Speed up XP. Like?

[commentator8]

Hi again. When i get a computer in for speed ups, i have a set procedure i run through which can take anywhere from 20 - an hour plus. Here is the XP version.

Please comment and give advice. Quite a bit of time has gone into this. And disclaimer - i take no responsibility for any trouble blah blah blah. And i have heavily edited the registry files for public consumption, so hopefully they work... If not it will be a typo that stops it.

I have included a file titled "xp smoker cant use". In it is a recording of the changes to the registry after running and monitoring xp smoker (two screens worth only - small part of whole program). My question is: most of these edits are done in my file, just to "[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]" say rather than hkey_users for example. Is this the same in effect? If so if anyone wants to tidy it up and combine it into the main file... my thanks. Especially because it seems that it isn't free for technician use.

And btw, i recommend buying a pqi or similar write protected usb. The amount of times overeager AV's have killed the rest of my toolbox...!

XP:

TCP optimiser.
Defragment - defraggler
driver detective

device manager:
check drives IDE DMA (DMA if possible)
check drives sata write
Enable write caching on hard disks

control panel - sounds:
Disable System Sounds

boot defrag/idle tasks.

and for the main effect:
main reg file attached.
del_prefetch file (actually seen significant improvement on some systems)
services (taken from this forum's techtools 3)
msconfig - all unnecessary startup programs.

That takes care of the software. Other point of importance is ctrl-shift-esc and check available ram under normal load in performance tab. If needed, recommend RAM.

There is slight redundancy in the files, but i weeded out the majority of it.

Feedback please.

 

[commentator8]

Just realised that this might be more suited to the guides ect area. If you (admin) think so then feel free to move it.

 

[Xander]

I don't see anything on the XPSmoker website about a Technician's license. Their freeware version's EULA has

2. You may only use the Software on a single computer that you own, lease or control.

Pro Trial EULA:
WareSoft Software hereby licenses you for unlimited use of XP Smoker Pro on your personal computer, such as a desktop or a laptop, or for multiple users on a single personal computer, but not both...

 

[iisjman07]

Thanks, this could prove useful

 

[commentator8]

Its what i use, and its quite good. That said, especially considering the reg file of tweaks, looking around the forum i have found another 5 or so compilations, so i will probably update mine in a couple of days.

 

[commentator8]

I don't see anything on the XPSmoker website about a Technician's license. Their freeware version's EULA has

Good point. I have largely done work pro bono for friends and family and friends of friends... and only recently started up a business. So good point, still not the first thing that comes to mind (mainly with programs im used to).

That said, i will edit the post, but i believe once i get an answer to the "is hkey_users similar to (in this instance) current user", i will be able to include the 20 or so tweaks it does without it.

Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[MobileTechie]

I don't like most of it if I'm being honest.

Defrag = fine.
Startups = fine
Delete prefetch = worse than pointless. It takes 2 startups of the app to recreate and further idle time to optimise. All that just to recreate what was there and optimised anyway.
Services: a very few can be disabled with no risk but many of the common tweaks disable services that were not likely to run anyway or might be required by future applications.
System sounds = could benefit a very slow/low RAM system

Reg tweaks - Some are OK but it also contains most of the mythical tweaks that have been debunked over and over. Again you have a pre-fetch tweak that does nothing good. You turn of paging of the Kernel which does nothing. You have the "LargeSystemCache"="1" which can cause driver problems and does nothing good for a desktop machine anyway. Also the IoPageLockLimit tweak which hasn't worked since Windows 2000.

I'm guessing that like most of us, you don't really understand the deep technical implications of most of these reg tweaks but have merely collected them off the net. That's fine for your own machine but I personally wouldn't run that reg file on a client's machne.

 

[morr]

......
msconfig - all unnecessary startup programs.
....

msconfig should really only be used in this manner when troubleshooting problems. Ideally you should disable start-up programs using the individual software options, or perhaps use autoruns to actually remove rather than simply disable the start-up items you believe are not required

 

[jscx93]

Ill simplify it

Autoruns (80% of your speed up) -startup entries/services/drivers..etc

Ccleaner - temp crap / extra reg keys

Glary Reg (if you really really want to, but it isnt as needed) - good for left over start up reg key entries and various other junk

Pc decrap - remove extra programs and previous tools (glary)

Mydefrag - defrag

Manual tweaks and page file tweaks (people can argue me to death about it, but I have shown people first hand and it does work)

60% of the time it works every time

 

[commentator8]

60% of the time it works every time

Gotta like that. But i'll stand by my version as a little bit more comprehensive. As to the different methods (autoruns, mydefrag ccleaner), all are valid and i also use them - depends on the time and occasion (not the defrag actually).

