Low-Trans Fat and Low-Carb Diet for Your PC or How to optimize Windows XP for the best performance.

(by Rikhard Kuliyev @ FixYourWindows.com)

Please see my Copyright and Warning page

*Who stole this article*

End Result (Hardware Specification and Performance Metrics)

Unfortunately, starting from Windows XP, most of the software and hardware manufacturers adapted a habit of diverting user’s attention and time towards their own goals – collecting personal information (e.g. preferences, habits), advertisement, etc. This article is my personal answer to this unprecedented corporate takeover.

The following set of instructions will help significantly to improve Windows XP performance without costly upgrades.

To shorten this article and save your time, I’ve decided not to go into theory behind suggested configuration changes. If you require additional information, please search Windows Help and Support (Start -> Help and Support) or Internet. List of related links and screen snapshots of my test machine can be found at the end of the document; And downloadable/printable version (in Adobe Acrobat format) – at the top.

Your comments and recommendations are welcomed, but I can’t promise to respond to every message.

Warning:
If you would like to be able to undo the described changes, please use System Restore utility (see Windows Help and Support (Start -> Help and Support)) to create a restore point first.
 

Right-click Recycle Bin, and select Properties.
Under Global tab uncheck Display delete confirmation dialog option. Click OK button.

Click Start, point to Programs (or All Programs), click Startup, and then right-click each item in Startup and select Delete. Your Startup should be empty.

Click Start and select Run.
Type “regedit” (omit quotation marks) in the resulting window. Click OK button.
Registry Editor window will open.

Maximize Registry Editor window.
Click plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT _USER, click plus sign next to Software, plus sign next to Microsoft, plus sign next to Windows, plus sign next to CurrentVersion, and click folder Run to highlight it.

With Run folder highlighted on the left, take a look at the right part of the window. 

All items that you see start automatically whenever you start computer. Delete all unnecessary entries (one by one) by right-clicking them, and selecting Delete.  

Note: Removing items from the Run folder will not remove the corresponding program from your computer. It will simply prevent the program from loading automatically, and running in background, consuming valuable resources. 

Now, repeat the same procedure for the Run folder under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE:

Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Run. And delete everything that you don’t want to load automatically. As you see from Pic.6, I have a few items in Run folder. They represent Autoprotect services of my Norton Antivirus. You may have other antivirus/firewall applications loading trough Run. I wouldn’t recommend removing antivirus/firewall from Run folder, otherwise your system will not be protected from viruses, etc. Everything else can (and should) go. Restart computer.

Note: Here is the list of all Registry spots that could potentially load applications on Windows startup (you may or may not find them on your computer, depending on version of Windows you have):

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\load

Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel (or Start -> Control Panel).
Double-click Add or Remove Programs icon.

Note: If you don't see necessary options, switch to Classic View (left top corner).

Scroll through the list of installed applications, and remove the once you don’t need (restart as needed).

Switch to the list of Windows Components by clicking Add/Remove Windows Components button on the left.
Uncheck Indexing Service, MSN Explorer (click Yes buton to confirm uninstall), and Windows Messenger. Click Next button to remove programs.

Double-click Sounds and Audio Devices icon in Control Panel, and switch to Sounds tab.

Select No Sounds from Sound scheme dropdown.
Click No on Save Scheme confirmation message, and click OK button to save changes.

Double-click Internet Options icon in Control Panel, and click Delete Files button.

Check Delete all offline content box, and click OK.
Click Settings button, and set Amount of disk space to use somewhere between 1 and 3 MB (make it 10 MB if you are using dial-up Internet connection)

Click OK button.
(Optionally) delete Cookies and adjust History settings.

Switch to Privacy tab, and click Advanced button (if you don’t see Privacy tab, your Internet Explore is old, and must be updated). On Advanced Privacy Settings dialog box click Override automatic cookie handling, and then Block Third-party Cookies. Click OK button. Click OK button again to save changes and close Internet Options/Properties.

