Computer Works Central

It is easy enough to make a copy of your registry before you start by copying it all or exporting it all to a folder you use to save items. Now for the real Windows XP Pro tips & tweaks.

Reduce the time taken to kill a Time Out.
HKEY_Current_USERS\ControlPanel\desktop

Look for the "WaitToKillAppTimeout". Right click and choose modify. The default is '20000' make it 4000.

Nvidia Overclocking, CoolBits.
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Nvidia corporation\Global\NVTweak

A handy Windows XP Pro tweak for Nvidia users. Click on the NVTweek folder and create a new 'DWORD value' and name it 'CoolBits'. Then, right click on the Coolbits & select modify. Make the value 3. So CoolBits shows 00000003).

Basically improving Windows XP comes down to stopping Windows XP continually accessing your hard drive, memory & stopping other so-called enhancements of Windows XP Pro from working that you do not use or need.

Lets start with some easy tweaks, tips for Windows XP, WinXP Pro.
Fonts. Do you need loads of fonts you do not use. These not only take up space on your hard drive but also use Windows XP resources. Purge. Remove the ones you do not use. You can easily save a copy before you delete them so you can put them back.

Hibernate. If your desktop PC computer is NOT a laptop then you can stop Hibernate. Go to your Control Panel, Power Option and select Hibernate Tab. Uncheck Hibernate. That stops that Windows XP program running and wasting resources.

Virtual Memory Size. Change the size of your page file size. So. Control Panel, System, Advanced Tab, Performance, settings button & then Advanced. At the bottom you can change the virtual memory. We use min & max set at 500MB.

While you are there. You will also have noticed on your way through that you can change the Visual Effects. You are given a choice. Why not try the performance version for increased performance.

System Restore. This can be turned off a well by clicking this tab.

Remote assistance. Click the Remote tab and make sure the options there are not ticked.

Speech Recognition or handwriting software. Do you use it. No. Right. Control Panel, Regional & Language Options, Languages, Details, Advanced, System Config and "Turn off" Advanced Language Services.

Windows XP Pro Administrative Tools section for tweaks & tips.
Some serious tweaks & tips here for Windows XP.

So, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Select the extended tab at the bottom. Here you see the services that are running or not if they have been stopped already. So, which ones do we not need to have running all the time if at all. Windows XP tweaks aplenty.

Error Reporting Service. No we do not need that. Since when has Microsoft helped you. So high-light it and then double click it. Up come a panel with options. Half-way down is says "Start Up Type". Click the drop-down button and select Disable and OK. That told it.

Fast User Switching Compatibility. Are you basically the only person using the computer, if not, so what. Disable that as you did above.

Indexing Service. What's the point in Windows continually indexing your hard drive or drives for searches you never do. Disable.

Network DDE & Network DDE DSDM. If you are not connected to a network or broadband using Ethernet this too can be Disabled.

Portable Media Serial Number. Not using an MP3 player or iPod then disable.

Windows XP Pro tweaks & tips just keep coming.

QoS RSVP. Stop Windows using your bandwidth. Disable will stop all that Windows traffic that you cannot believe is going on. This tweak, top can reclaim anything up to 25% of your bandwidth.

Remote Registry. Do you want remote computers to alter your registry. Disable.

Smart Card. If you do not use a Smart Card on your computer then you can disable this too.

System Restore. What's the point in Windows XP Pro continually every so many minutes taking a snap sho Since we have adjusted for performance lets disable this as well.

Uninteruptible Power Supply. If you do not have one fitted to your PC computer then this can be disabled too. Who has.

Wireless Zero Configuration. Do you use WiFi. No. Disable.

You can also see others there that you do not want running. And of course, you can always turn them back on if you want to at a later date.

Now lets look in other places of Windows XP Pro for tweaks & tips.
Icons in the taskbar. These eat up quite a bit. Why not disable or remove the ones you do not need. Go through the individual programs and uncheck the usual "load at startup" option.

Windows XP Pro "gpedit.msc" tweaks.

Stop Windows Messenger from working. Start button, run and type in "gpedit.msc". Then choose, Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Messenger. Highligh 'Do not allow Windows Messenger to be run'. Right click, select properties and enable. We just love the disable button or delete button when working with Windows XP.

Turn off User Tracking. Start button, run and type in "gpedit.msc". Then choose, User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu, and Taskbar. Look for 'Turn off user tracking'. Right click, select Properties and select 'enable'.

Remove the built in CD burning. Start button, run and type in "gpedit.msc". Then choose, User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer. Look for 'Remove CD Burning Features', right click & select Properties. Select 'enable'. Use Nero Burning Rom.

Increase Broadband speed.
Even though you have done the QoS RSVP above Windows XP still wants 20% for itself. So. Start button, run and type in "gpedit.msc". Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Network Branch, QoS Packet Scheduler. Right click, select Properties and select enable. Set the Bandwidth Limit % to '0'.