My Issues with Windows 7

[Frostmourne]

Again to lazy to quote.

Anyone know of any good tweaking guides for Windows 7 to help cut down on its bulk of useless features? I have already gone through task scheduler and the turn off windows features thing.

Try Black Vipers site if it ca be tweaked he's done it.Black Viper's Web Site

Right, fogot about that one. Thanks.

I got my boot memory usage down to about 820mb. Not to shabby. Fastest restart i've recorded is 74s but that was before I got memory down to 820mb as well.

I had it down to 710mb one boot but realized I had a dependency disabled that disabled a bunch of services including audio lol.

Who cares about a few MB. My 7 install has nothing installed on a gaming box - no applications except benchmarks, DRM, and drivers. 7 takes 1GB for itself. Black Viper is pointless.

 

[Merlin2000]

Right, fogot about that one. Thanks.

I got my boot memory usage down to about 820mb. Not to shabby. Fastest restart i've recorded is 74s but that was before I got memory down to 820mb as well.

I had it down to 710mb one boot but realized I had a dependency disabled that disabled a bunch of services including audio lol.

- You better make a full 100% complete backup image of your computer. With all these minor tweaks, I bet everything is now completely different from the vanilla Windows 7 (in a good way). Would hate to see you have to go through all these troubles again!

Btw, did you update your 1st post with all your tweaks since the start of the thread? Would be good to have them all consolidated in a single post.

Also, did you get around to those benchmarks yet? I was thinking about installing XP and Win 7 on a separate drive just to post some benchmarks of the two.

Who cares about a few MB. My 7 install has nothing installed on a gaming box - no applications except benchmarks, DRM, and drivers. 7 takes 1GB for itself. Black Viper is pointless.

- Someone trying to gain performance out of his/her OS? Someone with limited resources? Someone that wants to know how far Windows 7 can go? There are tons of reasons why someone would want to tweak their system to gain performance. Next you're going to be complaining about people over clocking their CPUs!

 

[BunBun]

I haven't done the XP restart yet. Haven't had time been really busy but will get a dual boot going with it soon (i forgot to do it before I formatted).

And I already had to redo it cause something got corrupt with windows update and kept getting access denied everywhere and then my activation got messed up so I threw my hands up in the air and formatted again... now everything is perfect and I have my boot usage down to just under 820mb.

I haven't updated the first post but I have been thinking about it. Making it more clear and adding stuff that I have done since.

@frostmourne

You are entitled to your opinion.

 

[Tepid]

Blackviper had it's place in XP, this is true.

7 is different and manages things different.

7 is not XP, treating as such is not doing you any favors.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it, or that it is the right thing to do.

Do you even know why there is no such things as hardware profiles anymore?
Or did that one just escape everyone?

 

[BunBun]

Blackviper had it's place in XP, this is true.

7 is different and manages things different.

7 is not XP, treating as such is not doing you any favors.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it, or that it is the right thing to do.

Do you even know why there is no such things as hardware profiles anymore?
Or did that one just escape everyone?

So? Your point? Really I am completely and entirely failing to see it (or you are failing to make it...)

I am starting to think you work for microsoft or are paid by them in some way.

I am a power user. This is MY computer. I am in control of it and IMO it uses far too much memory on boot. Esspeically considering how 90% of the new features of Vista/Win 7 I dont use or care to use. Also I want it to boot in less then 30 seconds so that I may stop useing the sleep function and have a cleaner, more stable system every day that I use it.

I don't use homegroups and I dont use libraries. I have my own setup well established network of computers in a established and organized directory structure accross my server, NAS box, media center, other various family computers, my laptop, and my gaming rig. So why should I have these things running takeing up system resources that could be better used on my CAD applications so that I may finish my work faster so that I may play my games sooner and longer and at that running better?

I am the administrator of this machine and all the computers in this house. Why should I have some OS dictating what I can or can not do with MY computers? I disable built in security features so that I may have access to my OWN equipment. If anyone is going to be dictating what is or isn't done on any computer in this house it is going to be me.

 

[Frostmourne]

Blackviper had it's place in XP, this is true.

7 is different and manages things different.

7 is not XP, treating as such is not doing you any favors.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it, or that it is the right thing to do.

