Optimize Windows 7

Brink · 18 Jul 2012

Memory usage is dependent on how much you have open and running at once. If you have your page file turned on and set to be managed by the system, then it will use the HDD as a buffer when memory runs low automatically. BY default the page file is set that way. Obviously the page file will be slower than memory (RAM), but it'll keep things running when memory is low.

Infinite · 22 Aug 2012

Nice list Shawn, however you could perhaps add to turn on "No GUI Boot" in msconfig to boot the PC faster.

Brink · 22 Aug 2012

Thank you for the tip Infinite. It may shave a couple of seconds without the GUI at boot. I'll do some playing with it tonight for a separate tutorial as well to reference in the list here. :)

Brink · 22 Aug 2012

Infinite said:

Nice list Shawn, however you could perhaps add to turn on "No GUI Boot" in msconfig to boot the PC faster.

Brink said:

Thank you for the tip Infinite. It may shave a couple of seconds without the GUI at boot. I'll do some playing with it tonight for a separate tutorial as well to reference in the list here. :)

Ok. Added now as option 34. :)

GrandServer · 05 Nov 2012

Hi. Great tips.
However I would double check the Ready Boost option because if you have enough RAM on your system and the Service is constantly trying to find devices for itself then it will slow it down. It will also come up as an option when the selection box appears when you plug a flash drive in the computer.
I would not change any services either as I have experienced a slow down after disabling 2 or 3 services (Workstation, Ready Boost,Tablet PC). I am unsure about this info.

shinyjanjan · 15 Nov 2012

thank you

bluezz · 15 Dec 2012

thanx a lot for this wonderful tutorial. Helped a lot for a new user like myself. appreciate your great effort. Thanx again.

Brink · 15 Dec 2012

You're welcome bluezz, and welcome to Seven Forums. :)

tweakradje · 15 Dec 2012

I cannot make a nice tut like you. I have a few more that I use. Perhaps you can check them?

1) use rramdisk (gavotte or other) for swapfile and temporary internet files (HDD and SSD) use PAE if you have Windows 32 bits. Install rramdisk and then you can prepare it like this:

Code:

@echo off
REM ### 
REM ###  Installeert een Ramdisk op B: van 500+ Mb (waarschijnlijk 1 Gb)
REM ###  - driver wordt automatisch geinstalleerd (zie rramdrive.inf)
REM ###  - B: wordt geformatteerd, gecomprimeerd etc
REM ###  - Ramdrive wordt naar Registry weggeschreven, elke keer geladen na reboot
REM ### 


bcdedit /set pae forceenable

%~dp0devcon.exe install %~dp0rramdisk.inf RamDisk

echo Errorlevel devcon: %ERRORLEVEL%

FORMAT /FS:NTFS /Q /X /V:RamDisk-PAE /A:512 B:


Compact /c /s /a /f B:.

CHKDSK /L:2048 B:

CACLS B:\ /E /G USERS:C

MKDIR B:\TEMP
MKDIR "B:\Temporary Internet Files"

rdutil B: registry

echo.
echo "Ramdisk B: klaar.
echo.
Goto Einde

:Foutje
exit %ERRORLEVEL%

:Einde
exit 0

Use addswap.exe with Task Scheduler (run as SYSTEM) to add swapfile to B: at system startup:
addswap.exe B:\PageFile.sys 512 1024 (depend on how much RAM you have)
Turn off windows regular pagefiles.
For Chrome use policy for temp files:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome]
"DiskCacheDir"="B:\\"

2) uninstall Windows Search, use things like Agent Ransack to search

3) uninstall all the Media Features, use things like vlc or mpc-hc and ffdshow

4) regsvr32 /u mf.dll (Media Foundation, DirectShow successor)

5) uninstall Tablet PC Components

6) use quiethdd.exe if you have HDD for maximizing HDD performance
Use Task Scheduler to run at system starttup, user SYSTEM. Example quietHDD.ini:

Code:

FirstRun = 0
AC_APM_Value = 254
DC_APM_Value = 254
AC_AAM_Value = 254
DC_AAM_Value = 254
AAMEnabled = 1
APMEnabled = 1

