[baddabing]

Tweak #2: Turn off Indexing to Speed up Response Time

If you don't extensively use the search feature in XP, this next tweak is for you. By extensively, I mean like everyday. Windows XP has this "feature" called "Indexing". It's supposed to speed up searches by keeping all the files on your computer tied to memory. By tying up these files to memory, it can really slow things down. Disabling this service will remove this files from memory, inturn giving your applications and files faster response times. You will still be able to search with the Indexing turned off, but the searching will just take a little log to perform. To turn off Indexing:

1. Open up "My Computer"
2. Right-click on your hard drive (usually "C:") and choose "Properties"
3. Uncheck the box at the bottom that reads "Allow Indexing Service to..."
4. Click OK then the files will be removed from memory. This removal may take a few minutes to complete, but it's worth it.

You will also need to disable the indexing service here too:

1. Go to "Start", then "Run"
2. Type "services.msc" and press enter
3. Scroll-down to "Indexing Service" and double-click it
4. If the service status is "Running", then stop it by pressing the "Stop" button
5. To make sure this service doesn't run again, under "Startup Type:", choose "Disabled"

on hard disk properties i do not have an option saying "Allow indexing service to..."


any further help would be appreicated.

p.s. I'm on xp pro.

Edited by baddabing, 18 July 2005 - 02:00 PM.

[Advertisements]

The reason that you do not have this option is because you need a to partition you hard drive with NTFS to have the option. If you have your hard drive partitioned with FAT32 you do not have this option because FAT32 dose not suport this option.

[Michael]

The reason that you do not have this option is because you need a to partition you hard drive with NTFS to have the option. If you have your hard drive partitioned with FAT32 you do not have this option because FAT32 dose not suport this option.

[baddabing]

The reason that you do not have this option is because you need a to partition you hard drive with NTFS to have the option.  If you have your hard drive partitioned with FAT32 you do not have this option because FAT32 dose not suport this option.  

TY Friend - I've recently upgraded to XP Pro from ME so wasn't sure if it had missed a bit.

Got SP1 off MS but SP2 doesn't want to install and I'm not really sure if it's worth it, as i have a firewall and anti virus. Is it really essential for me to have SP2?

Also, when i have tried to download or install from cd I have disabled my firewall (zonelabs) and avg is picking up viruses all over the place

Edited by baddabing, 18 July 2005 - 06:18 PM.

[Johanna]

If you are installing from a cd, you shouldn't need to disable your firewall. You don't even have to be online to install from a cd anyway. In fact, if you feel you need to disable your firewall, you should go offline. If your firewall is blocking something legit, you can configure it to accept a new "rule". I cannot think of one good reason to shut off a firewall while online.

Johanna

[Michael]

service pack 2 is worth getting, it has a few security things to protect you computer. There are other things that an Anti-virus program wont pick up that you must keep out. Some trojans are not picked up by anti virus program, spy ware is an other thing that is some times not picked up and there are even program that are designed to hide malware from anti virus programs. These might be stopping you install service pack 2 you should get some program to deal with these from Here one of the post has a list of very good programs. If you have malware, which I think is the reason that you can't install the service pack, download HijackThis and post a log in the malware forum.

[karinc10]

Following are the Tips, tricks and shortcuts, which i hope u will like:::::::
Run Commands
-----------------------------------------------------------
compmgmt.msc  - Computer management
devmgmt.msc  - Device manager
diskmgmt.msc  - Disk management
dfrg.msc  - Disk defrag
eventvwr.msc  - Event viewer
fsmgmt.msc  - Shared folders
gpedit.msc  - Group policies
lusrmgr.msc  - Local users and groups
perfmon.msc  - Performance monitor
rsop.msc  - Resultant set of policies
secpol.msc  - Local security settings
services.msc  - Various Services
msconfig  - System Configuration Utility
regedit  - Registry Editor
msinfo32 _ System Information
sysedit  _ System Edit
win.ini  _ windows loading information(also system.ini)
winver  _ Shows current version of windows
mailto:  _ Opens default email client
command  _ Opens command prompt

