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Vista System Tweaks
Show Run Command In Start Menu
Right-click Start - Properties - Customize - Check "Run Command"
You can also bring up the Run command by hitting the windows key + R.
Change Default Folder View
Open a folder - Rick-click and set "view" - Right-click and set "sort by" - Click on Organize - Folder and Search Options - View - Apply To All Folders
Disable User Account Control (UAC)
Go to start - Run - Type "msconfig" - Tools - highlight "Disable UAC" and hit launch. Restart.
L2 Cache memory registry setting
This tweak will set the Vista registry to use your L2 cache memory which is embedded in your CPU. Without this setting Vista will still be able to determain the amount of L2 memory cache through the HAL, however setting the key can become for certain software testing modes.
Level 1 and 2 cache memory enables the CPU core to take pieces from the main DDR system memory and calculate with it, then store it back and so on. The size of your L2 cache can be set in the registry of Vista and for some reason it seems that Vista isn't doing this by default.
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
Data Type: DWORD
Value Name: SecondLevelDataCache
Value Data: Use these hex codes to set it to match your CPU: - 256KB: 100 hex / 512KB: 200 hex / 1024KB: 400 hex / 2048KB: 800 hex -
Set the hex value, close the registry and restart.
Change Default Program Files Directory
Click Start - Run - type "regedit" - go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion Locate the value "ProgramFilesDir". By default the value will be "C:\Program Files". Modify the value to any other valid folder.
Increase SATA Drive Performance
This will allow the drive to perform more write caching to system memory. If you lose system power, anything cached will be lost.
Right-click on Computer - Manage - Device Manager - open the Disk Drives tree - right-click a drive and select properties - Policies tab - check "Enable Advanced Performance".
Must Have Desktop Gadgets
Multi Meter (Dual Core) - Shows CPU Usage and RAM Usage & Info.
DriveInfo - Shows HD info. You can also access the drive by clicking on it's icon.
Turn Off Unneeded Features
Go to Start - Control Panel - Under "Programs" click the "Uninstall A Program" link. In the left-hand pane click on "Turn Windows Features On Or Off".
Tweak System Sound
Go to Start - Control Panel - Hardware and Sound - Sound and open the Speaker icon.
Adjust Thickess Of Blinking Cursor
Go to Start - Control Panel - Appearance adn Personalization - Ease Of Access Center - Make The Computer Easier To See - Set The Thickness Of The Blinking Cursor.
Right-click Start - Properties - Customize - Check "Run Command"
You can also bring up the Run command by hitting the windows key + R.
Change Default Folder View
Open a folder - Rick-click and set "view" - Right-click and set "sort by" - Click on Organize - Folder and Search Options - View - Apply To All Folders
Disable User Account Control (UAC)
Go to start - Run - Type "msconfig" - Tools - highlight "Disable UAC" and hit launch. Restart.
L2 Cache memory registry setting
This tweak will set the Vista registry to use your L2 cache memory which is embedded in your CPU. Without this setting Vista will still be able to determain the amount of L2 memory cache through the HAL, however setting the key can become for certain software testing modes.
Level 1 and 2 cache memory enables the CPU core to take pieces from the main DDR system memory and calculate with it, then store it back and so on. The size of your L2 cache can be set in the registry of Vista and for some reason it seems that Vista isn't doing this by default.
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
Data Type: DWORD
Value Name: SecondLevelDataCache
Value Data: Use these hex codes to set it to match your CPU: - 256KB: 100 hex / 512KB: 200 hex / 1024KB: 400 hex / 2048KB: 800 hex -
Set the hex value, close the registry and restart.
Change Default Program Files Directory
Click Start - Run - type "regedit" - go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion Locate the value "ProgramFilesDir". By default the value will be "C:\Program Files". Modify the value to any other valid folder.
Increase SATA Drive Performance
This will allow the drive to perform more write caching to system memory. If you lose system power, anything cached will be lost.
Right-click on Computer - Manage - Device Manager - open the Disk Drives tree - right-click a drive and select properties - Policies tab - check "Enable Advanced Performance".
Must Have Desktop Gadgets
Multi Meter (Dual Core) - Shows CPU Usage and RAM Usage & Info.
DriveInfo - Shows HD info. You can also access the drive by clicking on it's icon.
Turn Off Unneeded Features
Go to Start - Control Panel - Under "Programs" click the "Uninstall A Program" link. In the left-hand pane click on "Turn Windows Features On Or Off".
Tweak System Sound
Go to Start - Control Panel - Hardware and Sound - Sound and open the Speaker icon.
Adjust Thickess Of Blinking Cursor
Go to Start - Control Panel - Appearance adn Personalization - Ease Of Access Center - Make The Computer Easier To See - Set The Thickness Of The Blinking Cursor.
