WinXP Built-In Optimization

There is a file in WinXP that will update and rearrange entire programs to make them launch much quicker. Don't worry it does it when it senses that the computer is idle. I found out when I heard the Hard Drive on my internet computer going and thought it was a hacker. The file it stores the current infomation in is called Layout.ini.

Also when the computer boots up it starts prefetching programs and code that is used most often.

Here's a list of thing that will make your WinXP Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) faster.

You can also take a look at: http://www.musicxp.net/

1. Do not use a background image on the desktop
Right Click Desktop > Properties > Desktop Tab > Background None

2. Disable Screen Saver
Right Click Desktop > Properties > Screen Saver > None

3. Set the Processor scheduling to background services and not Programs.
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced Tab > Background Services

4. Set the Visual effects to a minimum.
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Visual Effects Tab > Adjust for best performance

5. Set the Fast User Switching to "Disable"
Start > Settings > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on or off > Untick Use Fast User Switching

6. Set theRecovery Startup Options
Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings > Untick Automatically Restart

7. Disable reporting on Errors
Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > Advanced > Error Reporting > Disable Error Reporting

8. Disable Remote Assistance This is also a good idea if you connect to the internet.
Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > Remote > Untick Allow remote assistance invitations to be sent from this computer

9. Turn Off all Power Schemes
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Power Options > Always On > Turn off monitor and turn off hard discs to Never

10. Disable Hibernation - After doing so you can delete the hiber.sys file
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Power Options > Hibernate > Untick Hibernation

11. Turn ON DMA for all Hard Discs and CD ROMS (Make sure your cd rom can handle this)
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers > Right Click Primary IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel > Properties > Advanced Settings Tab > Transfer Mode to "DMA if available" for both devices.
 

12. Set the size ot the Swap File to a static size (Virtual Memory)
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory Change > Custom Size. Set initial and maximum size to the same value.

13. Menus Speed Up
Start > Run > Regedit > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Control Panel > Desktop Folder. Set MenuShowDelay to 1

14. Turn off all System Sounds
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Sounds Tab > Sound Scheme to None

15. Don't allow Offline Files
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Folder Options > Offline Files Untick "Enable Offline Files"

16. Disable Remote Desktop
Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Remote > Untick "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer"

17. Do Not Map Through Soundcard - This will really help with programs that use 8bit sound files
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Hardware Tab > (highlight your soundcard from the list) > Properties > Audio Devices > (highlight your soundcard from the list) > Properties, and check the "Do not map through this device" checkbox.

18. Turn off System Restore
Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > System Restore Tab. Tick the "Turn off System Restore on all Drives"

19. Turn off Automatic Updates
Start > Settings > Control Panel> System > Automatic Updates > Turn off automatic updating. I want to update my computer manually

20. Turn off Internet Synchronise Time
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Date and Time > Internet Time > Untick "Automatically synchronize with internet time server"

21. Disable Notification Area Balloon Tips
Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advanced. Create a new DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips and set to 0.

22. Disable CDROM Autoplay
Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > CurrentControlSet > Services > Cdrom. Set autorun to 0.

23. Disable Disc Indexing Service
Right Click Start > Explorer > Right Click Each Disc > Properties > Untick "Allow Indexing Service to index this disc for fast file searching"

241. Disable Hide Inactive Icons
Start > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Taskbar TAB > Uncheck "Hide Inactive Icons"

25. Disable Automatic Desktop Cleanup Wizard
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Desktop > Customise Desktop > Untick "Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days"

26. Disable NTFS Last Access Time Logging (NTFS File Systems Only)
Start > Run > regedit > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > System > CurrentControlSet > Control > Filesystem. Add a new DWORD value - "NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate" and set value to 1.