Run Commands to access the control panel
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Add/Remove Programs            control appwiz.cpl
    Date/Time Properties          control timedate.cpl
    Display Properties            control desk.cpl
    FindFast                      control findfast.cpl
    Fonts Folder                  control fonts
    Internet Properties            control inetcpl.cpl
  Keyboard Properties            control main.cpl keyboard
    Mouse Properties              control main.cpl
    Multimedia Properties          control mmsys.cpl
    Network Properties            control netcpl.cpl
    Password Properties            control password.cpl
    Printers Folder                control printers
    Sound Properties              control mmsys.cpl sounds
    System Properties              control sysdm.cpl
Command Prompt
--------------------------------------------------------------
ANSI.SYS      Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.
APPEND  Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.
ARP    Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.
ASSIGN  Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.
ASSOC    View the file associations.
AT    Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.
ATMADM  Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.
ATTRIB  Display and change file attributes.
BATCH  Recovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.
BOOTCFG  Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini
BREAK  Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.
CACLS  View and modify file ACL's.
CALL    Calls a batch file from another batch file.
CD    Changes directories.
CHCP    Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.
CHDIR    Changes directories.
CHKDSK  Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.
CHKNTFS  Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.
CHOICE  Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.
CLS    Clears the screen.
CMD    Opens the command interpreter.
COLOR    Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.
COMP    Compares files.
COMPACT  Compresses and uncompress files.
CONTROL  Open control panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.
CONVERT  Convert FAT to NTFS.
COPY    Copy one or more files to an alternate location.
CTTY  Change the computers input/output devices.
DATE  View or change the systems date.
DEBUG    Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.
DEFRAG  Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.
DEL    Deletes one or more files.
DELETE  Recovery console command that deletes a file.
DELTREE  Deletes one or more files and/or directories.
DIR    List the contents of one or more directory.
DISABLE  Recovery console command that disables Windows system services or drivers.
DISKCOMP  Compare a disk with another disk.
DISKCOPY  Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.
DOSKEY  Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.
DOSSHELL  A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.
DRIVPARM  Enables overwrite of original device drivers.
ECHO  Displays messages and enables and disables echo.
EDIT    View and edit files. 
EDLIN    View and edit files.
EMM386  Load extended Memory Manager.
ENABLE  Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.
ENDLOCAL  Stops the localization of the environment changes enabled by the setlocal command.
ERASE    Erase files from computer.
EXIT    Exit from the command interpreter.
EXPAND  Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it's original format.
EXTRACT  Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.
FASTHELP  Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.
FC    Compare files.
FDISK    Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.
FIND    Search for text within a file.
FINDSTR  Searches for a string of text within a file.
FIXBOOT  Writes a new boot sector.
FIXMBR  Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.
FOR  Boolean used in batch files.
FORMAT  Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.
FTP  Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.
FTYPE  Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO  Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.
GRAFTABL  Show extended characters in graphics mode.
HELP  Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.
IF  Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.
IFSHLP.SYS  32-bit file manager.
IPCONFIG  Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.
KEYB  Change layout of keyboard.
LABEL    Change the label of a disk drive.
LH    Load a device driver in to high memory.
LISTSVC  Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.
LOADFIX  Load a program above the first 64k.
LOADHIGH  Load a device driver in to high memory.
LOCK  Lock the hard disk drive.
LOGON  Recovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login.
MAP  Displays the device name of a drive.
MD    Command to create a new directory.
MEM    Display memory on system.
MKDIR    Command to create a new directory.
MODE  Modify the port or display settings.
MORE    Display one page at a time.
MOVE    Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.
MSAV    Early Microsoft Virus scanner.
MSD    Diagnostics utility.
MSCDEX  Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.
NBTSTAT  Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT
NET    Update, fix, or view the network or network settings
NETSH  Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.
NETSTAT  Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.
NLSFUNC  Load country specific information.
NSLOOKUP  Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.
PATH    View and modify the computers path location.
PATHPING  View and locate locations of network latency.
PAUSE    Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.
PING    Test / send information to another network computer or network device.
POPD  Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.
POWER    Conserve power with computer portables. 
PRINT    Prints data to a printer port.
PROMPT  View and change the MS-DOS prompt.
PUSHD  Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time.
QBASIC  Open the QBasic.
RD    Removes an empty directory.
REN    Renames a file or directory.
RENAME  Renames a file or directory.
RMDIR    Removes an empty directory.
ROUTE  View and configure windows network route tables.
RUNAS  Enables a user to execute a program on another computer.
SCANDISK  Run the scandisk utility.
SCANREG  Scan registry and recover registry from errors. 
SET    Change one variable or string to another. 
SETLOCAL  Enables local environments to be changed without affecting anything else. 
SETVER  Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.
SHARE    Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities. 
SHIFT  Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program. 
SHUTDOWN    Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.
SMARTDRV  Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.
SORT  Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.
START  Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.
SUBST    Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter. 
SWITCHES  Remove add functions from MS-DOS.
SYS  Transfer system files to disk drive.
TELNET  Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.
TIME    View or modify the system time.
TITLE  Change the title of their MS-DOS window.
TRACERT  Visually view a network packets route across a network.
TREE    View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.
TYPE  Display the contents of a file.
UNDELETE  Undelete a file that has been deleted.
UNFORMAT  Unformat a hard disk drive.
UNLOCK  Unlock a disk drive.
VER    Display the version information.
VERIFY  Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly. 
VOL  Displays the volume information about the designated drive. 
XCOPY    Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.
TRUENAME  When placed before a file, will display the whole directory in which it exists
TASKKILL It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications
   
