Jakes Guide to Improving Vista Performance (Originally Posted by mikepossy)

[jaketerminate]

I wrote this guide to explore further into mikepossy's "10 Simple Ways to Speed Up Vista" Ill leave an attachment incase you want to print it and give to your friends Hope you guys like it!


Jakes Guide to Improving Vista Performance (Originally Posted by mikepossy)

1. Turn off UAC:
UAC or User Account Control was put in place to increase security in Microsoft’s new operating system. To turn UAC off go to Start>Control Panel>User Accounts and Family Safety>User Accounts>Turn User Account Control on or off

2. Disable Aero:
You can easily disable Windows Vistas “Aero” feature (Included in the Home Premium and Ultimate Editions) by Start>Control Panel>Appearance and Personalization>Personalization>Windows Color and Appearance>Open Classic appearance properties for more color options (At the bottom of window)>Click on Windows Vista Basic in the new window and click apply.

3. Using ReadyBoost:
ReadyBoost is technology included in vista that allows you to boost system performance by using flash memory as virtual “RAM”. To do this Insert a flash memory device (Flash Drive, USB Drive, SD Disk, etc) into your system, format it by navigating to My Computer>Right Click Your Device>Format>Start Formatting. Once done My Computer>Right Click your Device>Properties>Click on ReadyBoost Tab>Select “Use this Device”>Adjust the “Space Reserve for system speed” bar to adjust how much memory you want to allocate for ReadyBoost>Click apply.

4. Tweak Indexing Services
Windows Vista has an indexing service that runs in the background that indexes all your files to receive better search queries. To change some of the files that it indexes go to Start>In the search box enter Indexing Options>When it pops up where all programs should be open it>click Modify>then Show all Locations>Look through the tree and uncheck everything except Start Menu>Click Ok.

5. Get rid of the sidebar:
Windows Sidebar may decrease performance drastically, If you have it load each time you log on then simply Right Click the icon on the taskbar that looks something like this: > Properties> Uncheck “Start sidebar when Windows starts”

6. Get rid of Defender:
Windows Defender is a firewall service that was mainly designed to prevent spyware in the Windows OS’s. It only serves as two purposes, to let you know that you don’t have antivirus installed and to work as a firewall. So when you do have antivirus install (McAfee, Norton, etc.) it usually comes with its own firewall so now there is no use for Windows Defender. To disable windows defender from starting when Vista boots click Start>All Programs>Accessories>Run>Type “msconfig” then click ok> Click continue (unless you turned off UAC)> select the startup tab>then uncheck Windows Defender>Click Ok>Restart your computer when asked.

[SRTDodge05]

Johnrr6 has pretty much the samething.
John's Quick Vista Tuneup Guide

[SRTDodge05]

Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected and minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive.

[jaketerminate]

O well, at least I learned a lot typing this!

[SRTDodge05]

Win some lose some.

[zman88]

I disable Superfetch also

[Ninjin]

From what i can see a lot of that stuff is pretty obvious, but a couple of other good ideas.

-Disable windows features that you don't need/use

-Disable excessive windows services, in services.msc that most likely are not being used. You can determine this by blackviper.com, it has a good list of all the services and if it is safe to disable or not.

We should like combine the 2 topics that are "speed up vista" or something to make things a little less confusing.

[3 of 7]

Originally Posted by jaketerminate

6. Get rid of Defender:
Windows Defender is a firewall service that was mainly designed to prevent spyware in the Windows OS’s. It only serves as two purposes, to let you know that you don’t have antivirus installed and to work as a firewall.

Windows Defender is not a firewall and it won't warn you that your antivirus is off ( thats the security center's job )

Windows Defender - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[jaketerminate]

Originally Posted by 3 of 7

Windows Defender is not a firewall and it won't warn you that your antivirus is off ( thats the security center's job )

Windows Defender - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I stand corrected, thanks!

[Ninjin]

I find windows defender to be pretty effective for a free program. I do enjoy having it running since I am to frugal to actually purchase me a AV.

[zman88]

Try AVG free edition for AV and spybot s&d (also free) for spyware. I've been using these two programs for years and never had a problem. Even on my wife and daughters computers. And I currently have security center and defender off. I leave windows firewall on, although since I turn off security center it probably does nothing. However ,I also have a Netgear router that has a built in firewall , and I always make sure it's firmware is up to date.

[SRTDodge05]

Ive been using windows defender on all my machines now. It seems to work pretty well but it does use a good amount of memory.

[zman88]

I realized that when I got my first vista laptop, thats when I turned it off. Now my main laptop has 4 gig and defender has no real effect on it.

[zman88]

But I still turn it off.

[SRTDodge05]

I mite turn it off and go back to spybot.