TweakHound's Super XP Tweaking Guide Page

TweakHound's Super XP Tweaking Guide

Benchmarking The Tweaks

This is simply FYI, FWIW, and for fun. While I've benchmarked this stuff (over and over and over...) I thought you might like to see a few stats. In no way should it be considered scientific. To even come close to that would require at least 2 dozen different machines/setups, a dozen benchmark programs, and several runs of each benchmark.

This was done on a full production machine...mine (with everything as I run it). There are no tricks, no overclocking (I even turned my RAM timings back to SPD). The system is exactly same in these benchmarks except for the tweaks being applied...

This benchmarking only reflects the application of the tweaks in Table 5. It does not reflect the effects of a well maintained system vs. one that isn't.

I'll leave it up to you to interpret the results...

Method used:

-Install Bootvis and PCMark05

-Undo all tweaks currently applied via a .reg file (See .reg settings below. This .reg file is the exact opposite.)

-Run Bootvis and run ALL tests on PCMark05

-Clean system - (Safe mode) CCleaner, CleanCache, cleanmgr. Reboot x3

-Run PerfectDisk. Reboot.

-Run Bootvis x3. Reboot

-Let machine sit for 5 minutes. Run PCMark05. Reboot.

-Let machine sit for 5 minutes. Take Perfmon screenshot.

-Apply Tweaks (w/win32prioritysep) via a .reg file. (See .reg settings below.)

-Clean system - (Safe mode) CCleaner, CleanCache, cleanmgr. Reboot x3

-Run PerfectDisk. Reboot.

-Let machine sit for 5 minutes. Run PCMark05.

-Reset Win32PrioritySep to default. Reboot.

-Run Bootvis x3. Reboot

-Let machine sit for 5 minutes. Run PCMark05. Reboot.

-Let machine sit for 5 minutes. Take Perfmon screenshot.

Table 1

Boot time - Average of 3 - Measured with Bootvis
	No Tweaks	Tweaks
Boot	26.22	24.39
Logon + Services	38.60	33.96

Table 2

PCMark05 (click on score for full details)
No tweaks	4343
Tweaked with Win32PrioritySeparation tweak	4418
Tweaked without Win32PrioritySeparation tweak	4499

Table 3

Performance Monitor

Not Tweaked

Tweaked

Table 4

OS & Hardware Specs See my system HERE.
--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc. ]--------- Version EVEREST v2.20.405 Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 5.1.2600 --------[ Summary ]-------- Computer: Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition OS Service Pack Service Pack 2 DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c) Motherboard: CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 3400 MHz (17 x 200) Motherboard Name Asus P4C800-E Deluxe Motherboard Chipset Intel Canterwood i875P System Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM) BIOS Type AMI (02/23/04) Display: Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT (128 MB) 3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT AGP Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 711N/712N [17" LCD] Multimedia: Audio Adapter Creative SB0350 Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card Storage: IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers SCSI/RAID Controller Intel(R) 82801ER SATA RAID Controller SCSI/RAID Controller WinXP Promise FastTrak 378 (tm) Controller SCSI/RAID Controller WinXP Promise RAID Console SCSI Processor Device SCSI/RAID Controller WinXP Promise Ultra133 TX2 (tm) IDE Controller Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive Disk Drive raid0 (138 GB, IDE) Disk Drive Maxtor 6 B250R0 SCSI Disk Device (250 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133) Disk Drive Promise 2+0 Stripe/RAID0 SCSI Disk Device (228 GB) Optical Drive JLMS DVD-ROM LTD-166S (16x/48x DVD-ROM) Optical Drive PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-108 Partitions: C: (NTFS) 141808 MB F: (NTFS) 231412 MB I: (NTFS) 239366 MB Z: (FAT32) 3068 MB Total Size 601.2 GB Network: Network Adapter Intel(R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection
Installed Software (at the time of benchmarking)
Acronis Disk Director Suite Acronis True Image Ad-Aware SE Personal Adobe Acrobat 7.0.3 and Reader 7.0.3 Update Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Audacity 1.2.3 Audio Conversion Wizard 1.8 AVG Anti-Virus 7.0 Belarc Advisor 7.0 CCleaner CleanCache 3.1 dBpowerAMP Music Converter EVEREST Home Edition v2.20 Gaim Image Resizer Powertoy for Windows XP Intel Matrix Storage Manager Intel(R) PRO Network Connections Software Intel(R) PROSafe for Wired Connections iPod for Windows 2005-06-26 iTunes IZArc 3.4.1.6 J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 4 jv16 PowerTools 2005 Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0 Microsoft Bootvis Microsoft Digital Image Library 9 Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9 Microsoft MapPoint North America 2004 Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2003	Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Thunderbird Nero 6 Ultra Edition NVIDIA Drivers NVIDIA Media Center extensions for display NVIDIA Media Center extensions for DVD NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder PCMark05 PerfectDisk PowerDVD QuickTime RegWorks 1.3.4 Shockwave Flash SiSoftware Sandra Professional 2005.SR2a (Win64/32/CE) Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 SyncToy Tweak UI TweakMCE Visio Connector for Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.0 Winamp Windows Genuine Advantage v1.3.0254.0 Windows Installer 3.1 (KB893803) Windows Media Connect Windows Media Encoder 9 Series WinZip XQDC X-Setup Pro 7.1.250.Final1 ZoneAlarm Pro