Windows XP Shortcuts
--------------------------------------------------------------
ALT+- (ALT+hyphen)  Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu
  ALT+ENTER  View properties for the selected item
  ALT+ESC    Cycle through items in the order they were opened
  ALT+F4    Close the active item, or quit the active program
  ALT+SPACEBAR  Display the System menu for the active window
ALT+TAB    Switch between open items
  ALT+Underlined letter  Display the corresponding menu
  BACKSPACE  View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer
  CTRL+A    Select all
  CTRL+B    Bold
  CTRL+C    Copy
  CTRL+I    Italics
CTRL+O    Open an item
  CTRL+U    Underline
  CTRL+V    Paste
  CTRL+X    Cut
  CTRL+Z    Undo
  CTRL+F4    Close the active document
  CTRL while dragging  Copy selected item
  CTRL+SHIFT while dragging  Create shortcut to selected iteM
  CTRL+RIGHT ARROW  Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word
  CTRL+LEFT ARROW  Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word
  CTRL+DOWN ARROW  Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+UP ARROW  Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph
SHIFT+DELETE  Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin
  ESC    Cancel the current task
  F1    Displays Help
F2    Rename selected item
  F3    Search for a file or folder
  F4    Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
  F5    Refresh the active window
  F6    Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
  F10    Activate the menu bar in the active program
  SHIFT+F10  Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
  CTRL+ESC  Display the Start menu
  SHIFT+CTRL+ESC  Launches Task Manager
SHIFT when you insert a CD  Prevent the CD from automatically playing
WIN    Display or hide the Start menu
WIN+BREAK  Display the System Properties dialog box
WIN+D    Minimizes all Windows and shows the Desktop
  WIN+E    Open Windows Explorer
WIN+F    Search for a file or folder
  WIN+F+CTRL  Search for computers
  WIN+L    Locks the desktop 
  WIN+M    Minimize or restore all windows
WIN+R    Open the Run dialog box
WIN+TAB    Switch between open items



Windows Explorer Shortcuts
-------------------------------------------------------------
ALT+SPACEBAR  - Display the current window’s system menu
SHIFT+F10  - Display the item's context menu
CTRL+ESC  - Display the Start menu
ALT+TAB  - Switch to the window you last used
ALT+F4  - Close the current window or quit
CTRL+A  - Select all items
CTRL+X  - Cut selected item(s)
CTRL+C  - Copy selected item(s)
CTRL+V  - Paste item(s)
CTRL+Z  - Undo last action
CTRL+(+) - Automatically resize the columns in the right hand pane
TAB  - Move forward through options
ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Move forward to a previous view
ALT+LEFT ARROW  - Move backward to a previous view
SHIFT+DELETE  - Delete an item immediately
BACKSPACE  - View the folder one level up
ALT+ENTER  - View an item’s properties
F10  - Activate the menu bar in programs
F6  - Switch between left and right panes
F5  - Refresh window contents
F3  - Display Find application
F2  - Rename selected item
Internet Explorer Shortcuts
--------------------------------------------------------------
CTRL+A  - Select all items on the current page
CTRL+D  - Add the current page to your Favorites
CTRL+E  - Open the Search bar
CTRL+F  - Find on this page
CTRL+H  - Open the History bar
CTRL+I  - Open the Favorites bar
CTRL+N  - Open a new window
CTRL+O  - Go to a new location
CTRL+P  - Print the current page or active frame
CTRL+S  - Save the current page
CTRL+W  - Close current browser window
CTRL+ENTER - Adds the http://www. (url) .com
SHIFT+CLICK  - Open link in new window
BACKSPACE  - Go to the previous page
ALT+HOME  - Go to your Home page
HOME  - Move to the beginning of a document
TAB  - Move forward through items on a page
END  - Move to the end of a document
ESC  - Stop downloading a page
F11  - Toggle full-screen view
F5  - Refresh the current page
F4  - Display list of typed addresses
F6  - Change Address bar and page focus
ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Go to the next page
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB  - Move back between frames
SHIFT+F10  - Display a shortcut menu for a link
SHIFT+TAB  - Move back through the items on a page
CTRL+TAB  - Move forward between frames
CTRL+C  - Copy selected items to the clipboard
CTRL+V  - Insert contents of the clipboard
ENTER  - Activate a selected link
HOME  - Move to the beginning of a document
END  - Move to the end of a document
F1  - Display Internet Explorer Help

This is great information all in one place thx

[veryveryjoyful]

RE: Changing ICONS for .exe files and folders

I recently discovered that you can use any BMP file as an icon. I took a picture of my dog, saved it as a BMP file and made it an icon for my games folder. I also used paintbrush to draw little pictures to use for several games I keep on my computer for my little nephew...he doesn't read yet, this makes it easy for him to find them. Again, I saved the files as BMP first. And I've used my screen capture program to capture small images and saved them as BMP files (note the images captured may be copyrighted so abide by copyright laws).

