Here’s a very good trick for Windows Vista Aero users! If you are using Windows Aero, you can use this Registry trick to slow down the animations (i.e. maximize/minimize) when you hold down the Shift key on your keyboard. You have to modify the Registry a little to achieve this!
The advantages of using this trick is that not only does this allow you to see the animations clearer but it also leaves the Flip 3D on the screen even after you let go of the [Ctrl] + [Windows Key] + [Tab] combination. Normally what happens is that Flip 3D exists the screen as soon as you leave this key combination. Whenever you minimize or maximize or close a window, if you hold the Shift key down you will be able see how impressive Vista is in slow motion. Follow these steps:
Showing posts with label Performance Tweaks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Performance Tweaks. Show all posts
Watch Windows Aero in Slowmotion
Here’s a very good trick for Windows Vista Aero users! If you are using Windows Aero, you can use this Registry trick to slow down the animations (i.e. maximize/minimize) when you hold down the Shift key on your keyboard. You have to modify the Registry a little to achieve this!
The advantages of using this trick is that not only does this allow you to see the animations clearer but it also leaves the Flip 3D on the screen even after you let go of the [Ctrl] + [Windows Key] + [Tab] combination. Normally what happens is that Flip 3D exists the screen as soon as you leave this key combination. Whenever you minimize or maximize or close a window, if you hold the Shift key down you will be able see how impressive Vista is in slow motion. Follow these steps:
• Click on the Start button. Then open the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R combination will also open the Run dialog box).
• Type regedit.exe, click OK. If User Account Control (UAC) prompts you to allow the action, click Continue.
• Now, navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM.
• In the right side of the Registry editor window, right-click on an empty space and select New
• Now, from this context menu that appears, select DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• Name this new DWORD value as AnimationsShiftKey.
• Now, Double-click on this newly created DWORD and give it a value of 1.
• Click on OK and close the Registry Editor.
• To see the changes, Log off of Windows and then log in back again.
• Now, Just hold the Shift key and minimize or maximize a window. You will notice that the animation is slowed down and it looks very nice too!
• If you want to get back to normal and stop this effect, then simply do not press the Shift key on your keyboard while using Flip3D or Aero.
I hope you enjoyed reading this and then implementing, do not forget to comment below!
The advantages of using this trick is that not only does this allow you to see the animations clearer but it also leaves the Flip 3D on the screen even after you let go of the [Ctrl] + [Windows Key] + [Tab] combination. Normally what happens is that Flip 3D exists the screen as soon as you leave this key combination. Whenever you minimize or maximize or close a window, if you hold the Shift key down you will be able see how impressive Vista is in slow motion. Follow these steps:
• Click on the Start button. Then open the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R combination will also open the Run dialog box).
• Type regedit.exe, click OK. If User Account Control (UAC) prompts you to allow the action, click Continue.
• Now, navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM.
• In the right side of the Registry editor window, right-click on an empty space and select New
• Now, from this context menu that appears, select DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• Name this new DWORD value as AnimationsShiftKey.
• Now, Double-click on this newly created DWORD and give it a value of 1.
• Click on OK and close the Registry Editor.
• To see the changes, Log off of Windows and then log in back again.
• Now, Just hold the Shift key and minimize or maximize a window. You will notice that the animation is slowed down and it looks very nice too!
• If you want to get back to normal and stop this effect, then simply do not press the Shift key on your keyboard while using Flip3D or Aero.
I hope you enjoyed reading this and then implementing, do not forget to comment below!
Disable Smart Window Arrangement in Windows 7
Windows 7 uses its own intelligence to arrange your windows. For an example, when you drag a window to the top of the screen it automatically maximizes. But if your wanna master Windows 7 at your behest, you need to disable this arrangement. Let's see how to go about it 1. In the Start Search type regedit to edit the registry 2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop 3. Set WindowArrangementActive value to 0, and reboot Now your windows will behave as in the earlier versions.