Table 5

Tweaks Used For This Test

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; usually 0 = disable (off/no), 1 = enable (on/yes)

; VISUAL TWEAKS

; Use Classic Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSimpleStartMenu"=dword:00000001

; Remove "Shortcut To" text on shortcuts
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"link"=hex:00,00,00,00

; Remove Shortcut Arrows on shortcuts
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]
"IsShortcut"=-

; Show translucent selection rectangle
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewAlphaSelect"=dword:00000000

;Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewShadow"=dword:00000001

; Use background image for each folder type
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ListviewWatermark"=dword:00000000

; Slide taskbar buttons
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarAnimations"=dword:00000000

; Smooth Edges Of Screen Fonts 0=no, 2=yes
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"FontSmoothing"="2"

; Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"MinAnimate"="0"

; Use this to keep the registry in-line with the above changes
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects]
"VisualFXSetting"=dword:00000003

; XP Visual Effects "adjust for..."
; mine = to TweakUI General Section Options, all off except optimize hard disk
;UserPreferencesMask appearance=1e,2c,07,80, performance=10,00,01,80, mine=10,00,03,80
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"UserPreferencesMask"=hex:10,00,03,80

; Disable Ballon Tips
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"EnableBalloonTips"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"StartButtonBalloonTip"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ShowInfoTip"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\tips]
"Show"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"FolderContentsInfoTip"=dword:00000000

; Start Menu Tweaks

; Add Admin Tools To Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"StartMenuAdminTools"="YES"

; Add/Remove Favorites To Start Menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"StartMenuFavorites"=dword:00000000

; Expand Control Panel
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"CascadeControlPanel"="YES"

; Use Personalized menus
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"IntelliMenus"=dword:00000000

; Recent docs history
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoRecentDocsHistory"=hex:01,00,00,00

; Remove Recent Documents from the start menu
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoRecentDocsMenu"=dword:00000001

; Don't Group Similar Taskbar Buttons
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"TaskbarGlomming"=dword:00000000

; Explorer tweaks
; Don't Cache Thumbnails
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

; show hidden files
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"SuperHidden"=dword:00000001
"ShowSuperHidden"=dword:00000001

; show hidden file ext
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000

; TURN OFF ANNOYING WINDOWS STUFF and misc. tweaks

;Disable Desktop Cleanup Wizard
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz]
"NoRun"=dword:00000001

; Disable Error Reporting
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealth\ErrorReporting]
"DoReport"=dword:00000000

; Disable Fast User Switching
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\]
"AllowMultipleTSSessions"=dword:00000000

; Disable Low Disk Space Warning
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000001

; Auto Retsart Explorer After Crash
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"AutoRestartShell"=dword:00000001

; Beep On Errors
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Sound]
"Beep"="No"
"ExtendedSounds"="no"

; PERFORMANCE

; Set CPU Priority
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl]
"Win32PrioritySeparation"=dword:00000026

; These allow you to end tasks faster, shut down faster and speed up the menu display.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"ForegroundLockTimeout"=dword:00000000
"HungAppTimeout"="4000"
"MenuShowDelay"="200"
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="5000"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control]
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="5000"

; Explorer Fast Update
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update]
"UpdateMode"=hex:00

; Disable User Tracking
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoInstrumentation"=dword:00000001

; Disable 8.3 Name Creation
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation"=dword:00000001

; Disable Last Access Time Stamp
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate"=dword:00000001

; Stop Windows from looking for Scheduled Tasks when browsing network
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\

RemoteComputer\NameSpace\{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}]
@="Scheduled Tasks"

; Prevent messenger from being run
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Messenger\Client]
"PreventAutoRun"=dword:00000001
"PreventRun"=dword:00000001

; Make the "Find Files" Interface Cleaner and TURN THAT DAMN DOG OFF
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"Use Search Asst"="no"

; Make IE Behave
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Infodelivery\Restrictions]
"NoUpdateCheck"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"IEWatsonDisable"=dword:00000001

; Make WMP Behave
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer]
"EnableAutoUpgrade"="no"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]
"DisableAutoUpdate"=dword:00000001

; SERVICES

; 00000002=Automatic, 00000003=Manual, 00000004=Disabled

; Computer Browser
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; DHCP Client
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcp]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Error Reporting
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Fast User Switching Compatibility
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FastUserSwitchingCompatibility]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Help and Support
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Indexing Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\cisvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RDSessMgr]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Remote Registry
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Secondary Logon
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\seclogon]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Security Center
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Server
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; System Restore Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\srservice]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LmHosts]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Terminal Services
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TermService]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Themes
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Wireless Zero Configuration
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WZCSVC]
"Start"=dword:00000004

TweakHound's Super XP Tweaking Guide

Section & Title

Introduction

My Thoughts On Tweaking And This Guide

1 - Before You Begin Tweaking XP…
2 - Windows Built-In Tweaks
3 - Windows Built-In Tweaks Part 2
4 - The Page File
5 - Services
6 - Registry Hacks
7 - Tweaking Apps
8 - Creating Your Own Registry Files
9 - Broadband Tweaks
10 - Make your own free Tweaking Toolbox
11 - Bad Tweaks
12 - Clean, Defrag, Optimize
13 - XP Tweaking Guide Notes & FAQ's
14 - Benchmarking The Tweaks