7) turn off "unnecessary" tasks in Task Scheduler, there are a lot

8) untick QoS Packet Scheduler for you Network adapter

9) Network Advanced Sharing Settings: 40 bit encryption, user usernames and password to connect to other computers for Home, Puiblic and Work Profiles

10) Turn Off Home Group Network
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\HomeGroup]
"DisableHomeGroup"=dword:00000001

11) Services set to manual (start 3): Windows update, Security Center etc. Only these running:

Code:

Application Information
ASLDR Service
ATKGFNEX Service
avast! Antivirus
Base Filtering Engine
CNG Key Isolation
COM+ Event System
Computer Browser
Cryptographic Services
DCOM Server Process Launcher
DHCP Client
Distributed Link Tracking Client
DNS Client
Extensible Authentication Protocol
Function Discovery Provider Host
Group Policy Client
Human Interface Device Access
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
IP Helper
IPsec Policy Agent
Network Connections
Network List Service
Network Location Awareness
Network Store Interface Service
NVIDIA Display Driver Service
NVIDIA Update Service Daemon
Plug and Play
PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator
Power
Print Spooler
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
RPC Endpoint Mapper
Security Accounts Manager
Server
Shell Hardware Detection
Software Protection
SPP Notification Service
SSDP Discovery
System Event Notification Service
Task Scheduler
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
TeamViewer 5
Themes
Unsigned Themes
User Profile Service
Windows Audio
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework
Windows Event Log
Windows Firewall
Windows Font Cache Service
Windows Management Instrumentation
WLAN AutoConfig
Workstation

12) Use loads of other reg tweaks. To name a few:

Code:

;### better task priority schedule
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl]
"Win32PrioritySeparation"=dword:00000018

;### makes windows search dlls in windows folders first
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager]
"SafeDllSearchMode"=dword:00000001
"SafeProcessSearchMode"=dword:00000001

;### don't allow the kernel to be paged
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"DisablePagingExecutive"=dword:00000001

;### Disable (Super)Prefetching for faster boot/less memory
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters]
"EnablePrefetcher"=dword:00000002
"EnableSuperfetch"=dword:00000000

;### explorer tweaks
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"DelaySendToMenuBuild"=dword:00000001
"DetailsPaneMaxAutoExtract"=dword:00000010
"MultipleInvokePromptMinimum"=dword:00000002
"StartupTroubleshoot"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"DisablePreviewWindow"=dword:00000001
"FolderContentsInfoTip"=dword:00000000
"ForceOtherUsersOn"=dword:00000000
"LastActiveClick"=dword:00000000
"MaxUndoItems"=dword:0000ffff
"NavPaneExpandToCurrentFolder"=dword:00000000
"PrefetchAbove"=dword:00000000
"PrefetchBelow"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartPage]
"StartPanel_FadeDelay"=dword:00000190
"StartPanel_FadeIn"=dword:00000200
"StartPanel_FadeOut"=dword:00000100

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"ServerAdminUI"=dword:00000001
"TypeAhead"=dword:00000000

;### use pre vista for older SMB/CIFS servers
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]
"CopyFileBufferedSynchronousIo"=dword:00000001
"CopyFileChunkSize"=dword:00008000
"CopyFileOverlappedCount"=dword:00000010

;### don't manage bandwith on connected shares
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters]
"DisableBandwidthThrottling"=dword:00000001

;### Don't check continuously for inet connection
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet]
EnableActiveProbing"=dword:00000000

;### No remote task schedule and printer queries
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace\{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace\{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}]