Increasing options in add/remove programs
Not a fan of MSN Messenger? don't want Windows Media Player on your system? Fair enough, but if you go to Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel, by default none of Windows XP's 'built in' programs are visible. it's fairly easy to change, though... just open the file X:\Windows\inf\sysoc.inf (where X: is the drive letter where Windows XP is installed) in Notepad. You should see a section of the file something like this: [Components] NtComponents=ntoc.dll,NtOcSetupProc,,4 WBEM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wbemoc.inf,hide,7 Display=desk.cpl,DisplayOcSetupProc,,7 Fax=fxsocm.dll,FaxOcmSetupProc,fxsocm.inf,,7 NetOC=netoc.dll,NetOcSetupProc,netoc.inf,,7 iis=iis.dll,OcEntry,iis.inf,,7 com=comsetup.dll,OcEntry,comnt5.inf,hide,7 dtc=msdtcstp.dll,OcEntry,dtcnt5.inf,hide,7 IndexSrv_System = setupqry.dll,IndexSrv,setupqry.inf,,7 TerminalServer=TsOc.dll, HydraOc, TsOc.inf,hide,2 msmq=msmqocm.dll,MsmqOcm,msmqocm.inf,,6 ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,,7 fp_extensions=fp40ext.dll,FrontPage4Extensions,fp40ext.inf,,7 AutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,au.inf,hide,7 msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7 RootAutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,rootau.inf,,7 IEAccess=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,ieaccess.inf,,7 This is a list of all components installed at the moment. I've taken the example of MSN Messenger - the program entry called 'msmsgs', third-last line. You can see the word 'hide' highlighted - this is the string which tells Windows not to display the component in the Add/Remove Programs list. Fix this up by simply deleting the word 'hide' like so: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7 To this: msmsgs=msgrocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,,7 Now, after restarting, you should be able to see MSN Messenger in the Add/Remove Programs list. If you want to be able to quickly view and remove all components, simply open the sysoc.inf file and do a global find and replace for the word ",hide" and replace it with a single comma ",".
Windows Vista Error Fix:Windows Experience Index Doesn't Work
Sometimes your Windows Experience Index doesn't work on your Windows Vista computer and forwarded an error message.Then do the following steps to solve this problem: Go to C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT, and look at the winsat.log.This was the error message you saw in there: 198406 (3144) - winsat\main.cpp:1161: > Running Assessment: media '-input {winsatencode.wmv} -encode {winsat.prx}' 198828 (3144) - winsat\main.cpp:1430: > Assessment FAILED due to an error It appears to mean that around the time it tried to play a test media file,it failed.Go to C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT. Try to play the files winsatencode.wmv and winsat.wmv using your default media player in windows vista. Do they Play?If so, try this. In C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT, rename the folder DataStore to OldDatastore, and try running the Update My Score again. Is Windows Media Player 11 is the default player for .wmv files on your Windows Vista computer?Yes, both files are only about a second long, winsatencode.wmv seems to play even faster than the other, and ends abruptly. As long as Windows Media Player played it, and didn't freeze or crash, things should be okay. To check the file, try running the System File Checker. To do this, right click on Command Prompt (Start Menu\Programs\Accessories), and choose Run as Administrator.Copy the following, and Paste it after the prompt: sfc /SCANFILE="C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\winsatencode.wmv" Press Enter. Then do the same for the other file: sfc /SCANFILE="C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\winsat.wmv" Press Enter. If things are okay and you are given the text message "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations", or that it found errors and they were corrected, proceed to renaming the folder DataStore to OldDatastore, under C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT, and try running the Update My Score again. Did you try renaming the DataStore folder under C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT to OldDatastore? If that didn't work, rename it back to DataStore. Open the DataStore folder, and create a New Folder within the DataStore folder. Cut and Paste, or Drag, all the XML Documents (.xml files) in DataStore into the New Folder. Drag the New Folder to your desktop. Then try to update your score. If this doesn't work, move the .xml files back as they were, and delete the empty New Folder. If it does work, delete the New Folder, and all the files in it. It's a fact that the Windows Experience Index Score doesn't affect how your Windows Vista computer runs. The only caveat I'm aware of is that you can't turn on the Aero theme unless your Windows Vista computer meets a certain criteria of the Windows Experience Index.
