This tutorial is meant for increasing the performance of Windows XP, either it can be a fresh installation or an older windows.
1.) Following is a registry file containing a few registry modifications, which are completely safe and can increase the performance of Windows. 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 Desktop and select Properties, Now in the new window goto Appearance tab and click on Effects button. Now in the new opened window uncheck the following options:
a.) Use the following transition effect for menus & tooltips.
b.) Show shadows under menus.
3.) Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select Properties (or press <WIN> key + <Pause/Break> key), now goto Advanced tab in new window and 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:
a.) Show window contents while dragging.
b.) Smooth edges of screen fonts.
c.) Use common tasks in folders (If you use the left side pane in My computer)
d.) Use drop shadows on icon labels on the desktop. (to make the desktop icons label transparent.)
e.) Use visual styles on windows and buttons. (If you use XP themes.)
4.) Open Tools -> Folder Options and click on View tab:
Now uncheck following options:
a.) Automatically search for network folders & printers.
b.) Display file size information in folder tips.
c.) Display simple folder view in Explorer's Folders list.
d.) Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color.
e.) Show pop-up description for folder and desktop icons.
f.) Use simple file sharing.
Other options don't affect the system performance. You can enable/disable them according to your requirements.
5.) Right-click on My Computer icon on Desktop and select Manage (You can also open it by typing services.msc in RUN 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:
Windows XP Services that can be Safely set to MANUAL
6.) Type msconfig in RUN 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.
7.) Open Sound & Audio Devices in Control Panel (or type mmsys.cpl in RUN), goto Sounds tab and select No Sounds in Sound Scheme section. Or you can remain some of your favorite sounds but set Exit Windows, Start Windows, Windows Logoff, Windows Logon to (None).
8.) For more options/tips-n-tricks, you can use TweakUI, Tuneup Utilities 2006 and gpedit.msc (Windows XP Professional built-in tool).
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Windows XP.
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VG
Do one thing. Open regedit and export any key. It'll save a .Reg file. Upload the .REG file somewhere and post the link here.
BeeeeexD
Vishal, here is one of the keys i exported. http://www.MegaShare.com/321892 Thanks in advance..
VG
^^ Your registry file is in same format as mine was. So no problem in my registry file as its working for all. Seems a problem in your system. Try to merge the file from regedit itself. File -> Import.
Hafeez Ullah Shah
Hello King Sir,
You made for us kind information, which we cannot forget (your kind information) and will be always your thankfull.
Hafeez Ullah Shah
Hello King Sir,
You made for us kind information, which we cannot forget (your kind information) and will be always your thankfull.
Please when you add some new information please send me in my Email address.
VG
^^ My pleasure.
pratik
awesome post..!!
thanks!
Kars
cool stuff. i did it all. works great!
Ashish
hi Vishal,
Need some help. I recently installed Nokia PC suite on my PC to transfer files to my nokia phone, but even after uninstalling the software, its icon still shows up in my computer along with C drive and docs etc. any input how to remove it ?
second, I am the administrator on my PC, but recently when I try to remove any program from starting through 'msconfig', it gives me error that I do not have administrator rights.
thanks
Sapna
I Downloaded the xp_reg_codes.zip put up on this page to make my Windows XP fast. However, i cannout Run "regedit" now and have also lost the folder option from the tools menu? How do i UNDO this?