;### Some policies I use
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments]
"ScanWithAntiVirus"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Comdlg32]
"NoBackButton"=dword:00000000
"NoFileMru"=dword:00000001
"NoPlacesBar"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\CredUI]
"EnableSecureCredentialPrompting"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"AllowFileCLSIDJunctions"=dword:00000001
"AlwaysShowClassicMenu"=dword:00000000
;### must be off else taskbar toolbar menu is grey
"ClassicShell"=dword:00000000
"ClearRecentDocsOnExit"=dword:00000000
"ConfirmFileDelete"=dword:00000001
"DisableCurrentUserRun"=dword:00000000
"DisableCurrentUserRunOnce"=dword:00000000
"DisableLocalMachineRun"=dword:00000000
"DisableLocalMachineRunOnce"=dword:00000000
"DisableThumbnails"=dword:00000000
"DisableThumbnailsOnNetworkFolders"=dword:00000001
"DontShowSuperHidden"=dword:00000000
"ForceClassicControlPanel"=dword:00000001
"ForceRunOnStartMenu"=dword:00000001
"HideClock"=dword:00000000
"HideRunAsVerb"=dword:00000000
"HideSCAHealth"=dword:00000001
"HideSCANetwork"=dword:00000000
"HideSCAPower"=dword:00000000
"HideSCAVolume"=dword:00000000
"InheritConsoleHandles"=dword:00000001
"LockTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"MaxRecentDocs"=dword:00000010
"MemCheckBoxInRunDlg"=dword:00000001
"NoAutoTrayNotify"=dword:00000000
"NoCDBurning"=dword:00000000
"NoChangeStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoClose"=dword:00000000
"NoCloseDragDropBands"=dword:00000000
"NoCommonGroups"=dword:00000000
"NoControlPanel"=dword:00000000
"NoCustomizeThisFolder"=dword:00000000
"NoCustomizeWebView"=dword:00000000
"NoDesktop"=dword:00000000
"NoDetailsThumbnailOnNetwork"=dword:00000001
"NoDriveAutoRun"=dword:000000ff
"NoDrives"=dword:00000000
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:000000ff
"NoEncryption"=dword:00000000
"NoEncryptOnMove"=dword:00000000
"NoFileMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoFolderOptions"=dword:00000000
"NoInplaceSharing"=dword:00000000
"NoInstrumentation"=dword:00000000
"NoInternetIcon"=dword:00000000
"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000000
"NoManageMyComputerVerb"=dword:00000000
"NoNetConnectDisconnect"=dword:00000000
"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000001
"NoNetHood"=dword:00000000
"NoNTSecurity"=dword:00000000
"NoPreviewPane"=dword:00000001
"NoPropertiesMyComputer"=dword:00000000
"NoPropertiesRecycleBin"=dword:00000000
"NoReadingPane"=dword:00000001
"NoRecentDocsHistory"=dword:00000000
"NoRecentDocsMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoRecentDocsNetHood"=dword:00000001
"NoRecycleFiles"=dword:00000000
"NoRemoteChangeNotify"=dword:00000000
"NoRemoteRecursiveEvents"=dword:00000001
"NormalizeLinkNetPidls"=dword:00000000
"NoRun"=dword:00000000
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
"NoSearchFilesInStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoSearchFullText"=dword:00000000
"NoSendToMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoSetFolders"=dword:00000000
"NoSetTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"NoSimpleStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoSMConfigurePrograms"=dword:00000000
"NoSMHelp"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuMorePrograms"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuPinnedList"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuSubFolders"=dword:00000000
"NoStrCmpLogical"=dword:00000000
"NoTaskGrouping"=dword:00000000
"NoThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001
"NoToolbarsOnTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"NoTrayContextMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoTrayItemsDisplay"=dword:00000000
"NoUserFolderInStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoViewContextMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoViewOnDrive"=dword:00000000
"NoWebView"=dword:00000000
"NoWinKeys"=dword:00000000
"PreventItemCreationInUsersFilesFolder"=dword:00000000
"PreXPSP2ShellProtocolBehavior"=dword:00000000
"QuickLaunchEnabled"=dword:00000001
"SeparateProcess"=dword:00000001
"StartRunNoHOMEPATH"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarLockAll"=dword:00000000
"TaskbarNoAddRemoveToolbar"=dword:00000000
"TaskbarNoNotification"=dword:00000000
"TaskbarNoRedock"=dword:00000000
"TaskbarNoResize"=dword:00000000
"TurnOffSPIAnimations"=dword:00000001
"UseDefaultTile"=dword:00000000
"UseDesktopIniCache"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin"=dword:00000005
"ConsentPromptBehaviorUser"=dword:00000003
"DisableLockWorkstation"=dword:00000000
"DisableStatusMessages"=dword:00000000
"DisplayLastLogonInfo"=dword:00000000
"dontdisplaylastusername"=dword:00000000
;### 1=This option SHOULD be used to heuristically detect applications that require an elevation of privilege to install
"EnableInstallerDetection"=dword:00000001
;### 1=This policy enables the "administrator in Admin Approval Mode" user type
;### while also enabling all other User Account Control (UAC) policies.
"EnableLUA"=dword:00000001
;### 1=Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations
"EnableSecureUIAPaths"=dword:00000001
;### 1=Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
"EnableUIADesktopToggle"=dword:00000001
;### 1=Virtualize file and registry write failures to per-user locations
"EnableVirtualization"=dword:00000001
;### 1=Only the built-in administrator account (RID 500) is placed into Admin Approval Mode.
;### Approval is required when performing administrative tasks
"FilterAdministratorToken"=dword:00000000
"HideFastUserSwitching"=dword:00000000
"legalnoticecaption"=""
"legalnoticetext"=""
;### 1=This policy will force all UAC prompts to happen on the user's secure desktop.
 "PromptOnSecureDesktop"=dword:00000001
;### smart card logon also see winlogon\scremoveoption
"scforceoption"=dword:00000000
"shutdownwithoutlogon"=dword:00000001
"undockwithoutlogon"=dword:00000001
;### 1=Enforce cryptographic signatures on any interactive application that requests
;### elevation of privilege
"ValidateAdminCodeSignatures"=dword:00000000
"VerboseStatus"=dword:00000001
;### UAC settings used here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc232763(v=prot.20).aspx