I have found that win 7 defrag is pretty good. Whats the verdict there?

And what is the main reason for not using msconfig for startup (not services)? As long as you dont want the programs starting, final is final no? If you decide you do want them, you can manually re-enable them from within the program.

 

[commentator8]

Delete prefetch = worse than pointless. It takes 2 startups of the app to recreate and further idle time to optimise. All that just to recreate what was there and optimised anyway.

Like i mentioned re prefetch, i have seen a a significant speed boost in older computers (low hardware resources, where it looked like this had never been done. XP also). So yes, with newer computers it is better not to do this. Or so say the experts (although i have never seen any adverse affects when playing on vista/7). Another site to read http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks12.htm. He mentions that it can be good after "disabled/removed several things that were previously prefetched" - did we?

re: http://www.edbott.com/weblog/2005/06/one-more-time-do-not-clean-out-your-prefetch-folder/ for why you shouldn't use prefetch though.

Services: a very few can be disabled with no risk but many of the common tweaks disable services that were not likely to run anyway or might be required by future applications.

The services are straight out of the TechTools folder, lite version, (i normally manually tweak them after, depending on the system). And we will have to agree to disagree there as i do believe it helps. As long as you are turning off the right ones - how not? I cant see cardspace or wireless (on some systems, and no it isn't in there, or tablet... hogging memory being useful).

System sounds = could benefit a very slow/low RAM system

Sounds - not meant to make the machine take red bull, rather one part of many. It is largely for boot/shutdown (and minor ram).

I'm guessing that like most of us, you don't really understand the deep technical implications of most of these reg tweaks but have merely collected them off the net. That's fine for your own machine but I personally wouldn't run that reg file on a client's machne.

As to the tweaks, most of the tweaks are controversial. But almost no one claims that (for the vast majority anyway) the "thats just plain wrong" tweaks will harm the computer, but rather be ineffective. The prefetch (=3) tweak is the windows default, but it is there to reset it from earlier (bad) tweaks. Although i have had 2 advised by a site i admire.

Another point, like any tweak list it will have some deadwood in it. Harmless deadwood. But the strong parts are there too, including some i did manually (the "automatically search for network folders and printer", or "performance settings"... - things i once did via control panel or folder settings and can now use the reg file for).

Reg tweaks - Some are OK but it also contains most of the mythical tweaks that have been debunked over and over. Again you have a pre-fetch tweak that does nothing good. You turn of paging of the Kernel which does nothing. You have the "LargeSystemCache"="1" which can cause driver problems and does nothing good for a desktop machine anyway. Also the IoPageLockLimit tweak which hasn't worked since Windows 2000.

Last point is that i went through this site http://home.comcast.net/~supportcd/XPMyths.html and this one http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks11.htm, although i missed his take on DisablePagingExecutive - he also says it is not bad, just mostly not good. Most of these bogus tweaks are not in my file (i believe), if some are, at worst they wont help. Except perhaps for LargeSystemCache, but i don't have as cynical a take on it as that. "This tweak is known to effect ATI video cards, storage devices, and several benchmark applications amongst other things." I believe that most of this has been updated to the point that that statement is true anymore. Could be wrong though.

As to running it on a clients computer - between the fact that there are no adverse effects (again, i trimmed it so check it still works out of box though) and that it has shown me significant improvement, why not?

 

[PcTek9]

The scripting forum on this very website has been doing this for a long time. Have you guys looked at the lists of script in there?

 

[commentator8]

The scripting forum on this very website has been doing this for a long time. Have you guys looked at the lists of script in there?

Doing what? But yes i have looked at the scripts, and use them in conjunction with. Hopefully methical gets his script out - looks amazing. But the scripts i use are largely for backing up user data, fixes (print spooler...), system restores, registry backups... and while i'm at it i show the customer ninite.

Not really optimisations though. What did you mean?

 

[Xander]

...the scripts i use are largely for ...showing the customer ninite and letting them pick and click install on their programs...

