best practices for optimizing XP

[scott]

Please post your best practices for optimizing XP so user of slower machines can get the best performance through XP. The goal is to create an improved machine without going so over board that one has to always troubleshoot the system after upgrades, etc...

I saw two "tweeking tools listed": nlite and XPlite. nlite's author posts to the effect - I got pushed this update out quickly becausee the errors in my last build were so bad. The second's web site does not inspire confidence... So before jumping into this myself and really screwing things up, I was hoping the users of gbpvr can give me some *safe* leads.

Thanks all... I think this thread can be useful for many, many people.

[wannabepvr]

- dedicated PVR with no unnecessary installations (hardware or software.)

Obvious I know but we are all tempted to clutter things up.

[scott]

While I do use the pc for itunes playing off of a Network drive, that's my aim. I'm looking for items like which windows services to turn off, third party software that can remove items one normally can't and tips like how to handle other things like setting paging memory on a partition with a fixed size, etc...

[Cyb]

I always looked up services to nuke at http://www.blackviper.com, but it appears to be down at the moment, found this copy of the google cache version :-

http://www.codecavalier.com/blackviper/W...icecfg.htm

[reboot]

Cyb has the best advice. Use the "Safe" settings for a machine that's on the internet.
Run msconfig/startup, and remove everyting except what's absolutely necessary (antivirus/firewall, popup blocker, gbpvr service...)
After a restart, if things continue to multiply in msconfig (duplicate entries etc.), open regedit, and navigate down to HKLM/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/run and delete the unwanted stuff.
As always, backup the registry befor mucking around if you're unsure of what you're doing.

[erik]

If you are afraid to edit the registry you may use a small utility call "autoruns"
Indeed, with the 's' at the end.
Google and download.

[Pilot]

Defrag, defrag, defrag. Think you're done? Defrag again then!

Seriously, your biggest bottleneck is going to be your hard drive. Make sure you get a good defrag utility that automatically runs daily (especially on a PVR). You'll notice a big improvement in a used, older machine, and you'll notice continued quick response times if you set it to run regularly.

The big choice seems to be between PerfectDisk and Diskeeper. I chose Diskeeper predominately because of price, but it also seemed easier to use. The Set It and Forget It feature is nice and works well. It greatly improved my PC's performance, I use my PVR PC for my primary desktop as well. Norton Speedisk couldn't do it (would take three days to defrag), and the XP defragger (which is actually made by the same folks who make Diskeeper) was the same as Norton. Diskeeper was well worth the $19.