Use Pen Drive as RAM
Follow these steps :- 1. Insert the Pen Drive (1GB atleast) in the USB port try to prefer 4GB. 2. Let the PC do what it wants to do to detect it.. 3. After it finished his work, you have to act smart, " Here goes the real thing " 4. Right Click on My Computer -> Properties 5. Advanced -> Performance Settings 6. Advanced -> Change 7. Select the Pen Drive 8. Click on Custom Size " Check the value of space available " 9. Enter the same in the Initial and the Max columns " You just used the space of the PenDrive as a Virtual Memory " Restart... " VOILA !!! Your PC is fast and furious "
Disable Autorun
If your pen drive is affected by any virus/worm/malware then it is suggested to disable the autorun function in your computer. Here are the steps to disable the autorun. 1.Go to start ->Run Type gpedit.msc press Enter 2.In that go to Administrative Templates->System->Turn off autoplay 3.Now set it to Enabled if you want to turn off the autorun feature. The default value will not configured 4.There is one more option in it We have to select between All drives/ CD-ROM drives Select CD-ROM drive if you want to disable autorun only for CDS or select all drives if you want to turn off autorun for all drives including your pen drives or flash drives
Adding Custom Sound Event in XP
We all know how to change a sound when window starts. But what if we want to create a Custom sound event. What if we like to add a sound whenever a program is opened? Just imagine how good it would be to add a sound whenever Firefox starts, After all sometimes it takes long to open. To add a custom sound effect, you need to open your registry, and please do not forget to backup your registry before making any changes. 
1. Go to Start –> Run, type Regedit 2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps 3. Right Click on Apps, New –> Key 4. Name the key with the programs EXE file, like Firefox for Firefox, Winword for Office word, without the extension 5. Now on right pane, right click Default, and click Modify and type in the same application name 6. Right click on new key and create a new key, and name whatever you want to Custom Sound 7. Go to Control Panel –> Sounds and Audio devices –> Sounds, there you should be able to see the Custom sound event you added. You can now assign any sound event you want to. Do try it, an great tip to personalize your system more :)
1. Go to Start –> Run, type Regedit 2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps 3. Right Click on Apps, New –> Key 4. Name the key with the programs EXE file, like Firefox for Firefox, Winword for Office word, without the extension 5. Now on right pane, right click Default, and click Modify and type in the same application name 6. Right click on new key and create a new key, and name whatever you want to Custom Sound 7. Go to Control Panel –> Sounds and Audio devices –> Sounds, there you should be able to see the Custom sound event you added. You can now assign any sound event you want to. Do try it, an great tip to personalize your system more :)
Services You Can Disable in Windows Vista
There are several services you can disable to help improve performance. Desktop Window Manager Session Manager - Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services. If you don't plan on using Aero Glass, you can disable this service. Diagnostic Policy Service - Enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components Set to Disabled 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, responds to user logon and logoff events, implements the internals of the public API, and dispatches interesting events to those interested in Offline Files activities and changes in cache state. 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. Windows Error Reporting Service - Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working or responding and allows existing solutions to be delivered. Windows Search - Formerly this was the Indexing Service. Provides content indexing.
THE TRIPLE CLICK TRICK
No, you don't have to know how to skate or dance to do this... Selecting text can be a fiddly experience, especially if you are using a portable computer with an input device that doesn't work as well as a traditional mouse. So, when you want to cut and paste or copy and paste text, try the triple click. The results vary slightly from one program to another, but most often a single click locates the cursor in the text you are pointing to, a second click highlights the word, and a third click expands the highlighting to the entire paragraph. Ofcourse, you can try this trick in this paragraph... hit mouse button three times... This is much faster and more convenient than trying to drag the pointer over a paragraph. After you have highlighted your text, remember to use the right mouse button to access the shortcuts to "cut," "copy" and "paste." There is no point in clicking buttons at the top of the screen or bringing down the Edit menu when the functions you need are right at your finger tip...
Speed up Windows Vista booting process
In Windows Vista while booting it uses only a single core of your PC irrespective of multiple cores available. To utilize your processor during boot up follow the steps given below. How Enable booting up with multiple cores: 1) Go to start->run->msconfig and press enter. 2) Select the boot tab. 3) Click on Advanced Options. 4) Check the appropriate number of ports according to your system configuration. 5) Click OK.
10 ways to tweak your Linux Boot Process
Linux rarely needs to be rebooted. But when it does, it’s often slow to boot. Fortunately, there are ways to speed things up. Some of these methods are not terribly difficult. (although some, unfortunately, are). Let’s take a look.
#1: Disable unnecessary services
Depending upon the use of the machine, plenty of services won’t be needed. Using Linux just for a desktop? Then you won’t need sendmail, http, and many other services. If your server is only a web server, you can shut off many services as well. To do this, you can go to the Administration menu and take a look at the Services entry. Just deselect all of the services you don’t want to start.
