This is the 3rd tutorial of our "Master Tutorial" series. We have already posted 2 other tutorials for Windows XP and Windows Vista in past and now its turn of Windows 7.
Although Windows 7 is already very fast and reliable but this tutorial will help you in getting the max performance out of your system.
So without wasting any time, here we start our tutorial:
1. Registry Tweaks:
Following topic contains a few registry tweaks to optimize your system performance and add a few useful extras:
Ultimate Collection of Registry Tweaks to Speed Up Windows 7
You just need to download the ZIP file, extract it and run the file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it. Restart your system to take affect.
2. Right-click on Computer icon on Desktop and select Properties (or press WIN + Pause/Break keys). Now click on Advanced system settings link in left side pane (You can open it directly by giving sysdm.cpl command in RUN or start menu search box). Now click on Settings button in Performance section:

It'll open another window. Disable all unnecessary options in Visual Effects tab, you can leave following options enabled according to your requirements:
- Enable Aero Peek (If you want to use Aero Peek feature)
- Enable desktop composition (If you want to use Windows Aero theme)
- Enable transparent glass (If you want to use transparency in Windows)
- Show thumbnails instead of icons (If you want to show thumbnails in Explorer)
- Show window contents while dragging (If you want windows to show contents while moving them)
- Smooth edges of screen fonts (If you want to show smooth fonts)
- Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop (If you want to show shadows under desktop icon labels)
- Use visual styles on windows and buttons (If you want to use Windows Aero or Basic theme)

3. Open Windows Explorer and go to "Organize -> Folder and Search Options" and click on "View" tab.
Now disable following options:
- Display file size information in folder tips
- Hide extensions for known file types
- Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color
- Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items

4. Right-click on Computer icon on Desktop and select Manage (You can also open it directly by giving services.msc command in RUN or start menu search box).
Now go to Services & Applications -> Services. Here you can set a few unnecessary services to Manual, so that these services don't start automatically with Windows and you can get a faster startup.

Visit following tutorial to know which services can be set to MANUAL to increase system performance:
Windows 7 Services Configuration: Turn Off / Disable Unnecessary Services to Optimize Performance
5. Type msconfig in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. Now go to Startup tab and disable unwanted startup entries. You can disable your graphics card's driver utility, Sound Card utility, etc to speed up the system startup and to increase system performance.

6. Open Sound applet in Control Panel (or type mmsys.cpl in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter). Now go to Sounds tab and select No Sounds from Sound Scheme section. You can keep some of your favorite sounds enabled but make sure to set Exit Windows, Windows Log off, Windows Logon and Start Navigation to (None).