Double-click Folder Options icon.
Switch to View tab, and check Display the full path in the address bar and Show hidden files and folders options.

Click OK button. Close all programs and windows.

Browse to the following temporary folders and delete their content (DO NOT delete folders themselves, only what’s inside):

C:\WINDOWS\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\{COMPUTER USER NAME}\Local Settings\Temp

It's ok if you can't delete some (active) files.

Close all windows.
Restart computer.

Right-click My Computer and select Properties.

Switch to Advanced tab, and click the first (under Performance subsection) Settings button.
Performance Options window will open.
Select Adjust For Best Performance option, and click OK button.

Click Error Reporting button on the bottom, and turn off error reporting: uncheck Windows operating system and Programs boxes, and switching to Disable error reporting option. Click OK button.

Now switch to Remote tab, and click Advanced button under Remote Assistance subsection.

Uncheck Allow this computer to be controlled remotely, and click OK button.
Uncheck Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent from this computer.
Uncheck Allow users to be connected remotely to this computer.

Switch to Automatic Updates tab, and uncheck Keep my computer up to date option (or switch to Turn off automatic updating...).
Click OK button. Restart computer.

Run manual update every week or two using Microsoft website to keep your Windows secure and bug free: Go to http://www.microsoft.com/; Click Windows Update, and let the page to scan your computer for updates; Then install Critical Updates and Service Packs ONLY (!). Occasionally check Windows XP updates, but download only relevant fixes. I wouldn't recommend loading any Driver Updates from here. Manufacturers’ website is a much better source of drivers. Besides, many major pc makers install customized components, and these “generic” drivers may not be the best match for your particular hardware version.

Right-click My Computer and select Manage.
Computer Management window will open.
Maximize Computer Management window
Click plus sign next to Services and Applications, click Services, and switch to Standard tab on the right.

Change Startup Type for Alerter service by double-clicking Alerter, selecting Disabled from Startup type dropdown box, and clicking OK button.

Now disable the following services using the same technique:

Note: XX - service presents a significant security threat
           X - service presents a potential security threat
           O - useless service

Application Management (switch to Manual)
Automatic Updates
X Background Intelligent Transfer Service
O ClipBook
COM+ Event System (Set to manual if programming in MS Visual Studio .NET)
COM+ System Application (Set to manual if programming in MS Visual Studio .NET)
XX Computer Browser (if you have a standalone pc – no network)
Distributed Link Tracking Client (if you have a standalone pc – no network)
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
O Error Reporting Service (reports errors to Microsoft)
Fast User Switching Compatibility (don’t disable if using Fast User Switching)
Fax Service (don’t disable if using computer to send receive faxes)
Help and Support (switch to Manual)
Human interface Device Access (don’t disable if using hot buttons on keyboards or remote control)
O Indexing Service
IPSEC Services (don’t disable if using VPN, Citrix, etc. for remote connection to your company's network)
XX Messenger
XX NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
O Performance Logs and Alerts
Portable Media Serial Number
O QoS RSVP
XX Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
XX Remote Registry
Removable Storage (switch to Manual)
XX Routing and Remote Access
XX Server (if you have a standalone pc – no network)
SSDP Discovery Service (if you have a standalone pc – no network)
O System Event Notification
X TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper (don’t disable if want to share files)
XX Telnet
XX Terminal Service
O Themes
X Upload Manager
X WebClient
Wireless Zero Configuration (don’t disable if using wireless network/Internet connection)

Close Computer Management window.
Restart computer.

Right-click My Network Places and click Properties (or Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections).
Right-click Local Area Connection and click Properties.
Switch to Advanced tab, and enable Internet Connection Firewall.

Note: a) Don't enable Internet Connection Firewall if you already using third party firewall. b) If any of your online games or other applications lost Internet connection after this step, click Settings button, and make additional configuration changes per your software documentation. Otherwise, do NOT change default settings (unless you know what you are doing).

Click OK to save changes.