You use a script to avoid paying Ninite? Or did you just type that strangely?

 

[commentator8]

You use a script to avoid paying Ninite? Or did you just type that strangely?

Strangely - i doubt that scripting that is possible (i mostly collect scripts, not make them). What i meant was amongst other automated procedures (scripts), i find ninite to be amazing and as my revenue isn't enough to warrant buying it, i point it out to customers and let them make the most of it.

 

[xpsmoker]

Hi guys! I am the owner of WareSoft Software. I became aware of your postings here via Google Alerts. I thought I would let you know that I do not have a problem at all with anyone using XP Smoker Free Edition to speed up or fix computers as a technician. No technicians license is required from me. However, if you want to use XP Smoker Pro, Vista Smoker Pro or 7Smoker Pro you will need a technicians license. I have given technician licenses to many companies that do computer repairs and have made custom CDs for them also.

You can contact me via this form, or via the contact us form at www.xp-smoker.com

 

[commentator8]

Hi guys! I am the owner of WareSoft Software. I became aware of your postings here via Google Alerts. I thought I would let you know that I do not have a problem at all with anyone using XP Smoker Free Edition to speed up or fix computers as a technician. No technicians license is required from me. However, if you want to use XP Smoker Pro, Vista Smoker Pro or 7Smoker Pro you will need a technicians license. I have given technician licenses to many companies that do computer repairs and have made custom CDs for them also.

You can contact me via this form, or via the contact us form at www.xp-smoker.com

Its a small world! I have tried out upwards of 30 xp optimising programs, and like most techie's would agree (i think) the vast majority are worse than nothing.

xpsmoker is perhaps my sole exception to that (potentially also glary). I would recommend it highly. Although nowadays i mainly use it for the performance/misc pages. One question - something that always struck me as a bug was the recommended "disable user tracking option on the misc page". Whenever i used it (or just clicked recommended) it killed my MFU's in the start menu.

As to usage, sadly i'm still in the start up stage and have no where near sufficient business to allow for any of various tools that would be really useful. But the free version suffices. Thanks! And great work.

 

[commentator8]

Does anyone have an answer to msconfig and whether it is really that bad to use it for startup only?

And for whether hkey_users is similar to (in this instance) current user?

Both those questions are somewhat longstanding for me, something assumed but not enough interest to check up.

And now after checking up on msconfig im still not convinced. Re http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=149804.

The claims are:

1. MSconfig was designed to be used only as a temporary

2. debugging/troubleshooting tool. It was not meant to be used for long term solutions.

3. MSconfig does not show all startups anyway.

4. If you uninstall programs while they are being disabled with MSconfig, they will not be uninstall properly and you will have to resort to manual registry editing to properly get everything removed. MSconfig will leave orphan entries if/when installed software is uninstalled while under the control of MSconfig . When/if MSconfig is turned back to normal startup, it will give errors on boot due to those orphan entries.

5. You can lock malware items into your registry that you may not see anymore until some point in time where you switch back to Normal Startup mode and now you can cause total reinfection of your PC with the malware.
You need to remove the malware not mask it.

In response: For the express purposes of managing startup programs, i would say that the convenience of having a one stop shop outways a few orphaned entries. The fact that it wasn't designed for that has no bearing, nor the fact that it does not show all startups (as it does show all standard program ones, if not all malware).

I have never had an error after booting back into normal startup with orphaned entries, it usually just ignores them. As to getting rid of them after - it isn't that hard to - even ccleaner could. Not than one has to.

I'm positive someone will flame me on this, and possibly validly. If so - why shouldn't i use and abuse msconfig?

 

[Xander]

I just see MSconfig as more of an end-user tool. It really is pretty light-weight for most of our needs. I much prefer Autoruns for duplicating (and expanding upon) most of its functions. The functions that aren't duplicated, I never seem to need.

 

[xpsmoker]

One question - something that always struck me as a bug was the recommended "disable user tracking option on the misc page".

I have actually wondered about the naming of that particular tweak myself. I named it that because it is basically the name of the registry entry that Microsoft created. It disables tracking of what the user is doing throughout the computer. Therefore as an end result the start menu also doesn't track what programs the user has used most recently.

Personally, I disable the user tracking and pin my most used programs to the start menu.