XP System Tweaks
Disable Error Reporting - You don't need this service on and it's a huge pain. Follow this path to disable: Control Panel - Performance and Maintenance - System - Advanced tab - error reporting button on the bottom - Select "Disable error reporting"
Classic Start Menu - Right-click on start and choose properties. Under the start menu tab choose the Classic Start menu button. Also click on the customize button and uncheck the "use personalized menus" box as it's much easier to see all your menus instead of just some of them.
Here is a registry tweak that will allow Windows XP to remember the view settings of 8000 folders instead of the default 400 folders, a must have. Restart after installing.
Edit the Right-Click Send To Menu - Go to C:\Documents and Settings\%user name%\SendTo\. You have to have hidden files and folders shown (enable this by going to "Tools | Folder Options | View"). In the SendTo folder you can delete anything you don't want and add shortcuts by right-clicking and choosing "New | Shortcut".
"Registry Editing Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator" or "Tweak UI Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator" Error -
Go to start - run and paste this in: REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
"Task Manager Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator" Error - Go to start - run and paste this in: REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
There are many services in Windows XP that are running and are totally unnecessary.
To get to services go to start - run - type services.msc or
start - settings - control panel - Administrative Tools - services
Here are some optional services you can disable:
After disabling the services restart your computer
Classic Start Menu - Right-click on start and choose properties. Under the start menu tab choose the Classic Start menu button. Also click on the customize button and uncheck the "use personalized menus" box as it's much easier to see all your menus instead of just some of them.
Here is a registry tweak that will allow Windows XP to remember the view settings of 8000 folders instead of the default 400 folders, a must have. Restart after installing.
Edit the Right-Click Send To Menu - Go to C:\Documents and Settings\%user name%\SendTo\. You have to have hidden files and folders shown (enable this by going to "Tools | Folder Options | View"). In the SendTo folder you can delete anything you don't want and add shortcuts by right-clicking and choosing "New | Shortcut".
"Registry Editing Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator" or "Tweak UI Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator" Error -
Go to start - run and paste this in: REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableRegistryTools /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
"Task Manager Has Been Disabled By Your Administrator" Error - Go to start - run and paste this in: REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
XP Services Tweaks
There are many services in Windows XP that are running and are totally unnecessary.
To get to services go to start - run - type services.msc or
start - settings - control panel - Administrative Tools - services
Here are some optional services you can disable:
Computer Browser - this is not Internet Explorer
Distributed Link Tracking Client - as long as you're not on a domain
Error Reporting Service - M$ will probably not fix the problems anyway
Fast User Switching Compatibility - only if you are the only user on the computer
Help and Support - this will disable windows help, which is most likely never used
Messenger - having this enabled causes pop up ads (automatically disabled in SP2)
Print Spooler - only if you don't have a printer!
Remote Registry (XP Pro) - you don't want someone to remotely alter your registry, trust me
Secondary Logon - not needed if you are the only user on your computer
Server - disable if you are not on a network
SSDP Discovery Service - only if you are not on a network
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - support for NetBIOS, having this on is a security risk
Telephony - only if you are on a connection other then dial up or DSL
Upload Manager - another service that sends info to M$
Windows Time - disable if you are not on a network
Wireless Zero Config - disable this is you don't use any type of wireless network
Distributed Link Tracking Client - as long as you're not on a domain
Error Reporting Service - M$ will probably not fix the problems anyway
Fast User Switching Compatibility - only if you are the only user on the computer
Help and Support - this will disable windows help, which is most likely never used
Messenger - having this enabled causes pop up ads (automatically disabled in SP2)
Print Spooler - only if you don't have a printer!