Do you even know why there is no such things as hardware profiles anymore?
Or did that one just escape everyone?

So? Your point? Really I am completely and entirely failing to see it (or you are failing to make it...)

I am starting to think you work for microsoft or are paid by them in some way.

I am a power user. This is MY computer. I am in control of it and IMO it uses far too much memory on boot. Esspeically considering how 90% of the new features of Vista/Win 7 I dont use or care to use. Also I want it to boot in less then 30 seconds so that I may stop useing the sleep function and have a cleaner, more stable system every day that I use it.

I don't use homegroups and I dont use libraries. I have my own setup well established network of computers in a established and organized directory structure accross my server, NAS box, media center, other various family computers, my laptop, and my gaming rig. So why should I have these things running takeing up system resources that could be better used on my CAD applications so that I may finish my work faster so that I may play my games sooner and longer and at that running better?

I am the administrator of this machine and all the computers in this house. Why should I have some OS dictating what I can or can not do with MY computers? I disable built in security features so that I may have access to my OWN equipment. If anyone is going to be dictating what is or isn't done on any computer in this house it is going to be me.

You are confusing the control issues here. You also have plenty of resources, so a MB's of RAM saved is not an issue, and your CAD instructions are not going to be hampered or improved by fiddling with services.

 

[BunBun]

Why have 4GB + of RAM and tell the OS ... Dont use it.

So that I can use it how I want to, not how the OS thinks I want to.

You are confusing the control issues here. You also have plenty of resources, so a MB's of RAM saved is not an issue, and your CAD instructions are not going to be hampered or improved by fiddling with services.

I have saved 200mb of ram so roughly 2.5% which has also shaved some time off my boot and made my system a bit more responsive.

So yes CAD applications and games will see a benefit and I have more resources for more multi-tasking and thus can get more work done.

 

[zzz2496]

Why do you guys keep on forcing each other's way of computing to one another? Frostmourne, can't you just accept the fact that there are other that has different idea about computing other that yours, and keep it at that... As I said before, there are people that will want to control every single byte of memory they have, every single nanosecond of processing time of their computer to do JUST WHAT THEY WANT IT TO DO, what the hell is there to be so hard to understand??? Urgh...

zzz2496

 

[Lee]

Mods it would appear that this is getting out of control. It would appear that this is generating into name calling. Please, Please end this post.

 

[CarlTR6]

I went through Black Viper's services list last night item by item. What I discovered is that Windows 7 has done a really good job with the services. The improvement over XP is like comparing a Porsche to a Model A. Since I never used Vista, I can't comment on the improvement in services over Vista; although Black Viper makes several comments on the improvement.

For the most part Windows 7 has only absolutely essential services in automatic. Some services that are needed only briefly or sporadically start and stop themselves from the manual setting.

Some services can be disabled - about six of them for me - depending on whether you are using a wireless connection and a hardware firewall or a modem without a router. There are a few other services that can be disabled if your computer is a standalone and you are not using a homegroup. For those that are extra security conscious, there are two or three services than can be disabled.

Windows 7 has made really good use of the manual setting and has very few services running that are not essential.

Although I did tweak my services, the gain is minuscule. Windows 7 really has the services thing streamlined and efficient from this non-geek's point of view.

 

[CarlTR6]

Mods it would appear that this is getting out of control. It would appear that this is generating into name calling. Please, Please end this post.

Lee, rather than close the thread, why not simply admonish offenders (if any) of the TOS/TOU? The thread has useful information. I would not have delved into the services so deeply if it were not for this thread; and I learned from doing so.

 

[BunBun]

Mods it would appear that this is getting out of control. It would appear that this is generating into name calling. Please, Please end this post.

Lee, rather than close the thread, why not simply admonish offenders (if any) of the TOS/TOU? The thread has useful information. I would not have delved into the services so deeply if it were not for this thread; and I learned from doing so.

I agree, there are only a few who are crapping in this thread that have not contributed to the discussion that could have their posts deleted.

And thank you, it was my intent that this thread bring out that which is hidden by the aparrent, for the lack of a better word, fanboyism that goes on around Windows 7 discussions. There is absolutely no reason that someone's computer should not behave the way they want/expect it to with at least some amount of control.