#2: Disable unnecessary kernel modules
If your desktop is wired to the Ethernet, you don’t need to have a wireless kernel module loaded. This task is a bit more difficult and will require a kernel recompilation, which is not the easiest task to undertake. To do this, you will need the kernel sources. Then, follow the standard steps for compiling a kernel. The difference is that you’re going to go through your system and disable all of the modules you don’t need.
The best way to find out what kernel modules currently install and run on your system is to install Bootchart. Not only will this give you a good list of modules, it will illustrate for you what is happening during your system boot. You can also issue the command chkconfig –list | grep 3:on to find out what services are running. Once you know what loading modules you don’t need, you can remove them during a kernel recompilation. While you’re at it, compile the kernel to exactly match your architecture.
#3: Use a lightweight window manager instead of GNOME or KDE
I plug smaller footprint window managers for a reason — they drastically reduce graphical boot time. Instead of having to wait that extra 30 to 60 seconds for GNOME or KDE to boot up, why not wait two to 10 seconds for Enlightenment or XFCE to boot up? Not only will they save you boot time, they will save your memory and the headache of dealing with bloatware.
#4: Use a text-based login instead of a graphical login
Most of my Linux machines boot to run level 3 instead of run level 5. This will halt at the text-based login, where I only have to log in and issue startx to start my desktop of choice. The graphical logins do two things: increase load times and create headaches trying to recover from an X windows fubar.
#5: Use a lighter-weight distribution
Instead of loading the heavyweight Fedora, why not try a Gentoo, Arch, or Puppy Linux? The boot times for these smaller distributions are far faster than the more bloated Fedora (and even Ubuntu). Of the larger distributions, OpenSuSE claims to boot the fastest, but I have not personally tested this. Between the latest Fedora and Ubuntu, Ubuntu blows Fedora’s boot times away (and that is out of the box).
#6: Use an OpenBIOS
If you’re savvy enough to upgrade your PC’s firmware, you might consider migrating to an open source BIOS. One caveat to using open firmware is that it allows Linux to actually initialize the hardware as it boots (instead of relying on the BIOS). On top of that, many open BIOSes can be configured to meet your machine’s specific needs. If you don’t go the open BIOS route, you can at least configure your BIOS to not search for a floppy drive that’s not there or to boot directly to the first hard drive (instead of the CD drive first).
#7: Avoid DHCP
If you are working on a home network (or a small business network) where address lease isn’t a problem, go with static IP addresses. This will keep your machine from having to call out to a dhcp server to get an IP address. If you take this approach, make sure you configure your /etc/resolve.conf to reflect your DNS server addresses as well.
#8: If you can spare it, get rid of hotplug
Hotplug is the system that allows you to plug in new devices and use them immediately. If you know your server won’t need this system, delete it. This will cut down on boot time. On many systems, hotplugging consumes much of the boot time. Removing hotplug will vary depending upon the distribution you use. NOTE: udev has, for the most part, replaced hotplug. But if you’re running an older distribution, this does apply.
#9: If you are REALLY daring, you could give initng a try
The initng system serves as a replacement for the sysvinit system and promises to drastically decrease boot times in UNIX-like operating systems. If you would like to see the initng system in action, you can give the Pingwinek livecd a try.
#10: Use a hack with Debian
If you’re using Debian, there is a simple hack you can use to switch your startup scripts to run in parallel. If you look at the /etc/init.d/rc script, you will see: CONCURRENCY=none around line 24. Change this line to CONCURRENCY=shell and you should see a reduction in boot times.
That’s about it. Of course there are always more and better hacks out there. But the above should mostly cover everything. The good news is that you’re most likely already running Linux, so the burden of boot times is generally eased by the infrequency of reboots.
#1: Disable unnecessary services
Depending upon the use of the machine, plenty of services won’t be needed. Using Linux just for a desktop? Then you won’t need sendmail, http, and many other services. If your server is only a web server, you can shut off many services as well. To do this, you can go to the Administration menu and take a look at the Services entry. Just deselect all of the services you don’t want to start.
