Maximizing the efficiency of my computer with little OS charge

[kackiz]

For a few months now I've been hearing about these amazing versions of windows, versions like the Win7 mini, which is a version of win7 that fits inside 4GB of memory, fully installed.
Or the Microxp, that only takes up to 200MB of memory, also fully installed.

This made me think, these OS' are amazing; If you have a less than capable computer, and a valid windows 7, or XP key, then it should be a wonderland to play videogames, and use the most power your computer has, without pesky services and tasks eating up memory in the background.
But what if we went a bit further? What if it was possible to strip down windows 7 so much, you'd end up with a task manager and a Command prompt to control everything, and any type of service not related to video, sound, input, and internet to not be there?

Maybe I can do this in a normal installation of Windows 7; I've recently created another user on my laptop and tried something similar to this. The game I played ran smooth as silk, and despite having some sound problems at first, the frame rate was worth it, with almost never going below 50 fps in-game, and 28 fps in the menus, compared to the usual 40-50ish fps I normally got with peaks of 60 and 70 from time to time.

But going through the process of closing almost every not needed service one by one and ending tasks also one by one is very time consuming, and I ended up spending more time doing this than actually playing.
My questions are:
Could you -theoretically- create a bare-bones version of Windows 7 that looks more like DOS and less like windows? (I believe Debian does this)

Is there a way to automate the process of ending tasks and services? Maybe through a .bat file or a third-party program?

P.S:
I'm sorry if this is the wrong section for threads like these.

 

[RolandJS]

I highly recommend simply buying more RAM and a larger HD. Trying to adjust, downsize, majorly-change Windows Prime very likely will cause you sooner or later to reach for your Factory Restore or your Windows install DVD.

 

[LMiller7]

I agree with RolandJS.

Sorry, but to me this sounds like a lot of work for minimal gains and producing a system with some difficult to diagnose issues. Microsoft never designed the OS for this so you would be in uncharted territory with many pitfalls. This sounds like the popular idea that the smaller you make an OS the faster it will be. It seems reasonable but it is a misconception.

 

[johnhoh]

Go for it bro. Black Viper has dedicated himself to this very thing for 20 years...

Windows 7 Archives | Black Viper | www.blackviper.com

Home | Black Viper | www.blackviper.com

 

[RolandJS]

Here's my thought, if you are Callender or Black Viper of sevenforums, or Dalchina of eightforums -- go for it. If you are not Callender, Black Viper, or Dalchina, my recommendation is: see my earlier post.

 

[johnhoh]

So there are a total of three people in the world capable of tweaking their system? I would have thought there was more!

 

[RolandJS]

So there are a total of three people in the world capable of tweaking their system? I would have thought there was more!

I'm sure there are many more! However, my point is: unless one is very very thoroughly familiar with Windows Prime -- it's best to have restorable backups or factory restore option at the ready. The names I gave are in reality only three of the many expert Windows folks. And, I am not one of them.

 

[RolandJS]

And, by the way, to me, tweaking Windows is not the same as thoroughly removing as many services, startups, etc., as possible. I have used Ultimate Windows Tweaker 1,2 & 3 over the years, and even I, following the advice of others, have not entered into territory of heavily modifying Windows Prime.

 

[kackiz]

I appreciate the answers.
First off, you're all right. I would like to try this sort of stuff, but maybe tweaking with my computer is not the best idea ATM, since I only have one, especially if we consider that this only accounts for a small gain to the performance.
However, Black Viper's project looks interesting, I will read his webpage.

 

[RolandJS]

You will find Black Viper's web site a masterpiece [amongst many others], a wealth of information! Please make full image backups of every major success milestone, just in case the computer stumbles upon a major millstone [implodes on itself].