Optimizing XP for gaming

[AML]

I recently read an intersting book which shows how to optimize windows XP for faster booting as well as to free up more resources for gaming.

Windows XP is a fairly bloated OS and uses a lot of system resources that could be used for gaming!

I would like to list one good way to free up resources to improve the booting process of windows and make it much much faster.

If you have an old (ish) PC that has slowed down since you got it, then you will see a huge improvement in performance.

A lot of you already know this stuff but many people dont so I though this would make for an interesting read.


The best way to speed up windows boot time.

click "start" followed by "run" then type "msconfig.exe" and enter.

You will now see the "system Config utility"

In here you will see 6 different tabs. But we will only use 2.

"services" and "startup"

Lets begin with startup by clicking on the tab.

You will see lots of programs runing here. It depends on the age of your PC and how much stuff you have installed on it.

I recently did a fresh install on a new HDD so there isnt much runing in mine. But if like me you use office 2003 and stuff like i tunes and Adobe reader/acrobat then you will have a bunch of programs in here that always start up every time windows starts up.

A lot of the programs in here are unnecesary and should be turned off to speed up the boot process.

Its quite simple, just uncheck the boxes.

DO NOT uncheck: "NvCpl" or "NvMctray" (Nvidia users) as these are "RUNDLL" programs you need. In this case this is your Nvidia driver which you do need.

Other programs such as:

Acrotray
Tray icon
CTHELPER
nwiz
steam
Adobe speed luncher.

Are not so necesary and can/should be stoppped.

If you want to update your software just go to the web site to check for new updates manually.

Im sure the more programs you have installed the more programs will show up here. Use your common sense and switch off the ones you dont want or need.

This will speed up the boot time of XP dramatically as it has less stuff to start up. It also gets rid of tray icons you dont want. Especially that annoying quick time icon that just wont go away!


Next up is "Services"

This is much larger than startup.

There are tons of programs runing in the back ground even if you dont see them and here you can swith off ones you dont really use.
Just uncheck the boxes!

Going from the top:

Adobe LM service (adobe crap we dont need)
Computer Browser (when have you EVER used this?)
Indexing service (hardly even used but you can keep if you do)
COM+system application
Error reporting service (extremely annoying and unnecesary)
Fast User Switching (unless many people use your PC.)
Help and Support (again never used this)
IMAPI CD Burning COM services (if you use Nero or other software you wont need this)

Server
Net Logon
Remote Acess ACM
Remore Acess CM
Remote Desktop HSM
Remote Regsitry
(all these can go unless you use remote access)

Smart Card
Task Scheduler
Secondary Log On
Windows Fire Wall/Internet conection Sharing (unless you dont use other software as a fire wall)

Print Spooler (unless you use Adobe stuff)
System Restore Services ( ive never found this program usefull)
Performance Logs and Alerts
Telephony
Themes(unless you like the eye candy, But if you just use the PC for gaming turn this resource hog off)

Security Center
Automatic Updates (these 2 I never use since you can update windows manually. I find the security center annoying. This stuff comes with SP2)

Wireless Zero Config (unless you use a lap top/wireless desktop)


Thats all. There may be other things you might want to unclick and other you may want to keep. Its up to you.

Finally click "Apply" , do a double check and click "OK"
then restart the PC and watch how much faster it boots!

A message will come up after you re-boot asking if you want to keep these settings. Click the box then click OK.

All done.

Your PC will boot much faster and free up many resources better used for gaming.

There are other things to do such as uninstalling programs you dont use, getting rid of stuff you dont need (pictures and so on)

A good defrag and your done.

If anyone else knows good ways to improve windows performance, Share with us!


There is also another good way to improve pefromance without spending money.

Tweak UI http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

This is a power toy which helps you modify XP in cool ways. Such as removing those annoying arrows from your desk top sortcuts.


I take no responsibilty for any of this though! Im just passing on information on how to improve your PCs performance.

Do this at your own risk.

Again, if you guys know of other/Better ways to optimize XP for gaming, share!

[sleepyone]

I had done the startup one, but i could never be bothered to find out what all the stuff on services was.