#2: Disable unnecessary kernel modules
If your desktop is wired to the Ethernet, you don’t need to have a wireless kernel module loaded. This task is a bit more difficult and will require a kernel recompilation, which is not the easiest task to undertake. To do this, you will need the kernel sources. Then, follow the standard steps for compiling a kernel. The difference is that you’re going to go through your system and disable all of the modules you don’t need.
The best way to find out what kernel modules currently install and run on your system is to install Bootchart. Not only will this give you a good list of modules, it will illustrate for you what is happening during your system boot. You can also issue the command chkconfig –list | grep 3:on to find out what services are running. Once you know what loading modules you don’t need, you can remove them during a kernel recompilation. While you’re at it, compile the kernel to exactly match your architecture.
#3: Use a lightweight window manager instead of GNOME or KDE
I plug smaller footprint window managers for a reason — they drastically reduce graphical boot time. Instead of having to wait that extra 30 to 60 seconds for GNOME or KDE to boot up, why not wait two to 10 seconds for Enlightenment or XFCE to boot up? Not only will they save you boot time, they will save your memory and the headache of dealing with bloatware.
#4: Use a text-based login instead of a graphical login
Most of my Linux machines boot to run level 3 instead of run level 5. This will halt at the text-based login, where I only have to log in and issue startx to start my desktop of choice. The graphical logins do two things: increase load times and create headaches trying to recover from an X windows fubar.
#5: Use a lighter-weight distribution
Instead of loading the heavyweight Fedora, why not try a Gentoo, Arch, or Puppy Linux? The boot times for these smaller distributions are far faster than the more bloated Fedora (and even Ubuntu). Of the larger distributions, OpenSuSE claims to boot the fastest, but I have not personally tested this. Between the latest Fedora and Ubuntu, Ubuntu blows Fedora’s boot times away (and that is out of the box).
#6: Use an OpenBIOS
If you’re savvy enough to upgrade your PC’s firmware, you might consider migrating to an open source BIOS. One caveat to using open firmware is that it allows Linux to actually initialize the hardware as it boots (instead of relying on the BIOS). On top of that, many open BIOSes can be configured to meet your machine’s specific needs. If you don’t go the open BIOS route, you can at least configure your BIOS to not search for a floppy drive that’s not there or to boot directly to the first hard drive (instead of the CD drive first).
#7: Avoid DHCP
If you are working on a home network (or a small business network) where address lease isn’t a problem, go with static IP addresses. This will keep your machine from having to call out to a dhcp server to get an IP address. If you take this approach, make sure you configure your /etc/resolve.conf to reflect your DNS server addresses as well.
#8: If you can spare it, get rid of hotplug
Hotplug is the system that allows you to plug in new devices and use them immediately. If you know your server won’t need this system, delete it. This will cut down on boot time. On many systems, hotplugging consumes much of the boot time. Removing hotplug will vary depending upon the distribution you use. NOTE: udev has, for the most part, replaced hotplug. But if you’re running an older distribution, this does apply.
#9: If you are REALLY daring, you could give initng a try
The initng system serves as a replacement for the sysvinit system and promises to drastically decrease boot times in UNIX-like operating systems. If you would like to see the initng system in action, you can give the Pingwinek livecd a try.
#10: Use a hack with Debian
If you’re using Debian, there is a simple hack you can use to switch your startup scripts to run in parallel. If you look at the /etc/init.d/rc script, you will see: CONCURRENCY=none around line 24. Change this line to CONCURRENCY=shell and you should see a reduction in boot times.
That’s about it. Of course there are always more and better hacks out there. But the above should mostly cover everything. The good news is that you’re most likely already running Linux, so the burden of boot times is generally eased by the infrequency of reboots.
