There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
 
Tag Cloud
acer black screen blue screen blue screen of death boot bsod computer connection crash css dell display driver drivers email error explorer firefox firefox 3 freeze hard drive internet internet explorer itunes laptop malware monitor network networking nvidia outlook outlook 2003 outlook express partition password printer problem ram router security slow software sound trojan usb virus vista windows windows xp wireless
Tech Tips & Tricks
Search
Search in:
 
Advanced Search
Tech Support Guy Forums > General Technology > Tech Tips & Tricks >
Tweaking Windows XP


HELLO AND WELCOME! Before you can post your question, you'll have to register -- it's completely free! Click here to join today! We highly recommend that you print a copy of our Guide for New Members. Enjoy!

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Mike46's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 237 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Extraterrestrial Highway
Experience: Intermediate
05-Jun-2006, 10:05 PM #1
Lightbulb Tweaking Windows XP
Tweaking Windows XP for better Performance


Change Menu Show Delay

Windows delays menus before they are displayed.
For most users this delay can be too much, we can change the delay time or remove it altogether.
First Open the Registry Editor by following the steps below:

-- Click Start
-- Run
-- Type Regedit

Once Open find the path listed below:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Control Panel / Desktop

Once there, find MenuShowDelay and set it's value to equal the delay you would like before the menus are shown.
Value Data: 0-999 (milliseconds)

400 Default
200 Works for most people
0 No Delay
Changes will take effect upon reboot.

Shutdown Speed

By altering a few registry settings, you can dramatically decrease the amount of time it takes for Windows to shut down.
Open the Registry Editor (if it isn't open already)

Find the path listed below:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER / Control Panel / Desktop

Once there, find HungAppTimeout and make sure its value is set to 5000 (default)
In the same folder, find WaitToKillAppTimeout. Set this to 4000 (default is 20000)


Windows XP Prefetcher Settings

Prefetcher monitors which programs initialize when Windows boots, then in future, fetches them quickly.
Prefetcher is enabled by default, but we can improve its performance.
Again Run Registry Editor (if it isn't already open)

Find the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / Session Manager / Memory Management / PrefetchParameters

Find the value EnablePrefetcher. Default, it will be set to 3. We recommended setting the prefetcher to 5. Feel free to play around with it and find out what works best for you.

Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. I cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.


Disable Windows error reporting

One feature that most can do without is error reporting. Every time a program crashes it tries to send a report to Microsoft. Read below to find out how to disable this feature.

* Open control panel
* Click on performance and maintenance
* Click on system
* Then click on the advanced tab
* Click on the error reporting button on the bottom of the windows
* Select disable error reporting
* Click ok
__________________
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another"
"With no loss of enthusiasm."

Last edited by Mike46 : 05-Jun-2006 10:33 PM.
holy_saiyan1's Avatar
Senior Member with 643 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Appalachia
Experience: Mind-Taker
06-Jun-2006, 08:55 PM #2
Aww come on, Mike. By-hand registry editing is fun, just like playing with knives and walking on train tracks.

Some more tweaks that I've found:

-Turns out that the Disk Defrag utility that Windows comes with is actually a wimpified version of a product called Diskeeper. I have it, and it does a better job of defragmenting, and you can even set it to automagically run when it determines that your system is becoming fragmented again.

- [url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx]Tweak UI for XP [/url. 'Nuff said!
__________________
Join Team MozillaZine , the best Folding@Home team, hands down! While your computer snoozes, Folding@Home folds virtual proteins in search of cancer cures! Go to http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/folding/ to find out how you can help!
flavallee's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 16,111 posts.
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Brandon/Valrico, Florida
Experience: Advanced
08-Jun-2006, 02:39 PM #3
Go here to the "Tweak And Tip Categories" and have a field day.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mastertech's Avatar
Senior Member with 452 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Experience: 15 Years
11-Sep-2006, 02:43 AM #4
Thumbs down 5 is a Myth
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike46
[center]Windows XP Prefetcher Settings

Prefetcher monitors which programs initialize when Windows boots, then in future, fetches them quickly.
Prefetcher is enabled by default, but we can improve its performance.
Again Run Registry Editor (if it isn't already open)

Find the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / Session Manager / Memory Management / PrefetchParameters

Find the value EnablePrefetcher. Default, it will be set to 3. We recommended setting the prefetcher to 5. Feel free to play around with it and find out what works best for you.
5 is not a working value. There are only 3 values 0, 1, 2 and 3. By default it is already set to 3 which is optimal: XP Myths
Mike46's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 237 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Extraterrestrial Highway
Experience: Intermediate
12-Sep-2006, 01:07 AM #5
Cool Prefetcher
Well I am not an expert on this tweak but here are some sites with views on this tweak
http://www2.technobabble.com.au/article-181--0-0.html
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...efetch-XP.html
http://www.intelliadmin.com/blog/200...-start-up.html
__________________
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another"
"With no loss of enthusiasm."
Mastertech's Avatar
Senior Member with 452 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Experience: 15 Years
12-Sep-2006, 01:11 AM #6
And they are all wrong. None of them understand how Windows Prefetching works. I have contacted the second link you posted and he stated he filed a retraction but the owner of the site has not corrected it. The Prefetcher only has 4 functional values. 0, 1, 2 and 3. I have personally spoken to a Microsoft Engineer on the Windows Client Performance Team to confirm this. Here is some reading material:


MICROSOFT ARTICLES:

Windows XP: Kernel Improvements Create a More Robust, Powerful, and Scalable OS
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/is...1/12/XPKernel/

Kernel Enhancements for Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver...xp_kernel.mspx

Windows XP Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...te/xpperf.mspx

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system...benchmark.mspx

Windows XP Professional Resource Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...c28621675.mspx

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...%20Windows.doc


EXPERTS:

Ryan Myers - Windows Client Performance Team

Misinformation and the The Prefetch Flag
http://blogs.msdn.com/ryanmy/archive...25/421882.aspx


Ed Bott - Author Widows XP Inside Out

One more time: do not clean out your Prefetch folder!
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000743.html

Beware of Bogus XP Advice
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000024.html

Tip of the day: Don’t clean out the Prefetch folder
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000619.html


Mark Russinovich - Author Windows Internals

http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6710.asp
Mike46's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 237 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Extraterrestrial Highway
Experience: Intermediate
12-Sep-2006, 07:05 AM #7
Cool Articles
Thanks, this should give everyone some good information to read. I know I have learned something new
Mastertech's Avatar
Senior Member with 452 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Experience: 15 Years
12-Sep-2006, 07:17 AM #8
No Problem
gurutech's Avatar
Computer Specs
Distinguished Member with 2,261 posts.
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Central NJ
Experience: Seasoned Professional
15-Sep-2006, 05:31 PM #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mastertech
5 is not a working value. There are only 3 values 0, 1, 2 and 3. By default it is already set to 3 which is optimal: XP Myths
Uh... that's 4 values.... Not 3.
Mastertech's Avatar
Senior Member with 452 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Experience: 15 Years
15-Sep-2006, 09:01 PM #10
Correct that was a typo.
firestormer's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 1,353 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: UK
Experience: Skilled: Know all i know and little else
24-Sep-2006, 09:57 AM #11
nice tweaks thanks!
funky_munky's Avatar
Member with 63 posts.
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Just past Greeners Hill
27-Sep-2006, 06:33 AM #12
Might be worth a look as well:

http://www.techsupersite.com/speedupxp.html
Closed Thread

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who help people like you solve computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.



Thread Tools


You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:33 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2008 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Powered by vBulletin, Copyright © 2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.1.0
Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.