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"AddSearchInternetLinkInStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"AllowCLSIDPROGIDMapping"=dword:00000001
"DisableIndexedLibraryExperience"=dword:00000001
"DisableKnownFolders.OFF"=hex(7):00,00
"DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders"=dword:00000001
"ForceExpandedSaveDialog"=dword:00000001
"NoAutoplayfornonVolume"=dword:00000000
"NoBrowserClose"=dword:00000000
"NoDataExecutionPrevention"=dword:00000000
"NoPinningToDestinations"=dword:00000000
"NoRemoteDestinations"=dword:00000000
"NoRestartOnTimer"=dword:00000000
"NoSearchEverywhereLinkInStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuDownloads"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuHomegroup"=dword:00000001
"NoStartMenuRecordedTV"=dword:00000001
"NoStartMenuVideos"=dword:00000000
"NoWindowMinimizingShortcuts"=dword:00000001
"PowerButtonAction"=dword:00000010
"SkipNetworkShieldCheck"=dword:00000001
"TaskbarNoPinnedList"=dword:00000000
"UseFindFirstFileEnumeration"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer]
"MaxPatchCacheSize"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Psched]
"NonBestEffortLimit"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsMediaPlayer]
"DisableAutoUpdate"=dword:00000001
"EnableAutoUpgrade"="No"
"PreventLibrarySharing"=dword:00000001

And many more. Pick only what you like :)

Cheers

ajmich · 14 Mar 2013

Superb tutorial, thanks a heap! Since 35 steps will intimidate the faint of heart, maybe add a provision for that. Insure that the steps are in order of importance/ overall effectiveness, then add a note at the beginning for Noobs to the effect that, if doing this entire tutorial seems too much, don't run away, just work the first 5 (or 10) steps.

Seems minor, but I used to prepare step-by-step instructions for clients and too often they would freak out when they caught first glimpse of such a long list of steps. Anyway if they aren't already, wouldn't it be beneficial to place the steps in priority order? Anyway thanks again for this -- I know how time consuming it can be to prep such a list while keeping in mind the various "comfort zones" of those who will read it! Keep up the fine work. Alex.