Windows XP Tweak Guide
Make your Windows XP Machine up to 20% faster with tutorial

Difficulty Rating: Easy / Moderate



Chapters:
1. Disabling Luna
2. Disabling Services
3. Disabling Visual Styles
4. Faster Bootup
5. Registry Tweaks
6. AutoIT Script for automated tweaking



DISABLING LUNA

1. Go to your desktop > Right mouse button > themes > Windows classis

DISABLING SERVICES
2. Go to start > run > services.msc, and stop the following procceses (double click, choose disabled, press apply)

* Alerter:
Notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts. If the service is stopped, programs that use administrative alerts will not receive them. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Application Layer Gateway:
Provides support for 3rd party protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing and the Windows Firewall.


* Automatic Updates:
Enables the download and installation of Windows updates. If this service is disabled, this computer will not be able to use the Automatic Updates feature or the Windows Update Web site.


* Background Intelligent Transfer Service:
Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. If the service is stopped, features such as Windows Update, and MSN Explorer will be unable to automatically download programs and other information. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it may fail to transfer files if they do not have a fail safe mechanism to transfer files directly through IE in case BITS has been disabled.


* ClipBook:
Enables ClipBook Viewer to store information and share it with remote computers. If the service is stopped, ClipBook Viewer will not be able to share information with remote computers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Error Reporting Service:
Allows error reporting for services and applications running in non-standard environments.


* Fast User Switching:
Provides management for applications that require assistance in a multiple user environment.


* Help and Support:
Enables Help and Support Center to run on this computer. If this service is stopped, Help and Support Center will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service:
Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface (IMAPI). If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to record CDs. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Indexing Service:
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.


* Messenger:
Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This service is not related to Windows Messenger. If this service is stopped, Alerter messages will not be transmitted. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Net Logon:
Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain.


* NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing:
Enables an authorized user to access this computer remotely by using NetMeeting over a corporate intranet. If this service is stopped, remote desktop sharing will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Performance Logs and Alerts:
Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If this service is stopped, performance information will not be collected. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Print Spooler:
Loads files to memory for later printing.


* Portable Media Serial Number Service:
Retrieves the serial number of any portable media player connected to this computer. If this service is stopped, protected content might not be down loaded to the device.


* QoS RSVP:
Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets.


* Security Center:
Monitors system security settings and configurations.


* Smart Card:
Manages access to smart cards read by this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to read smart cards. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* System Restore Service:
Performs system restore functions. To stop service, turn off System Restore from the System Restore tab in My Computer->Properties


* TelNet:
Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients, including UNIX-based and Windows-based computers. If this service is stopped, remote user access to programs might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Themes:
Provides user experience theme management.


* Uninterruptable Power Supply:
Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.


* Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS):
Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network.


* Windows Image Acquisition (WIA):
Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras.


* Windows Time:
Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network. If this service is stopped, date and time synchronization will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.


* Wireless Zero Configuration: (ONLY DISABLE IF YOU DON'T HAVE WIRELES)
Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters




DISABLING VISUAL STYLES
3. Right click on my computer > options > Advanced > Preformance and choose Adjust for Best Preformance


FASTER BOOTUP
4. goto Start > run > msconfig > go to the boot.ini tab and check /noguiboot, then go to the startup tab and remove the unneeded programs, press apply


REGISTRY TWEAKS
5. Final Reg Tweaks (save the text as: tweak.reg and run it)

Includes:

* Faster Shutdown
* Faster Searching
* Disables Balloon Tips

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"HungAppTimeout"="4000"
"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="4000"
"WaitToKillServiceTimeout"="4000"
"AutoEndTasks"="1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows]
"PowerdownAfterShutdown"="1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"PowerOffActive"="1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard]
"InitialKeyboardIndicators"="1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"EnableBalloonTips"="0"
"ShowInfoTip"="0"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"SearchSystemDirs"="1"
"SearchHidden"="1"
"IncludeSubFolders"="1"
"CaseSensitive"="0"
"SearchSlowFiles"="1"



AUTOIT SCRIPT FOR AUTOMATED TWEAKING
6. You can use this autoit script for automated tweaking, be sure to check the settings before running it (mostly for automatic updates or wireless zero configuration)

;FAST AUTO TWEAKER
#NoTrayIcon

;VISUAL
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\LastTheme", "ThemeFile", "REG_EXPAND_SZ", "%SystemRoot%\resources\Themes\Windows Classic.theme") ;Set Windows theme to classic
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VisualEffects", "VisualFXSetting", "REG_DWORD", "2") ;Set Visual Settings to Minimal

;SERVICES
;Reference
;
; 2 = automatic
; 3 = manual
; 4 = disabled
;
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Alerter", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Alerter
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ALG", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Application Layer Gateway
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Automatic Updates
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Background Intelligent Transfer
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ClipSrv", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Clipbook
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Computer Browser
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Error Reporting
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FastUserSwitchingCompatibility", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Fast User Switching Compatibility
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Help and Support
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ImapiService", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;IMAPI CD-Burning COM
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CiSvc", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Indexing Service
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Messenger", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Messenger
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Print Spooler
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RSVP", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;QoS RSVP
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RDSessMgr", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Remote Registry
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\seclogon", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Secondary Logon
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Security Center (SP2)
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Server
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\srservice", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;System Restore Service
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SCardSvr", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Smart Card
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Themes
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UPS", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Uninterruptible Power Supply
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Windows Firewall (SP2)
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stisvc", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Windows Image Acquisition
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\W32Time", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Windows Time
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WZCSVC", "Start", "REG_DWORD", "4") ;Wireless Zero Configuration

;OTHER TWEAKS
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop", "ForegroundLockTimeout", "REG_DWORD", "0") ;FASTER SHUTDOWN
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop", "AutoEndTasks", "REG_DWORD", "1") ;FASTER SHUTDOWN
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop", "HungAppTimeout", "REG_SZ", "1000") ;FASTER SHUTDOWN
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop", "MenuShowDelay", "REG_SZ", "200") ;FASTER SHUTDOWN
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop", "WaitToKillAppTimeout", "REG_SZ", "1000") ;FASTER SHUTDOWN
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control", "WaitToKillServiceTimeout", "REG_SZ", "2000") ;FASTER SHUTDOWN
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINES\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem", "NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate", "REG_DWORD", "1") ;FASTER FOLDER BROWSING
RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz", "NoRun", "REG_DWORD", "1") ;DISABLE DESKTOP CLEANUP WIZARD
RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour", "RunCount", "REG_DWORD", "0") ;DISABLE WINDOWS TOUR
RegWrite("HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd", "Open Command Window Here", "REG_EXPAND_SZ", "0") ;ADDS "OPEN COMMAND WINDOW HERE" TO RIGHT CLICK MENU ON FOLDERS
RegWrite("HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd", "Open Command Window Here", "REG_EXPAND_SZ", "0") ;ADDS "OPEN COMMAND WINDOW HERE" TO RIGHT CLICK MENU ON FOLDERS