Also disable "Play Windows Startup sound" option to disable the sound clip which is played at login screen.
7. Also don't forget to:
- Install only necessary software
- Use the latest device drivers
- Keep your Windows up-to-date
After following all the above mentioned points, you'll definitely notice major improvements in your Windows 7 performance.
Also check:
- Speed Up Windows 8 - Master Tutorial to Make Windows 8 Super Fast
- Speed Up Windows Vista - Master Tutorial to Make Windows Vista Super Fast
- Speed Up Windows XP - Master Tutorial to Make Windows XP Super Fast
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Posted in: Windows 7
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David
Excellent Tutorial. This works. THANK YOU!!!
Sandipan
This is epic! Thanks a lot friend.
Asad
its very helpful tips, thanks
nazir
Thanks for this great and helpful information
Merkur
nice job! thanks for the tips! :)
Greg
Windows! it's like they built an athlete then make him wear hob nail boots, well the boots are off and we're running free!
Thank heavens for people like you, great job!
P S and I didn't have to go through some tedious nonesense registering just to leave a comment, nice one.
Siebenstern
The ISOToolkit has a bug
when i create a image loads the data **Over** 100%. also the data is not created in **120%** or **130%**
please fix this problem.
thanks, Siebenstern
thomas
does this work for windows 8 aswell? or..
VG
^^ Please check this:
http://www.askvg.com/master-tutorial-to-make-your-windows-8-super-fast/
tyron naidu
Hi how can I make my core intel i5 acer (4743) with 2gbs of ram run faster with games and all around performance
Raghav
VG..this article was fantastic..But VG when i switched off the computer and restarted to take effect..i saw that my pc's performance was fast but there's a problem..i can't use my aero themes such as landscape etc..A black cover screen is upto them..when i clicked it,it said that you cannot use this theme on desktop..
Yusuf
thanks for your nice tips, it's very helpful. Now my windows 7 run very fast and more better
Bandhan Islam
VG My Video Card aka 'Graphics Card' of my laptop nVidia Geforce 8400M GS is having problems. When I boot my PC it makes 3 beeps sound 1 long and two short and displays a blank black screen but after some times gives login sound but displays nothing still black.
Bandhan Islam
Is there any way to upgrade, change or replace graphics card in Laptop. I have got 1440 MB shared and 192 MB dedicated and 64 MB System Dedicated. I have 3 GB DDR2 RAM (8 GB Supported). An Intel GMA 4500M HD Graphics with Intel Core Duo (Windows 7 64 bit).
Bandhan Islam
VG Please reply to my last 2 Comments.
VG
^^ I can only advise you to ask a technician to check your laptop. He'll be able to help you better.
Bandhan Islam
VG From my cousin who is a computer engineer I managed to know that I have a nVidia GT 640. Is this good for gaming
VG
^^ Yep. Its good.
kotetsu
@Bandhan Islam
Judging by your laptop's specs, I think you should give up on that laptop if you really want to play games. All laptops that came with an Integrated Intel GMA HD graphics are not upgradable.
You better start buying a new laptop if you want to play games. There are lots of affordable dual-core and quad-core AMD laptops out there that can enable you to play modern games at acceptable framerate, graphic detail and resolution.
If you're tight on budget but still you want a laptop that's capable of playing games, I suggest that you look for laptops that come with an AMD A-series APU, the AMD A4, A6 or A8 series to be specific.
The reason why I'm suggesting you to buy an AMD A-series laptop is because it comes with a good graphics chip; quite good for playing games.
Greg
What a Difference !!.....I have 3 computers, but my laptop is used most of the time. However, with a 1.6 speed processor. It doesn't take long for it to get sluggish and erratic. Thank You
Bandhan Islam
VG can I connect AMD Raedon Desktop Graphics Card on my Laptop using the VGA cable. My Laptop has a VGA port and the graphics card has also. Syem requirements are ok.
VG
^^ Sorry but I cant say anything until I manually check the computer system. Better to ask some technician to check your system.
nandkumar
VG, i want to replace theme file from win xp installation disk
is it possible?
VG
^^ Please check following:
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-include-custom-themes-in-windows-xp-mce-or-2003-setup/
Varun
Hello!
I am facing a never ending problem with my laptop running windows 7 ultimate 64 - bit.
After booting and before welcome screen, screen goes blank and dark. I can only see mouse pointer with blue circle. I have read the article " Why is my screen black when I start Windows 7?" on windows website, thus nothing happen. Please help to fix this never ending problem.
VG
^^ Did you install any skin pack or theme recently? Also did you modify or replace any system file?
Varun
No. I Tried to replace shellstyle.dll through replacer, but it does not happen.
VG
^^ It seems either this or another system file is corrupt or missing. You can try to repair Windows using setup disc or boot into Safe mode with command prompt and run sfc /scannow command.