Remote Registry (XP Pro) - you don't want someone to remotely alter your registry, trust me
Secondary Logon - not needed if you are the only user on your computer
Server - disable if you are not on a network
SSDP Discovery Service - only if you are not on a network
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - support for NetBIOS, having this on is a security risk
Telephony - only if you are on a connection other then dial up or DSL
Upload Manager - another service that sends info to M$
Windows Time - disable if you are not on a network
Wireless Zero Config - disable this is you don't use any type of wireless network
After disabling the services restart your computer
XP Registry Tweaks
Open your registry by going to start - run - type "regedit"
Allow more than one simultaneous download in IE
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\InternetSettings]
Data Type: DWORD
Value Name: MaxConnectionsPer1_0server and MaxConnectionsPerServer
Value Data: a (will display as 10)
Change Default Program Files Directory
key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
Value Name: ProgramFilesDir
Value Data: Change to whatever directory you want to use
Clean Up Internet Explorer's Right-Click Menu
Key: [HKEY_Current_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt]
You'll see a number of subkeys, delete the ones you don't want
Custom message in IE title bar
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
Data Type: String Value
Value Name: Window Title
Value Data: Whatever you want to appear in the top-left corner of IE
Disable Balloon Tips
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: EnableBalloonTips
Value Data: (0 - disabled, 1 = enabled)
Enable 48-bit LBA Support for Hard Drives Over 137.4GB (not needed with SP2)
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atapi\Parameters]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: EnableBigLba
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)
Freeze Window Size
Open an explorer window and Windows Media Player to the desired size
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
Value Type: REG_DWORD (DWord Value)
Value Name: NoSaveSettings
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)
Show Windows Version on Desktop
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: PaintDesktopVersion
Value Data: (0 = disable, 1 = enable)
Show Super Hidden Files
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: ShowSuperHidden
Value Data: (0 = disable, 1 = enable)
Speed Up Disk Cache
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\MemoryManagement]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: IoPageLockLimit
Value Date: Modify the Hex value based upon your RAM - 64MB: 1000 / 128MB: 4000 / 256MB: 10000 / >512MB: 40000
Unload DLLs to Free Memory
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: AlwaysUnloadDLL
Value Data: 1 to enable
Windows File Protection - Disabling
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: SFCDisable
Value Data: ffffff9d
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\InternetSettings]
Data Type: DWORD
Value Name: MaxConnectionsPer1_0server and MaxConnectionsPerServer
Value Data: a (will display as 10)
Change Default Program Files Directory
key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion]
Value Name: ProgramFilesDir
Value Data: Change to whatever directory you want to use
Clean Up Internet Explorer's Right-Click Menu
Key: [HKEY_Current_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt]
You'll see a number of subkeys, delete the ones you don't want
Custom message in IE title bar
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
Data Type: String Value
Value Name: Window Title
Value Data: Whatever you want to appear in the top-left corner of IE
Disable Balloon Tips
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: EnableBalloonTips
Value Data: (0 - disabled, 1 = enabled)
Enable 48-bit LBA Support for Hard Drives Over 137.4GB (not needed with SP2)
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atapi\Parameters]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: EnableBigLba
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)
Freeze Window Size
Open an explorer window and Windows Media Player to the desired size
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
Value Type: REG_DWORD (DWord Value)
Value Name: NoSaveSettings
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)
Show Windows Version on Desktop
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: PaintDesktopVersion
Value Data: (0 = disable, 1 = enable)
Show Super Hidden Files
Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: ShowSuperHidden
Value Data: (0 = disable, 1 = enable)
Speed Up Disk Cache
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\MemoryManagement]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: IoPageLockLimit
Value Date: Modify the Hex value based upon your RAM - 64MB: 1000 / 128MB: 4000 / 256MB: 10000 / >512MB: 40000
Unload DLLs to Free Memory
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: AlwaysUnloadDLL
Value Data: 1 to enable
Windows File Protection - Disabling
Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: SFCDisable
Value Data: ffffff9d
Mozilla Firefox Tweaks
Open Firefox and in the address bar type "about:config" and hit enter. This opens the browser's internal configuration options.
Go to http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config for more into on about:config.
Speed up for broadband users
In about:config find network.http.pipelining and network.http.proxy.pipelining and double-click them to set them to "true". This tweak reverses how Firefox processes all HTTP requests sequentially.
In about:config find network.http.pipelining.maxrequests and change it to 30. This allows Firefox to send up to 30 HTTP requests at once.
In about:config right-click an empty area and select "new | integer". Type in nglayout.initialpaint.delay and set it to 0. Firefox will now render pages immediately instead of waiting the default 250ms.
Multiple Tabbed Home Pages
Go to "Tools | Options" and in the in the "General" tab you'll see the homepage area. Click on the field, and type in the page you want Firefox to open on the leftmost tab. Then insert a vertical bar (|) and type in the next page you want loaded. You can add as many URLs as you want.
Go to http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config for more into on about:config.
Speed up for broadband users
In about:config find network.http.pipelining and network.http.proxy.pipelining and double-click them to set them to "true". This tweak reverses how Firefox processes all HTTP requests sequentially.
In about:config find network.http.pipelining.maxrequests and change it to 30. This allows Firefox to send up to 30 HTTP requests at once.
In about:config right-click an empty area and select "new | integer". Type in nglayout.initialpaint.delay and set it to 0. Firefox will now render pages immediately instead of waiting the default 250ms.
Multiple Tabbed Home Pages
Go to "Tools | Options" and in the in the "General" tab you'll see the homepage area. Click on the field, and type in the page you want Firefox to open on the leftmost tab. Then insert a vertical bar (|) and type in the next page you want loaded. You can add as many URLs as you want.