OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
Architecture: 64
As we all know, M$ caters to a large market, consisting of many types of people, professionals, market, and geographic. Thus, they must make the 'Default' settings in Windows a balance of all these criteria. The problem is.. for the average user who surfs the net, word processing, games, chat, download/upload files, email, etc.. many of the 'Default' settings are not necessary. Worst yet, it eats up valuable resources/RAM, which affects the performance dramatically.
Windows 7 comes with a built-in 'Back up' feature that is capable of doing a 'System Image' or 'System Image + Data'. Which has improved even more since the release of Windows 7. I utilize this feature a lot. I have an external 1TB HD, which i use as a 2nd and 3rd partition for storing my Libraries/Data. I then make 'System Image' backups, so i can restore Windows 7 to a time i prefer. I always make a 'System Image' backup before installing software.
Now.. down to my settings. First.. i must express what i use Windows for:
- Surfing the net
- Uploading/Downloading files
- Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator
- Im behind a Router
- I don't use a Printer
- Im not part of any work network, only my Home Network
- My ISP is Comcast, which is Cable Broadband
- Im hard-wired to the Router
- I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2011
- I have & always turn off 'UAC'
With those criteria.. here are my settings:
Services Modifications
To get into Services:
Click 'Start' > 'Run' > type 'services.msc' > enter
Code:
Modified Settings after Clean Install
=====================================
12.1.2010 @ 5 PM | Win7 Ultimate/64
'+' = Default Settings
'-' = My Modified Changes
'*' = Affected Services
1. Background Intelligent Transfer Service:
+ Automatic
- Manual
2. Base Filtering Engine
+ Automatic
- Disabled
* Disabled 'Windows Firewall'
3. Computer Browser
+ Manual
- Disabled
4. Cryptographic Services
+ Automatic
- Manual
5. Diagnostic Policy Service
+ Automatic
- Manual
6. Distributed Link Tracking Client
+ Automatic
- Manual
7. DNS Client
+ Automatic
- Disabled
8. IP Helper
+ Automatic
- Disabled
9. Print Spooler
+ Automatic
- Manual
10. Program Compatibility Assistant Service
+ Automatic
- Disabled
11. Security Center
+ Automatiic Delayed
- Disabled
12. Server
+ Automatic
- Disabled
13. Shell Hardware Detection
+ Automatic
- Disabled
14. TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
+ Automatic
- Disabled
15. Windows Defender
+ Automatic Delayed
- Disabled
16. Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
+ Manual (Not Started)
- Disabled
17. Windows Update
+ Automatic Delayed
- Manual
18. WLAN AutoConfig
+ Automatic
- Disabled
* This is required for wireless network access
19. Workstation
+ Automatic
- Disabled
* Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator Requires this for Updating.
20. Function Discovery Resource Publication
+ Manual
- Disabled
* HomeGroup Provider cannot run without this
21. Function Discovery Provider Host
+ Manual
- Disabled
22. SSDP Discovery
+ Manual
- Disabled
Task Scheduler Modifications | Win7/64 Ultimate | Dec. 1, 2010
To get into 'Task Scheduler':
Click 'Start' > 'Run' > type 'taskschd.msc' > enter
Code:
* System Restore: Turned Off
* Windows Media Player: Uninstalled
* Windows DVD Burner: Uninstalled
* Windows Search: Uninstalled
* Windows Tablet PC: Uninstalled
* Windows Printing: Uninstalled
* XPS Service: Uninstalled
* XPS Viewer: Uninstalled
* Windows Games: Uninstalled
* Windows Defender: Disabled
NOTE:
( ) = my adjustments
1. Application Experience
- AitAgent: Queued (Disabled)
- ProgramDataUpdater: Queued (Disabled)
2. Autochk
- Proxy: Ready (Disabled)
3. Bluetooth
- UninstallDeviceTask: Ready (Disabled)
4. Customer Experience Improvement Program
- Consolidator: Ready (Disabled)
- KernelCeipTask: Queued (Disabled)
- UsbCeip: Ready (Disabled)
5. Defrag
- ScheduledDefrag: Queued (Disabled)
6. Diagnosis
- Scheduled: Queued (Disabled)
7. DiskDiagnostic
- Microsoft-Windows-DiskDiagnosticDataCollector: Ready (Disabled)
8. Maintenance
- WinSAT: Ready (Disabled)
* After running Windows Score Only *
9. Memory Diagnostic
- CorruptionDetector: Ready (Disabled)
- DecompressionFailureDetector: Ready (Disabled)
10. MobilePC
- HotStart: Running (Disabled)
11. Power Efficiency Diagnostics
- AnalyzeSystem: Queued (Disabled)
12. RAC
- RacTask: Ready (Disabled)
13. Ras
- MobilityManager: Ready (Disabled)
14. Registry
- RegIdleBackup: Queued (Disabled)
15. RemoteAssistance
- RemoteAssistanceTask: Ready (Disabled)
16. SystemRestore
- SR: Queued (Disabled)
17. TextServicesFramework
- MsCtfMonitor: Running (Disabled)
18. UPnP
- UPnPHostConfig: Ready (Disabled)
19. WDI
- ResolutionHost: Ready (Disabled)
20. Windows Error Reporting
- QueueReportingn: Ready (Disabled)
21. Windows Filtering Platform
- BfeOnServiceStartTypeChange: Ready (Disabled)
22. WindowsBackup
- ConfigNotification: Ready (Disabled)
Those are the main 2 areas that will dramatically improve the performance of your computer, depending on how many of the items you implement. Go ahead.. give it a try.. i guarantee you'll notice a dramatic improvement in your computer's responsiveness/performance.
But remember.. make a note of the changes you make... so you can reverse the changes..
In Addition
What dramatically slows down your PC's Boot time are software that loads in the background. Many do this without your consent or knowledge! Many hide themselves in the Registry, using the Image Trick. The BEST Software to detect this is 'Autoruns', which is FREEWARE, the best Startup Manager i have come across. It even goes beyond Startup Programs, it lists all Codecs, Drivers, DLL, and all M$ items. No installation required, this has been portabilized by the author.
I highly recommend you use it:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
Oh yea.. 1 more thing.. if you don't use Hibernation.. and you turn it off.. the file still resides on your HD.. which can be anywhere from 2MB - 2 GB.. deleting this file will help you regain that space:
To check if the file still resides on your HD:
• Open my computer
• Click 'Organize' up top left hand corner
• Select 'Folder Options'
• Click 'View' Tab
• Uncheck 'Hide protected operating system files'
• Click 'OK' to exit
• Now go to 'C' drive
• You'll see 'hiberfil.sys', which can be anywhere from 2mb to 2gb.
The easiest way to delete 'hiberfil.sys'
• Start Command Prompt (Start > Run > enter 'cmd' > press 'enter')
• Enter 'powercfg.exe -h off'
• Press 'Enter'
• Enter 'exit'
• Press 'Enter'
• Restart
• Now you should see a difference in your HD space
If you also did steps up top
• Don't forget to re-check 'Hide protected operating system files'.
****TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK****
My Windows 7 Modifications
Linear Mode
