of the graphical interface performance is performed in the "System Properties" window. On the "Advanced" tab there is a section "Performance", the settings of which I propose to do. After clicking the "Options" button, in the appeared window on the "Visual Effects" tab you can turn off all unnecessary. Visual ascetics can completely abandon all the adornments of the interface by selecting the item "Best performance".

A separate mention deserves the question of choosing a method for smoothing screen fonts. By default, a new technology is being introduced to improve the readability of the font - ClearType. However, it is believed that ClearType is good for laptops and LCD monitors, but the CRT text looks too greasy and blurry. I'm of the same opinion myself, it's really more convenient to read without ClearType. So try to choose the usual method of smoothing (the "Appearance" tab in the monitor properties) and, as they say, feel the difference.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCESSOR TIME

In "System Properties" on the "Advanced" tab in the "Performance" section, you can manage the distribution of processor time and the use of memory (including virtual memory). If your computer is not a server, then the processor and memory are recommended to focus on optimizing the work of programs. If the computer is a server, you need to specify the priority of the background services and the cache. As for the swap file, it is recommended to place it on any logical drive, in addition, on which there is a folder from the Windows itself.

REVIVAL FROM ADA - RECOVERY FUNCTION

The system file recovery function works as follows: The OS periodically creates copies of important system files (registry files, COM + database, user profiles, etc.) and saves them as a "return point". If an application spoils important data, you can return to the state saved at that point. The "return points" are created automatically by the system recovery service when installing new applications, upgrading Windows, installing an unsigned driver, and performing other critical operations for the system.

In its essence, the recovery function is very useful, we can say that it acts as a guarantor of reliable computer operation. Therefore, to disconnect it is unlikely, but to moderate appetite will be very handy. The fact is that the background of the recovery function is the background service, which in itself has minimal impact on performance, but the made copies of the system files occupy a valuable place on the disk. In order to save, you can manually limit the amount of disk space used by this service.

To do this, go to the "System Restore" tab in the "System Properties" window and, selecting one of the disks, click the "Options" button. Here you can also turn off the restore function. In my opinion, the restore function can be disabled on all disks except the system one, so as not to clutter the hard drive with unnecessary information.

OPTIMIZATION WITH THE KEYS OF THE REGISTER

So we got to the most secret place of Windows - the registry. At first, the standard warning: be careful when implementing the above recommendations, otherwise you'll have to check the restore function in action.

In the registry there is a parameter that includes animation when windows are minimized and expanded. Turning it off will increase the speed of the GUI. The address is: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ ControlPanel \ Desktop \ WindowsMetrics. Look for MinAnimate and set its value to zero (1 - animation enabled, 0 - off). If this key is not in the registry, then create it (type - String).

To remove the delay when you open the Start menu (the default is 400 milliseconds), change the value of the MenuShowDelay key to zero in the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ ControlPanel \ Desktop. In this case, the menu will appear instantly.

Now consider several registry keys that allow you to optimize the operation of the operating system with memory.

Happy owners of more than 256 MB of RAM can recommend experiments with the key DisablePagingExecutive, which is located in the branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ ControlSessionManager \ MemoryManagement. This key prohibits writing codes (drivers, exe-files) to the swap file, always leaving them in physical memory. Setting the value of DisablePagingExecutive to 1 can significantly speed up the system.

If you have a large delay when rebooting, then at HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ ControlSessionManager \ MemoryManagement, find the ClearPageFileAtShutdown key (it allows you to delete the paging file when you exit Windows). And check whether its value is equal to zero, since a non-zero value causes large delays on reboot.

If there are a lot of files in the folder that is in the NTFS-partition, it will open slowly, because each time the OS spends time updating the tag for the last access to the files.

To disable this function, create the NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate parameter of type DWord at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ FileSystem and assign it a value of 1.

FROM THE EARTH BEFORE BECOME - REMOVING THE HIDDEN COMPONENTS

Unlike previous versions, Windows XP does not ask the user what components it needs, and which ones do not need anything at installation. But this is only half the trouble. With a further attempt to remove unused system components full of righteous anger, we run the "install and uninstall" wizard and suddenly find that there is practically nothing to delete - many components of Windows XP are simply hidden.

To solve this problem in the Windows folder, open the Inf directory, where we find the sysoc.inf file. In the file, we delete the word hide in all lines, but only hide, leaving commas before and after this word.

For example, if the source string looked like this: iis = iis.dll, OcEntry, iis.inf, hide, 7 then the result should be iis = iis.dll, OcEntry, iis.inf ,, 7.

After saving the sysoc.inf file, the Windows Component Wizard will show us a much longer list than before ...

SKRAPACH IS NOT NECESSARY - EXTRA SERVICES

An important role in optimizing the performance of Windows XP can be played by configuring system services. To manage them, start the "Run" command in the "Start" menu, then type services.msc in the window that appears.

Before experimenting with services, save the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServiсes (right-click on the specified partition and select "Export").

Below is a list of services that in general can be safely disconnected.

Machine Debug Manager - manages local and remote debugging using Visual Studio components.

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing - allows trusted users to access the desktop using NetMeeting.

QoS RSVP - provides alerts to the network and management of local traffic.
Telnet - allows a remote user to log in and start programs.
"Automatic Updates" -includes the automatic download and installation of critical Windows updates.

"Spooler" - loads files into the memory for later printing. It is better to turn it off if there is no printer.

"Remote Desktop Help Manager" - controls the capabilities of the Remote Assistance.

"Performance Logs and Alerts" - controls the collection of performance data from local or remote computers.

"Uninterruptible Power Supply" - controls the operation of uninterruptible power supplies connected to the computer. If there are none, then we turn off the service.

"Tracking changed connections client" - supports the communication of NTFS files that are moved within the computer or between computers in the domain. In the absence of NTFS disable.

"NetBIOS Support Module over TCP / IP" - includes support for NetBIOS over TCP / IP.

"Smart Card Support Module" - provides support for old smart card readers. If you do not use such devices, then the service is disabled.

"Computer Browser" - maintains a list of computers on the network and issues it to programs on request.

"Annunciators" - sends selected users and computers administrative notifications.

"Task Scheduler" - allows you to configure the schedule of automatic tasks on the computer.

"Serial number of a portable media device" - receives the serial numbers of all portable media devices connected to the system.

"Network Logon" - supports end-to-end authentication of account logon events for domain computers.

"The COM service of CD burning IMAPI" - managing the recording of CDs by the built-in means of Windows. If you do not turn it off, there may be problems with burning the discs with third-party programs.

"Windows Time Service" - controls the synchronization of the date and time on all clients and servers on the network.

"Image Upload Service" - provides services for obtaining images from scanners and digital cameras. You can disable, if there are none.

"Indexing Service" - indexes the contents and properties of files on local and remote computers.

"SSDP Discovery Service" - enables detection of UPnP devices on the home network.

"Message Service" - sends and receives messages sent by administrators or by the notification service.

"Terminal Services" - allows you to connect to a local machine over the network and remotely operate on it.

"Removable storage" - if you do not use ZIP-drives and other, you can disable.

"Remote Registry" - allows remote users to modify the registry settings on the local computer.