Faster Booting

[rory]

First backup all important data to an external drive (scan that when you are done with cleaning up the hard drive). I also would have mentioned using Lavasoft AdAware but their site is having issues lately.


PERFORMANCE
==============

Services

Disable any services you dont need.

Typical Services that can safely be disabled:

Automatic Updates
ClipBook
Computer Browser <-- if you are on a network and browse other computers leave this
Error Reporting Service
Fast User Switching Compatibility <-- if you want to switch between users leave this
Help and Support
Indexing Service
Machine Debug Manager
Messenger
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager <-- if you use remote desktop leave this
Remote Registry <-- if you use remote desktop leave this
Security Center
System Restore Service
Themes <-- if you want to use themes leave this
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Wireless Zero Configuration <-- if you have built in wireless leave this


System Restore

Control Panel, System: Disable System Restore.


Indexing

Goto MyComputer, Right Click on all NTFS Drives, Properties, uncheck Indexing.


Automatic Updates

This is up to you, it can slow things down though as it runs in the background. Id suggest keeping an eye on SoftwarePatch.com and installing the security updates manually.

Control Panel, System: Disable Automatic updates (do them manually if you must).
also effected in the Services section above.

Manually install updates:
http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/index.html
I also have a silent install for all updates since the release of XPSP2 (not x64). Email me for this file. Currently it is 80MB. I update it frequently.

Appearence

Control Panel, System, Advanced tab, change the Performance level to Best. This is only a partial fix but will make a big difference anyway. In Display Properties under

Appearance, Effects; uncheck everything. (see tweakui below also)

Goto Themes and Apply the XP Theme if you want that, previous tweaks will remain.


Tweakui

Download Tweakui (the original one)
http://www.download.com/Tweak-UI/30..._4-2830963.html

There you can also set the menu speed under "Mouse", and also set he double click speed to "2" if you are using that. Under "General", uncheck everything but "Beep on errors".

Under "IE", uncheck the first 3 (Add New Documents to Start menu, and the 2 Active Desktops), if you really want to go all out, Uncheck "Shell Enhancements" (will loose some

other explorer features though).


Explorer

Goto MyComputer or MyDocuments, Tools Menu at the top, Folder Options. Use Classic Folders.
Under the View tab there, you can also uncheck the "Show Popup Description .." 2nd from the bottom.

Taskbar

Right click on the Taskbar at the bottom of your desktop, Click Properties, or goto Control Panel, Taskbar. Uncheck "Group Similar taskbar Items", and "Hide Inactive Items".



CLEAN UP
===========

First disable System Restore (see above), you can re enable it after clean up is completed if you like.


CCleaner (Crap Cleaner)

Download and run CCleaner, run the Cleaner and the Issues. Back up the registry when it asks, just in case. Also scan for Issues at least 3 times.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/


Windows Cleanup (not from microsoft)

Download and run "Windows Cleanup!" from the following link. Use the "Thorough Cleanup" option, but first backup any important files.

http://www.tucows.com/preview/405276

Please note that when you select Thorough cleanup (selects search all drives for temp files) this may have adverse effects on certain folders you manually name Tmp or Temp, such as in the case of moving your User Temp folders to another drive. If you place other folders in these then they will likely be deleted. Use the thorough cleanup and / or Scan all drives option, only for a severely infected PC.


CWShredder

Download and run CWShredder. Cleans up CoolWebSearch if it is on the PC.
Standalone program no install required.

http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/


Backlight (i just started using this one)

Download and run the scan. It is a beta but I didnt have any problems. It will scan for root kits. This is a trial so you can remove it once done.

http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/


AVG Anti-Spyware

Download and run AVG Anti-Spyware, run the updates, and do the following scans in order:

1-Registry Scan
2-Memory Scan
3-Complete Scan (takes a while)

Quarantine and Set to remember action for all. Delete them when finished all scans if they dont look like Windows System files (this could be difficult but i always delete and

never had a problem).

It also has some other features you can check out, such as connections, processes etc. Write down the name of any malware found.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti.../lng/us/tpl/v5

one thing you need to do is disable the guard, as it is only a trial anyway and uses alot of memory. Goto MSConfig Startup and uncheck the "guard". Also goto Control Panel,

Admin tools, Services, look for guard, and Stop & disable it. I find simply disabling within the program does not get rid of the service all the time hence the extra yard.


Spybot S&D

Download and run Spybot. Dont auto install updates when installing. Run the program then check for updates. Download all. Do a scan.

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...spybot&subj=dl

this also finds some things that are not neccasarily spyware, so its hard to say until you do the scan


AVG Anti-Virus (not sure if Zone labs is an Anti-virus or just Firewall?)

Download, Install, and Restart PC. Run AVG Anti-Virus. Check for updates. Do a complete scan. Let it clean all items found, if any. Write down the name of any viruses found.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti.../lng/us/tpl/v5

there are other Anti-virus programs also but this is just as good for now


Defrag

Find Defrag; Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter (or right click on a drive in MyComputer, Properties, Tools, Disk Defragmenter). Defrag each Drive one

at a time. Make sure your screen saver is turned off first, and also check the power options so the Hard drive is not set to power down. Change those and you can switch them

back once defrag has completed.

Optionally download a Defrag Program I wrote that defrags all Hard drives without manually having to select each one.
http://www.cctvforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=7382


Finalize

Run CCleaner and Windows Cleanup! again. Optionally run the scanners again. Also scan your external drive if you backed up any data to that. If you like to use System Restore and have disabled it before starting this, re enable it once you are done.