Right-click Local Area Connection again, and click Properties.
Click QoS Packet Scheduler, and Click Uninstall button.

(ONLY!) if you have a standalone pc (no network), or just don’t feel like sharing anything (files, printers, etc.) with other network users (or the entire world via Internet), uninstall Client for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. Answer No if asked to restart. Then double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click Advanced button on the bottom. Switch to WINS tab, and uncheck Enable LMHOSTS lookup, and select Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Click OK twice, and then click Close. Answer Yes to restart computer.

(Or remove it Microsoft way – click the following link for details http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q302089)

Open Outlook Express (Start -> Programs -> Outlook Express). If you see Mail Account setup or Internet connection wizard, cancel it. Main Outlook Express window will open.

Click Tools, and select Options.
Uncheck Automatically log on to Windows Messenger option.

Click OK button.
Close Outlook Express.
Right-click Taskbar, and select Task Manager.

Switch to Processes tab.
Find msmsgs.exe, right-click it, and select End Process. Do the same for msimn.exe.
Close Windows Task Manager window.

Double-click My Computer, double-click C-drive, and double-click Program Files folder.
Find Messenger folder and rename it (Name it anything you want. I usually add “OFF_” at the beginning, so Messenger becomes OFF_ Messenger).

Double-click renamed OFF_ Messenger (or whatever you named it) folder.

And rename the following files inside:

msgsc.dll
msgslang.dll
msmsgs.exe
msmsgs.exe.manifest
msmsgsin.exe
rtcimsp.dll

Close all windows.
Restart computer twice.

Click Start, select Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click Disk Defragmenter.
When Disk Defragmenter window opens, select a drive in the top portion of the window, and click Defragment button.

Double-click My Computer.
You should see all your drives.

Find your hard drive, right-click it, and select Properties.

File system label must say NTFS. If you see FAT32 (common on machines upgraded from Windows 98 and ME), you’ll need to convert the drive to NTFS manually. Search Windows Help and Support (Start -> Help and Support) for Convert to NTFS.
Click Cancel. Close opened windows.

Don’t disable Virtual Memory if any of the following is true:

You didn’t complete optimizations described above
Computer has less than 512 MB of RAM (memory)
Computer runs Mail, Database server or other resource-hungry applications in background
Computer usually actively runs more than five (5) programs at once.

Note: Some programs may refuse to run without Paging File (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, some games). However, most of the casual applications (MS Office, MS Works, Quake III, Unreal Tournament 2003 and almost everything else) will run just fine (well…, faster).

It’s very easy to disable/enable Virtual Memory. Try both options, and determine the one that fits your personal preference.
See Windows Help and Support (Start -> Help and Support) on how to disable Virtual Memory.

Run Disk Defragmenter after disabling/enabling Virtual Memory.
Restart computer.

Fresh install, Windows XP only (Task Manager /Performance tab)
Boot Time (POST to Desktop - 21 sec.)
 

Windows XP sp1, EI 6 sp1, MS Office 2003 Pro, Adobe Acrobat 5, Ad-aware 6, Spybot-S&D 1.3, RealPlayer, QuickTime installed


 

All Programs loaded

Don’t keep your computer on when you’re not using it. According to 2002 Cornell University calculations, US could switch off seven (!) power stations if TVs, videos and computers were not left on standby. 

Even if you are not very concerned about your electric bill, and rising number of countries we need to “liberate” to secure energy resources, consider this:

Windows is not a non-stop operating system. Not only it is leaking system resources, it also has a tendency to keep some programs running in background even though you closed them.

If you have an "always-on" internet connection, such as a DSL or cable, keeping your box on 24x7 will tremendously increase your chances being hacked or infected.

http://www.blackviper.com/
http://support.microsoft.com/
http://www.pcworld.com/ (“How-To” section)
MS Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP

http://www.zonelabs.com/
          (Professional version will even suppress advertisement on web pages, and pop-up windows)

Spybot-S&D
Ad-aware

Downloads
Common Windows XP Problems and Solutions