PRELIMINARY: Create a folder for these personal icons. I call mine KEEP THESE ICONS. I've found that if/when an icon source file is moved or deleted, sometimes the icon disassociates from the EXE or folder where I assigned it. My approach is better safe than sorry, so I keep a 'permanent' folder -- one named to remind me not to delete the folder or files.

TIPS ON CREATING THE ICONS: I don't know for sure -- perhaps someone here can confirm -- but it seems you would want to keep the BMP file fairly small so that loading isn't slowed down. I don't know if there are other performance issues, but it hasn't seemed to make a difference on my XP eMachine.

THESE ARE THE XP INSTRUCTIONS-- but I believe the process is similar in other Windows versions--

After you have the BMP file saved, do the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer (right-click on start and select Explore)

2. Navigate to the program or folder on which you want to change the icon and Right-click on it.

3. Select Properties from the list that appears

3. Click on the Change Icon button in the Change Icon window that appears

4. Click on Browse

5. Change the Files of Type drop down list to All Files
(at bottom of the browse window)

6. Navigate to the location of the BMP file you want to use as an icon

7. Double click on the BMP file and it will now show in the display area of the Change Icon window

8. If there is an Apply option, click it

9. Click OK

Voila!! You have a new icon.

PS. You can use these same steps to find and select any standard .ICO files which are sometimes hidden within EXE or DLL files. If you click on one of these in Step 7 above, one of the following will occur:

a. One or more icons will show in the icon display area ICO files

b. You will get a message saying there are no icons in the file selected.
And it may switch you to the folder:

%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll

where many Windows icons are stored and display all those icons. There are
quite a few choices there so you might want to browse to that folder first.

To navigate there yourself, go to
Windows\System32\Shell32.dll

PPS if any of the real 'gurus' here find anything wrong with these instructions or have any cautions, please let us all know, but these have worked for me.

Enjoy

[GeneralAres]

Removed -- spam!

[Michael]

They were Good but I still thing that TweakGuides.com is better that the first.

[GeneralAres]

Cannot delete this post. (server lag caused duplicate posting)

Edited by GeneralAres, 22 July 2005 - 08:44 PM.

[GeneralAres]

Cannot delete this post. (server lag caused duplicate posting)

Edited by GeneralAres, 22 July 2005 - 08:44 PM.

[GeneralAres]

There are various problems with tweakguide's xp tweaking companion, besides it being excessively long, it includes numerous useless tweaks and other bad advice. That guide just rambles on and on about irrelevant things not related to tweaking. There is not a single tweak in that 166 page "guide" that actually improves Windows XP performance that is not in the guide I linked to. The tweaking companion for all its 166 pages even misses a few important tweaks that are in the Optimize XP Guide.

[Michael]

I don't think so I liked it, any way what is wrong with being long. One book that I read was 1800 pages long and it took 11 days and then I stared wishing that it was longer. most of that other guide uses programs, rather do it my self with a bit of advice.

[GeneralAres]

Here is just a sample of the completely incorrect advice in that guide:

RegCleaner is a much more powerful tool than RegSupreme,

No it is not the same author wrote both. RegCleaner is the original registry cleaner he wrote. When he discontinued work on it he moved on make RegSupreme. RegCleaner still has unresolved bugs that have been fixed in RegSupreme.

Here is a sample of some useless and dangerous suggestion that does nothing to improve performance in that guide

DISABLE WINDOWS FILE PROTECTION
By default Windows XP protects a range of important system files from accidental deletion. This tweak allows you to remove that protection I strongly recommend against using it though:

There is absolutely no reason anyone should be disabling Windows File protection not only is it stupid to do it is irresponsible including it in a guide people look at for advice. This is also an example of many of the things he threw in to make it deliberately longer.

Here is just a sample of two useless tweaks among other in that guide:

LargeSystemCache=0, IOPageLockLimit=226492416

These both do absolutely nothing for performance and the LargeSystemCache tweak can actually hurt workstation performance.

Using applications to adjust settings is far safer then having people manually edit the registry, which can be dangerous. The whole point of any tweak guide is to improve your system performance, including 166 pages filled with useless stuff doesn't change that. Expecting people to read all of that when it is completely unnecessary is ridiculous. I can write my own guide and include pages of ramblings but it will not make your system run any better.

Edited by GeneralAres, 22 July 2005 - 10:19 PM.

[Michael]

I agree with you on two points, but turning of file proction can be handy when you wan't to get rid of a file or folder that won't go.