Freeing Up Memory

Unloading DLLS

Explorer does not unloadDLL files from memory right away. They always remain in the memory for a period of time that is often quite lengthy. To unload DLLs when you are done with them navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

This time you'll have to create an entry called AlwaysUnloadDLL and set the value to 1.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"AlwaysUnloadDLL"="1"

Freeing Up Hard Drive Space

Disable Windows File Protection

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
SFCDisable=1 A setting of 1 will allow you to view and delete system files and folders. These included dumb things like movie maker and assorted other empty, useless and redundant files. Sometimes you need to go into a folder and delete the files first, then you can back out and delete the folder. It's stupid, I know. Welcome to the Machine. This is one of the more dangerous tweaks. Basically, windows decides that you actually NEED Movie Maker, and it will try to reinstall it thus causing you extra headaches.

>>Duplicate Files

Go to c:\windows\system32\dllcache and you will find 300 megs of duplicate files. Don't believe me? Search for one of them, any one, and you will find two. This whole folder is garbage, so throw away the whole thing. Periodically, check this folder again. When a .DLL is used, I guess it gets copied into here.

>>More Free Space

Installed SP1 lately? Well, go to C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386 and find another 250 megs of redundant files. Microsoft's bloatware is nauseating. Making people think they have run out of space/ram/speed and need to upgrade. Unbelievable.

Disable Low Disk Space Notification in Windows XP

You can disable these alerts using the following Windows XP registry hack:
Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Name: NoLowDiskSpaceChecks
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 1 disables alerts

System Services

Warning: I am still experimenting with services. I have found, that by making one tweak to go faster, I end up making the system run slower. Use with extreme caution.

Disable Unneeded Startup Services Automatically

If you are like me and install XP on a regular basis, and you find it a chore to disable those services that by default are Automatic or Manual. Why not create a reg file and make it simply a case of 3 clicks and all done.

This following reg file is one that disables all the Services that are generally unneeded. Save it onto the Desktop, then just double-click it. services.reg

If you would prefer some Services to remain the XP Default or different than mine, just change the end number of the particular Service to suit.

Disable Unneeded Startup Services Manually

To disable unneeded startup services for a safer, faster XP, use the "Services" Admin Tool (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services). If you are a single user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items, with no ill effect.
Alerter
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Fast User Switching
Human Interface Access Devices
Indexing Service (Slows the hard drive down)
Messenger
Net Logon (unnecessary unless networked on a Domain)
Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
Remote Procedure Call Locator
Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
Server
SSDP Discovery Service (this is for the utterly pointless "Universal P'n'P", & leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open)
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Telnet (disabled for extra security)
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Upload Manager
Windows Time
Wireless Zero Configuration (for wireless networks)
Workstation

Disable unnecessary services to improve workstations performance

When you first install Windows XP you will have 89 available services and 36 of these are set to automatically start as the DEFAULT! There's really only 5 that are needed to run. You should never set these to disabled. It can cause quite a few problems if a program requires them to run. Setting these to manual will allow them to run if needed but won't automatically start with windows. This will free up quite a bit of resources by only running the services that are truly needed. I'm sure you'll be as surprised as I was to see how much garbage is on/in Win XP by default. When properly tweaked you can really get alot more performance out of this OS.

Alerter service
This service is only needed for sending administrative alerts. Used to notify admins when a server is in trouble. Set it to Manual on a home PC.

Clipbook service
This service is a relic of NT3.x. Used to support Clipbook Viewer which allows remote viewing of the clipbook. Default for workstation is manual. Ensure it is set to manual or disabled.

Computer Browser
The browser service is used to maintain the list of PCs you see in Network Neighborhood. This is normally a server function. A home user can set this to Manual.

Distributed Link Tracking Client
W2K/XP service. Distributed Link Tracking Client sends notifications of files moving between NTFS volumes in a network domain. A home user can set this to Manual.

Distributed Transaction Coordinator
W2K/XP service. Coordinates transactions that are distributed across two or more databases, message queues, file systems, or other transaction-protected resource managers. A home user can set this to Manual.

DNS Client
W2K/XP service. Resolves and caches Domain Name System (DNS) names. This is normally provided by your ISP. Set to Manual and if you have name resolution problems, return it to Automatic.

Fax Service
W2K/XP service. Set to Manual if you don't need fax services.

Indexing Service
W2K/XP service. Fastfind functionality. Improves text searches. For more info see Disable FindFast. For day to day performance, I would disable it.

Internet Connection Sharing
W2K/XP service. If you are want to share an Internet connection for your home network, then set this to Automatic. If not, leave this set to Manual.

IPSEC Policy Agent
W2K/XP service. Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver. If not, leave this set to Manual.

Messenger service
This service can be used to send messages. When it receives messages, they pop up on the console. With email, whats the point? Really not useful on a home PC.

Netlogon service
Logging onto a domain? Leave it. Otherwise set it to Manual.

Network DDE
Supports network transport of DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) connections. Such connectivity is mostly a relic from the NT 3.x days.

NT LM Security Support Provider
Provides security to remote procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes. A home user can set this to Manual

Performance Logs and Alerts
A home user can set this to Manual.

Plug and Play
Gives something like PnP functionality but unless you are using unimodem modems, don't bother.

QoS RSVP
W2K/XP service. Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets. A home user can set this to Manual.

Remote Registry Service
W2K/XP service. Allows remote registry manipulation. A home user can set this to Manual.

Routing and Remote Access
W2K/XP service. Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network environments. A home user can set this to Manual.

Runas service
W2K/XP service. Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. A home user can set this to Manual.

Security Accounts Manager
W2K/XP service. Stores security information for local user accounts. A home user can set this to Manual unless you are using Local Security Policy Editor.

Smart Card
W2K/XP service. Manages and controls access to a smart card inserted into a smart card reader attached to the computer. It is set to manual by default. Leave it there.

Smart Card Helper
W2K/XP service. Provides support for legacy smart card readers attached to the computer. It is set to manual by default. Leave it there.

Server service
You can disable the service service unless you are sharing files on your hard drive or your printer. If you have a DSL or cable modem, stop this service. Hackers will get nowhere if you do.

Spooler
Print Spooler service in W2K/XP. Spooler in NT. Loads files to memory for later printing. If you don't have a printer, you can set it to manual.

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Provides support for name resolution via a lookup of the LMHosts file. If you are not using LMHOSTS name resolution, you can set it to Manual.

Telephony Service
Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices and IP based voice connections on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service. Normally set to Manual on workstations. Leave it on Manual.

Telnet
Allows a remote user to log on to the system and run console programs using the command line. Default is Manual. Leave it.

Removing Services

If you have some services that you just don't want anymore (be careful what you wish for), go to Start - Run - msconfig.exe and go to the services tab. You may now remove them.

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