And I agree 7 does handle services a lot better. Most are manual started and the OS does a good job of terminating them when they are no longer needed. It is why I am having a hard time find where all this RAM is going. The kernel is actually useing a surprisingly small amount of memory...

 

[zzz2496]

I went through Black Viper's services list last night item by item. What I discovered is that Windows 7 has done a really good job with the services. The improvement over XP is like comparing a Porsche to a Model A. Since I never used Vista, I can't comment on the improvement in services over Vista; although Black Viper makes several comments on the improvement.

For the most part Windows 7 has only absolutely essential services in automatic. Some services that are needed only briefly or sporadically start and stop themselves from the manual setting.

Some services can be disabled - about six of them for me - depending on whether you are using a wireless connection and a hardware firewall or a modem without a router. There are a few other services that can be disabled if your computer is a standalone and you are not using a homegroup. For those that are extra security conscious, there are two or three services than can be disabled.

Windows 7 has made really good use of the manual setting and has very few services running that are not essential.

Although I did tweak my services, the gain is minuscule. Windows 7 really has the services thing streamlined and efficient from this non-geek's point of view.

Agreed 1000% Services in 7 in default install IS VERY EFFICIENT (IMHO), my god, finally Microsoft did something right these days Though I do have several other services to be switched off (4 in my case), it doesn't really change a lot... Which is VERY GOOD Now if only I can make the search work again...

Mods it would appear that this is getting out of control. It would appear that this is generating into name calling. Please, Please end this post.

Lee, rather than close the thread, why not simply admonish offenders (if any) of the TOS/TOU? The thread has useful information. I would not have delved into the services so deeply if it were not for this thread; and I learned from doing so.

Agreed, this thread HAVE SO MUCH INFO, too bad if you close it... some may express their mind a bit to the "extreme" side, but that's how some people are...

zzz2496

 

[Barman58]

One thing to add on the subject of services. if you feel that you can run without a service I would strongly advise that you select the "Manual" setting rather than disable it.

Also make a written note of all changes you make and the order you perform them.

I have in the past wasted valuable time on clients machines where new software or hardware had been added and caused issues by the required services having been disabled. A Service set to manual will cause no issue but if required should then start and prevent problems.

Also the documentation of what changes are made and in what order will help no end if you need to re-apply changes or re-set parameters.

 

[BunBun]

Very good advice Barman... and also something I am very negligent in lol.

 

[chrysalis]

how did you manage to install to an external hdd?

when I was upgrading the RC to RTM on my laptop I wanted to test it first so attempted to install to a external drive connected via usb but the setup program refused saying usb drives cannot be used as system drives.

 

[Merlin2000]

how did you manage to install to an external hdd?

when I was upgrading the RC to RTM on my laptop I wanted to test it first so attempted to install to a external drive connected via usb but the setup program refused saying usb drives cannot be used as system drives.

- An "external" drive connected via eSATA, is not the same as an external USB drive.

The difference is that the eSATA drive is more considered being an internal drive to the system, rather than an external drive. So it's an external internal drive.. See how clear that is?

 

[BunBun]

how did you manage to install to an external hdd?

when I was upgrading the RC to RTM on my laptop I wanted to test it first so attempted to install to a external drive connected via usb but the setup program refused saying usb drives cannot be used as system drives.

As merlin said it is a external drive connected via eSata which in my case is nothing more then a bracket with a cable going to an internal header on my mobo. So in otherwide its a internal HDD mounted externally.

I am dissapointed that they wont let you install to a USB device though. I guess its too big of an installation anyway. Would really like to see a mini Win 7 that only takes up a couple gigs and less then 500mb of ram...

 

[chrysalis]

Well I didnt see where said was esata sorry.

The drive I hooked up to the usb was my 640gig which is now my main OS drive in this system.

 

[patio]

Some services can be disabled - about six of them for me - depending on whether you are using a wireless connection and a hardware firewall or a modem without a router. There are a few other services that can be disabled if your computer is a standalone and you are not using a homegroup. For those that are extra security conscious, there are two or three services than can be disabled.

There's quite a few more than 6....