Windows Vista Speed Secrets

Vista Speed Secret #1: Turn-Off User Account Control (UAC)

Now, there’s a lot of talk about the new User Account Control policy in Vista, and all I can say is that it annoys the heck out of 99% of users and slows down normal computer usage. To turn it off, the easiest way is to:

1. Click the Start (Windows) button
2. Select the Control Panel
3. Type in ‘UAC‘ into the search bar
4. It’ll bring up a search result of ‘Turn User Account Control
(UAC) on or off’
5. Just follow the prompts from there

Vista Speed Secret #2: Disable Unnecessary Graphical Effects

Vista is “sexy” because of its new aero glass transparency effects. Here is how to enable and disable this new eye candy.

1. Click Start (Windows) button
2. Select the Control Panel
3. Double-click Click Appearance and Personalization
4. Under Personalization, click Change the color scheme
5. In the Appearance Settings dialog box, click Windows Vista Basic, and then click OK.

Or, if you prefer a Windows 2000-style interface, click Windows Standard, and then click OK.

Vista Speed Secret #3: Shutdown Search Indexing

Windows Vista Search Indexing is constantly checking the files on your system to make their information available for quick searching. This is helpful, but can severely slow system performance as the average user doesn’t use the search function frequently. To shut down constant indexing:

1. Click the Start button
2. Select Computer
3. Right-click on the C: Drive icon
4. Select Properties
5. Select the General Tab
6. Uncheck Index this drive for faster searching
7. On the next dialog box, select Apply Changes to Drive C:, subfolders and files
8. Click OK

Vista Speed Secret #4: Disable Automatic Disk Defragment

Windows Vista uses an always-on defragment set up that isn’t that necessary and will cause your system to slow down. Remember to run a defragment manually once a month. To shut down this feature:

1. Click the Start button
2. Select Computer
3. Right-click on C: Drive icon
4. Select Properties
5. Click the Tools tab
6. Uncheck Run on a schedule
7. Click OK

Vista Speed Secret #5: Disable Automatic Windows Defender Operation

Windows Defender real-time protection against malware continues to run despite having Automatic operation disabled. In actuality, this built-in malware protector from Microsoft is very poor at protecting your computer from external threats. You are much better off using a 3rd-party software program like XoftSpy for total protection. To disable:

1. Click the Start button
2. Type “services” into the Start Search box
3. Find Windows Defender in the list of programs
4. Double-click on Windows Defender
5. Choose Tools from the top menu
6. Select Options
7. Uncheck Auto Start at the bottom of the window

Vista Speed Secret #6: Turn-Off Un-Needed Features

There are many new features in Windows Vista that are installed by default that you may not need. These extra and un-needed features can slow down your computer and take up more storage space. Windows Features can be un-installed using the Windows Features utility. Follow these steps to uninstall applications such as the Windows Fax and Scan and many more. To Turn-Off Some Un-Needed Features:

1. Click on the Start Button
2. Select Control Panel
3. Under Programs click Uninstall a program
4. On the left side menu, click on Turn Windows features on or off
5. Scroll through the list as shown below and uncheck from any feature you do not want installed.
6. Click OK when you are finished making your changes. The features will now be uninstalled.

Vista Speed Secret #7: Disable Unused Services

Services are background processes which keep running waiting for a response, so if you don’t use the application it still runs and slows PC speed. The average user doesn’t need many running.

1. Click the Start button
2. Type msconfig in the Start Search box, hit enter
3. Click the Services tab
4. Uncheck the unneeded startup items (examples below)

Desktop Window Manager Session Manager - Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services. Uncheck to disable.

Diagnostic Policy Service - Enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components. Uncheck to disable.

Diagnostic Service Host - Same as above

Diagnostic System Host - Same as above

Offline Files - The Offline Files service performs maintenance activities on the Offline Files cache. Uncheck to disable.

Terminal Services - Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Remote Desktop and Terminal Server depend on this service. If you don’t use either of these, then you can disable the service. Uncheck to disable.

Windows Error Reporting Service - Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working or responding and allows existing solutions to be delivered. Uncheck to disable.

After you are finished, click Apply then click OK to save changes.

Vista Speed Secret #8: Shutdown Remote Differential Compression

Remote Differential Compression checks the changes of your files over a network to move them with as little bandwidth as possible instead of transferring an entire file that has previously been moved. Obiviously, the average home PC user has NO need for this service. With it constantly checking for file changes, this service will greatly slow system performance. To shut down this service:

1. Click the Start button
2. Select Control Panel
3. Click Classic View on the left side of the window
4. Double-click on Programs and Features
5. Click Turn Windows Features On And Off on the left side of
the window
6. Uncheck Remote Differential Compression
7. Click OK

Vista Speed Secret #9: Shut-Off Windows Hibernation

Windows hibernation background services use a very large amount of system resources. If you are like most people you don’t use the Hibernate feature very much so you may want to disable it to give Vista a performance boost. To shut down Hibernation:

1. Click the Start button
2. Select Control Panel
3. Click the Classic View on the left hand side
4. Double-click on Power Options
5. Select Change Plan Settings
6. Choose Change Advanced Power Settings
7. Click the Sleep “plus” icon
8. Click the Hibernate After “plus” icon
9. Adjust your selector down to zero minutes
10. Click Apply
11. Click OK