Now you've done the hard bit i can switch them all off, cheers

Oh and if i can add one other tip, to speed up your bootup speed as will as performance ditch Norton, it is a waste of space and is too slow, plenty of free products that do the same thing but better

[drskhaled]

cheers for that, will try when i get home. Again i have been into those files but bottled it as i didnt know what i was deleting, so i'll give it a go tonight. I'll let you know if oblivion now runs on ultra high at 100fps (err maybe i'm being a bit too optimistic eh)

[Solar]

im sure Remote Registry is also used for windows updates

[AML]

I think it might be!
I dont know all the details, but a lot of these programs that run in the background really are unnecesary.

Windows doesnt get updated THAT often. Chances are we will know when theres is an update due out. All you need to do is click "start" and "windows Update" to do so.
Having the windows update service is for lazy people that dont care about system performance!

The more stuff you turn off, the less your PC has to do making it faster for any app you want to run.

I wonder how Vista is going to perform? Ive been hearing that its pretty bloated! A typical Vista install uses up to 10GB!!!

I think one reason they make OS's like that is to force an upgrade out of people.

When All you really need to do is turn stuff in windows off!


By the way, how did you guys get on? Do your PCs run better now?

[Singh400]

Not sure where you got this information from but I would like to say this:

COM+ System Application - This is a crictal system componet DO NOTdisable this! You could get away with this being set as Manual.
Print Spooler - If you ever print anything at all, you'll need this.
Automatic Updates - Windows Update & Automatic Updates will cease to function without this.

DO NOT uncheck: "NvCpl" or "NvMctray" (Nvidia users) as these are "RUNDLL" programs you need. In this case this is your Nvidia driver which you do need.

Wrong again you can safely remove those from the Start-UP Configuration without any adverse affect on your system performance/graphics card capabilities.

[AML]

Fair enough. I didnt say that my list was perfect. Just an idea of what you can stop.

Ive stopped com+sys app and havent had any problems. What exactly does it affect?

As for the RUNDLL stuff, the book said not to stop those. I might try and stop them to see what happens.
I actually need to access the NVidia driver often coz i change my settings for nearly every game I play. Having it in the Tray is very convenient so I dont recomend you stop this.

Print spooler, yes i did say that if you use Adobe (and print, but that should be obvious) you shouldnt stop this. I havent as a matter of fact.

But the book said that you can IF you use the PC for gaming only.

Remember that I said these are optimziations for gaming. Not for a multy purpose PC.

I also said the same thing about Automatic updates.

I dont need that program constantly runing in the back ground as windows doesnt get updated every day. When something new comes up you can download it manually.

[BlueOrange25]

Regardless of what can and can't be removed, it's amazing the amount of stuff that can be stopped on XP in order to optimise it for gameplaying. I'd like to see an option on the next version of Windows where you can optimise your system for gameplaying. Similar to a 'sport'/'racing' setting you can find on some high performance cars.

[Solar]

Originally Posted by AML

By the way, how did you guys get on? Do your PCs run better now?

ive been doing this after every install since winxp was first released so i didnt need to
but yeah it does run much better with all the crap turned off
Another thing to point out is the nvidia processes, for ATI CCC users its called "CLI" and there should be 3 instances of this running but only 1 process according to msconfig, its perfectly safe to turn it off but it will turn on if you ever access the CCC.

[Garrett]

Going to make this a Sticky.

[AML]

Originally Posted by Garrett

Going to make this a Sticky.

Cheers!

[JohnG]

I've always used This list to find out what the processes are. You can either page through the hundreds of pages or search for whatever you want. It then gives it a status to say what it advises doing with it.

[Uridium]

I have a machine running TinyXp for gaming. Works a treat.

fair enough TinyXP isn't strictly legit but i have a spare unused XP pro license as well that kinda covers it in my eyes.

[LFC_SL]

If anyone has just got a new PC or laptop with lots of bloatware, if a OEM XP disc was included, or you have your own XP disc, just do a full reinstall and have a clean system. Make your own driver CD beforehand if one isn't included. Be sure to include all critical drivers if anything, as you can always downlaod other drivers later

[bigstu31s]

Your suggestions have made my Laptop boot up more quickly so thanks AML.