Varun
scf or scannow commands are not working. When typed and clicked enter, command prompt says:
C:\Windows\system32>scf
'scf' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\Windows\system32>scannow
'scannow' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
VG
^^ Its a single command sfc /scannow. Please check point 4:
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-remove-or-uninstall-3rd-party-transformation-packs-in-windows/
ey
How to remove this again?
VG
^^ All tweaks are reversible. Simply revert back the settings to default. If you disabled an option, enable it again and vice versa.
irfan
Really works, manage to make 6 years old laptop running windows 7 smoothly after these tweaks.
It's Dell Inspiron 6400 Intel T5300 1.7GHz 1GB ram
CoOl KinG
Also don't forget to do following to make windows 7 more faster:
1.>Open msconfig, go to Boot tab & under timeout section change 30 to 3 seconds (You will get only 3 seconds to open boot ladder if you changed it to 3 seconds. 3sec is fine but 2sec is destructive for those with dual boot systems)
2.>Now, under boot tab, select No GUI Boot(there will be no animations at startup)
3.>Go to "%windir/fonts" & hide those fonts which are not in use. (don't hide Segoe UI fonts)
Now, feel more difference in speed!
Windows 7 64 bit
Intel core i3 3rd generation
11:51 PM
8/4/2014
I.S.T.
nikhil
my laptop is over hitting.....please solve.....
Gerry
VG, everytime I open my laptop a message came out saying "FAUILED TO CONNECT TO A WINDOWS SERVICE" windows could not connect to the Group Policy Client service. This problem prevents standard users from logging on to the system. What must I do? Thank you.
VG
^^ Open services.msc and make sure "Group Policy Client" service is set to Automatic and running without problem.
Fred klitz
What would happen if all services were set to Manual?
VG
^^ It might break Windows and it'll not boot to Desktop. I have never tried it myself and I doubt Windows will allow you to set all services to manual.
taimoor
Why my games stuck on windows 7 ultimate. when I start to play. Give free and easy suggestions
Monu Alag
Great Tips but some time when we use Aero feature it is not working properly when the HD vidoe driver were not install.Really works,quit impressive tricks.love it:-)
USAMA
THANks budddy
ko3ra
Thank you i appreciate it ^^
Puspen
Thanks VG, it works.
Henry C
Brilliant tips, I've read several of this sort of article and you've summed up the best tweaks in one post. Made a noticeable difference to my PC. One thing that might be worth mentioning is that the 'fastest' Windows 7 theme is 'Windows 7 Basic' - people often believe classic is fastest as it's the least graphical, but Windows 7 renders Basic and Aero on the GPU, and Classic on CPU - so Basic will be fastest :)
عدیل عباس
can u plz make a simple program that can automatically change all these settings so that windows can be made faster in an instant. waiting for ur reply
VG
^^ Currently I dont have plans to make such program but I may try in future. Thanks for your suggestion. :)
Rutwik
Thanks for the tutorial it 100% works now it is running super fast once again thank you..
Piyush
Hi VG Pls advice if I can remove the tweaks reg coz I m facing startup issues even more than before doing the tweaks. And performance has not changed. I am followed the notepad option where i copied the contents and saved file as Tweaks.reg as mention and then run the file. It asked for confirmation but then gave some error. I restarted my PC and found it further slowed down. Pls advice i have an acer aspire with windows 7 Home Basic.Thankyou
VG
^^ The registry tweak will never cause any problem. Those are simple tweaks. There might be some other problems. Post your HijackThis log file in following topic:
http://www.askvg.com/is-your-system-infected-with-a-virus-spyware-adware-trojan/
viren
I TRIED YOUR SUGESSTIONS, BUT MULTIPLE WINDOWS DON'T OPEN. THAT MEANS WHEN I TRY TO FOLLOW YOUR TIPS THE NEW WINDOW CLOSES ( IN WHICH I AM TRYING TO MAKE THE CHANGES ).HELP.
Chris
This is brilliant, it has breathed some much needed new life into my fairly bloated WIndows installation. Many thanks!
Qadeer naqvi
It can be done with tune up utilities.just install and run a fast window 7.Thanks
Pete
I dont know why but this made my pc really freaking slow so Ill slowly but urely return it o its old settings.
It might be because the pc ran fine on the old settings and i igured this shouldnot hurt.. the worst part i that my cursor wont move nymore because i think the cpu is over loaded by this one pricess (odf the MANY MANY MANY) new processes that came about after these tweaks. it tae up 99 cpu as shown in task manager and uses only 24k ram and is titled System Idle Process its description is Percentage of time the processor idles. Its cpu is always 99! BAD! Alsoo there are around 15 svhost processes..
No.
Pete
my comps an et1331g-03w if yer curious.
i dont wanta leave on a bad note like that so i think its reversable and prolly wont let u know after i succeed.
Also i blame myself but tht doez not mean i dont blae others bezides me too k soz peace.
Pete
sorry again. i think this is the wrong page..