Trick to Increase Windows Vista Performance / Experience Index upto 9.9

We all know about new feature "Windows Experience or Performance Index" in Windows Vista. Its a new feature which automatically calculates your system performance index based on the hardware you have. It can be between 0.1 to 9.9

Better system hardware, better Performance Index and better system performance.

"Windows Performance Index" is shown in "System Properties" which can be accessed by right-clicking on "My Computer" icon on Desktop and select "Properties" or from "Control Panel".

Using this trick, you can increase that Index upto 9.9

Before:

After:

The benefit of this hack is, there are a few features in Windows Vista which can only be used if your "Windows Experience Index" reaches the minimum requirements. So by increasing the Index manually, you can use those features.

Like You'll get toolbar in "Photo Gallery's Slide Show" while opening a wallpaper in Explorer.

How to:

1. Type following in Startmenu Searchbox / Run / Explorer Addressbar:

%windir%\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore

And Press <Enter>.

2. You'll one or more .xml files in the folder. Sort them by Date Created or look at their name. The file name will be in following format:

2007-11-08 22.23.17.858 Assessment (Initial).WinSAT.xml

Where "2007-11-08 22.23.17.858" might differ from machine to machine and Windows Installation date/time.

3. Open the latest file in "Wordpad" and goto line having <WinSPR>. It'll be approx. 12th line and will look like following:

<WinSPR>
<SystemScore>1</SystemScore>
<MemoryScore>4</MemoryScore>
<CpuScore>3.4</CpuScore>
<CPUSubAggScore>2.9</CPUSubAggScore>
<VideoEncodeScore>3.9</VideoEncodeScore>
<GraphicsScore>1</GraphicsScore>
<GamingScore>1</GamingScore>
<DiskScore>4.2</DiskScore>

4. Now you can edit the numbers between > & < and can increase them upto 9.9 as following:

<WinSPR>
<SystemScore>9.9</SystemScore>
<MemoryScore>9.9</MemoryScore>
<CpuScore>9.9</CpuScore>
<CPUSubAggScore>9.9</CPUSubAggScore>
<VideoEncodeScore>9.9</VideoEncodeScore>
<GraphicsScore>9.9</GraphicsScore>
<GamingScore>9.9</GamingScore>
<DiskScore>9.9</DiskScore>

5. Thats it. Save the file and check the Index again in System Properties. It'll 9.9 now.

NOTE: If you can't save the file, then take ownership of the file. For taking ownership, follow this tutorial:

Add Take Ownership Option in File / Folder Context Menu in Windows Vista

Also if you don't see the updated Index in System properties, then make sure there is no file having "(Formal)" in its name in the above mentioned folder. If its there, then delete it and you'll have updated Index.

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This article was posted in Windows Vista.

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25 Comments

Jay

Hi Vishal.Me is on Vista business with exp. index 1.Will it be safe to follow this tut.?
Thanks.
VG

Its completely safe.
lea porte

hey dear i m on vista business and have good exp index can u tell which all are the facilities that get activated with minimum good index
ankur

thanks a lot ..really helpful..................
Nikolaj

WOW makes my comp fast as hell
ankit

brother....i tried doing it but fr saving my files....i just took ownership of the files with (formal) in their name and renamed it adding .1234321 after .xml |||||| That way also its working is stopped...

but when i open performance thing in control panel...
nothing is displayed....its blank page....

so..it dint wrk fr me!
Eagle

you are genious.....thanks
Matthew Smith

Did you remember to open as wordpad not notepad? It did this and it works. But does anyone know how to disable the part that update the index?
Delilah

This seems pretty useless to me. I mean just fooling Vista into thinking your computer is better than it is has no real benefit. While it can open up a few extra options theres no guarantee that your system can run those options because you comp isnt up to spec for those extras. All this does is trick Vista into THINKING your comp is up to spec. Waste of time. Want to get the most out of those extras,the only REAL solution is upgrading your hardware.
L

This is an awesome trick, but i don't think it will really boost your computers real time performance... Well i can brag about friends that my comp. runs like a race car now... although it cant run Halo..