Oher tweaks
Here is a list of various tweaks for Windows XP tweaks.
Startup tweaks
Load the Services by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'services.msc' and press enter.
This is a more detailed list of processes that are starting up with Windows. All those items with 'Automatic' listed next to
their names are booting with Windows. Click on the items to find out just what they do. If you decide you don't need a certain
service, you can simply right-click on it and change it's properties from 'Automatic' to 'Manual'.
Prioritizing individual processes
Press 'Control+Alt+Delete' then click on the 'Processes' tab.
You can see a list of all the processes running at the time.
Now, if you are running a program that you want to dedicate more processing time to - eg, 3D renderer, right-click on the process, move your cursor down to 'Set Priority >', then select how high you want that program prioritized.
Prioritizing individual IRQs
The main components of your computer have an IRQ number assigned to them.
By increasing the priority given to any IRQ number, you thereby improving the performance of that component.
The most common component this tweak is used for is the System CMOS/real time clock, which improves performance across the board.
First decide which component you want to give a performance boost to, then discover which IRQ that piece of hardware is using.
Go to Device Manager by right clicking on 'My Computer' then select 'Properties', then go to the 'Hardware' tab and finally click 'Device Manager'.
Right click on the component you want to discover the IRQ for and click 'Properties', then click on the 'Resources' tab.
You can plainly see which IRQ this device is using (if there is no IRQ number, select another device).
Remember the number and close down all of the dialog boxes you have opened.
Load the Registry Editor by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'regedit' and press enter.
Navigate to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl\' in the registry.
Create a new DWORD value - called 'IRQ#Priority' (where '#' is the IRQ number), then set the data to 1.
For example, the IRQ of the System CMOS maybe 8, so you would create the key IRQ8Priority.
After restarting, you should notice improved performance in the component you tweaked.
You can have multiple IRQ prioritized, but it can cause instability.
(To remove this tweak, simply delete the value you created.)
Menu delays
An easy tweak to remove any delay from menus sliding out.
Load the Registry Editor by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'regedit' and press enter.
Navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\' and change the 'MenuShowDelay' to 0.
You will have to re-boot for this to take effect.
Remove shared documents from My Computer
If you don't use the shared documents part of Windows XP then remove it.
Load the Registry Editor by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'regedit' and press enter.
Navigate to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\My Computer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\' and
delete the '{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}' sub-key.
Remove Windows Messenger
Don't like Windows Messenger, then don't let it run.
Load the Group Policy editor by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'gpedit.msc' and press enter.
Navigate to 'Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Messenger' and enable
'Do not allow Windows Messenger to be run' and 'Do not automatically start Windows Messenger initially'.
Faster shutdown
Load the Registry Editor by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'regedit' and press enter.
Navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\' and alter the following values:
"HungAppTimeout" = 5000 (Default value)
"WaitToKillAppTimeout" = 4000 (Default is 20000).
Then navigate to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\' and alter 'WaitToKillServiceTimeout' to 4000.
Automatically kill programs at shutdown
Load the Registry Editor by going to 'Start Menu -> Run...', then type 'regedit' and press enter.
Navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\' and alter 'AutoEndTasks' to 1.
Clear pagefile at shutdown
For added security, (it will slow down shutdown when enabled).
Open Control panel 'Start Menu -> Control Panel', then goto '-> Administrative Tools -> Local Security Policy'.
Navigate to 'local policies -> security options', double click 'Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile' select 'Enabled' then click 'OK'.