So you are using Windows Vista and feel that its slower than Windows XP? Then you have come to the right place.
Following tutorial will help you in tweaking your Windows Vista to the max and you'll feel a significant improvement in your system performance. So without wasting any time lets start:
1. Following is a registry file containing a few registry modifications, which are completely safe and can increase the performance of Windows Vista. Just download the attached ZIP file, extract it and then run the file:
Restore Default Settings (Use this file if you want to restore default Windows settings)
2. Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select Properties (or press <WIN> key + <Pause/Break> key), click on Advanced system settings link in left side pane (You can also open it by typing sysdm.cpl in RUN or start menu search box and press Enter). Now click on Settings button in Performance section:

Now disable all unnecessary options in Visual Effects tab, you can remain following options enabled according to your requirements:
- Enable desktop composition (If you want to use Windows Aero theme)
- Enable transparent glass (If you want to use transparency in Windows)
- Show preview and filters in folder (If you use Details Pane in Explorer)
- Show thumbnails instead of icons (If you want to show thumbnails in Explorer)
- Show window contents while dragging (If you want windows to show content 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 click on Organize -> Folder and Search Options. Now go to View tab:

Now disable following options:
- Display file size information in folder tips.
- Display simple folder view in Navigation pane.
- Hide extensions for known file types.
- Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
- Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items.
Other options don't affect the system performance. You can enable/disable them according to your requirements.
4. Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select Manage (You can also open it by typing services.msc in RUN or start menu search box and press Enter).
Now goto Services & Applications -> Services. Here you can set a few unnecessary services to Manual, which will not start with windows and will decrease the boot time and will increase system performance.
Please follow the following tutorial to know about which services can be safely set to MANUAL:
5. Type msconfig in RUN or Startmenu search box and press Enter. Now goto Startup tab and deselect the unnecessary entries, which you don't want to start automatically with Windows, e.g. you can disable VGA driver utility, Sound Card utility, etc to speed up the startup time and to increase system performance.
You can also disable these items using Windows Defender. Open Windows Defender and click on Tools and then click on "Software Explorer".
6. Open Sound in Control Panel (or type mmsys.cpl in RUN or Startmenu search box and press Enter), goto Sounds tab and select No Sounds in Sound Scheme section. Or you can remain some of your favorite sounds but set Exit Windows, Windows Logoff, Windows Logon and Start Navigation to (None).
7. Also don't forget to:
- Defrag the hard disk regularly
- 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 Vista performance.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows Vista.
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VG
^^ From the error message, it seems that file no longer exists in your system. Did you try to restart your system and delete the file again after restart?
Justin
Hello VG,
I tried that also it says same message as above, file is no longer in downloads but what I cant figure out is why the zip folder will not delete. If I search it through the search feature of Vista and try to open it from location I simply get taken to a blank page, but if I seach using the srearch everywhere function I get taken to a page with the folder but no way to delete it.
Odd thing is the zip folder is titled vista_reg_codes but if try to delete it the message above shows up and says vista_~1 instead of vista_reg_codes
Justin
VG
^^ I have no idea about it. Try to run scan the drive using Windows scan disk application.
Goutam
Hi,
Vishal , I use your advice and my pc is working so so fast than before!!!!!!!
Can you tell me some more tips?,and I have also a question,which theme you are using?from where can i download it?
Thanks
VG
^^ Its AeroVG theme which you can find in Vista Themes section.
Nasim
Hi VG...
I have a problem,i am using windows vista sp 1 with mozila firefox 3.7 and DAP 9.1,whenever i want to download something a window appear like "regular or accelerated" and when i click 'accelerated' button the download will failed to start.
Plzzzzzzzzzz Help.
VG
^^ I'll advise to use FlashGet or FDM or IDM instead of DAP.
Arjun
Hey vg!!!
i hv really tried to work on your tips but u know i m a bit young and cant follow them exactly can u please mail me an easy 2 way 2 it???
i wil wait for your reply n ya i use vista ultimate!!
thnx...
Pham Nhu Nam
Thank you very much. I'm VietNamese and my English is so bad...
vincent
hi.. That tutorial can make a some damage in my computer?? i has a doubt to try that.. please give me a suggestion..