Enhance Your SATA Hard Disk Performance in Vista
Microsoft Windows Vista users must have used the search box on the Start menu and after using it they must have experienced its sheer power. This search box not only searches in your start menu and control panel but also your personal files like pictures, documents and even your emails. This makes it very useful for everyday tasks. It also saves time and we also tend to get the habit of getting what we want by just typing a few letters and the reason why I love it! Getting back to the topic, if you are having a lot of personal files then this feature of the search box, i.e., searching through files takes toll on its performance and causes it to slow down. But if we narrow down the search to only start menu and control panel then we can easily get some performance benefits. This tip will help us to find the program or setting easily and faster. Follow these steps to make search box faster: 1. First right-click on the Start button and select Properties. 2. Then select the Customize button. 3. Remove the check where it says Search Communications. 4. Then for Search Files set Don’t search for files. 5. Click OK, then OK again and you are done. Enjoy a speedy search and get your results quicker! :)
Pin Folders To Start Menu In Windows XP, Vista Or 7
Windows XP, Vista or 7 allows us to pin our most frequently used application to the Start menu by right clicking on it and selecting Pin to Start Menu. This gives us instant access to these applications. If we want any other item to pinned list, we can do so by dragging and dropping it to the Start button or the Start menu. If we want to remove these pinned item we can do so by right-clicking it and clicking Unpin from Start Menu or Remove from This List. The order of the items in this list can be arranged by dragging and dropping them to the preferred location. To add a folder to the Start Menu Pin list, you may use the drag-drop method as stated above. But we cannot pin our frequently used or favourite folders to the Start menu by right clicking on it. Here is a cool trick to pin your folders to the Start menu by right clicking on the folder and selecting Pin to Start Menu:
• Click on the Start menu button and type regedit in the Start menu search box and press Enter. For XP users select Run from the Start Menu and type regedit in the Run dialog box and press enter.
• This will open the registry editor.
• Now browse to the key
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
• Once you are there right click on the right pane and select New and then Key.
• Type in {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} and press Enter.
• Once this is done, close the registry and restart your computer for the changes to take place.
Now, to pin a folder to the Start Menu, press and hold the Shift key and then right-click a folder. The Pin to Start Menu entry will appear in the context menu.
Voila! You can now pin your folders to the Start menu too!
Note: If you want to undo this trick just delete the key {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} from the registry. This tip will not work if you are using the classic start menu.
Help at hand: If you don’t want to go through all the tedious work of editing the registry, download PinFolderToStartMenu.zip and run Pin.reg to automatically insert the values. To undo or delete the created key run the file UndoPin.reg.
• Click on the Start menu button and type regedit in the Start menu search box and press Enter. For XP users select Run from the Start Menu and type regedit in the Run dialog box and press enter.
• This will open the registry editor.
• Now browse to the key
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
• Once you are there right click on the right pane and select New and then Key.
• Type in {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} and press Enter.
• Once this is done, close the registry and restart your computer for the changes to take place.
Now, to pin a folder to the Start Menu, press and hold the Shift key and then right-click a folder. The Pin to Start Menu entry will appear in the context menu.
Voila! You can now pin your folders to the Start menu too!
Note: If you want to undo this trick just delete the key {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} from the registry. This tip will not work if you are using the classic start menu.
Help at hand: If you don’t want to go through all the tedious work of editing the registry, download PinFolderToStartMenu.zip and run Pin.reg to automatically insert the values. To undo or delete the created key run the file UndoPin.reg.
Enhance Your Computer’s Performance With Readyboost
ReadyBoost is a component of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system. It works by using flash memory, USB 2.0 drive, SD card, CompactFlash or any kind of portable flash mass storage system as a drive for disk cache. ReadyBoost is present, with fewer restrictions than in Vista, in the beta version of Windows 7. ReadyBoost is also used to facilitate SuperFetch, an updated version of Windows XP’s prefetcher which performs analysis of boot-time disk usage patterns and creates a cache which is used in subsequent system boots.
In order to take advantage of this feature and boost performance as stated above you will need a flash memory device. But if you really want to see the boost your device should meet some minimum performance and space requirements:
• The device must be at least 64 MB
• The device must be USB 2.0
• It has to be able to read at 3.5 MB/s
• It has to be able to write at 2.5 MB/s
But don’t worry if you do not know the device’s specs or is unsure about it, just give it a try. To get started using ReadyBoost, follow these steps:
• First, plug in USB storage device.
• If autorun is enabled, Vista or Windows 7 will ask you what you want to do with it. Just select the option that says “Speed up my system”
- If your device is fast enough you will see a properties dialog box for further configuration.
- Select “Use this device”
- Select the amount of space on it you want to dedicate for the ReadyBoost system file.
- Click OK and you are finished.
• If autorun is disabled, then go to Computer and right click on the removable storage device and select Properties.
- If your device is compatible, you will see a ReadyBoost tab. Select that tab by clicking on it.
- Then select “Use this device”
- Select the amount of space on it you want to dedicate for the ReadyBoost system file.
- Click OK and you are finished.
From now on your memory device will be used instead of hard disk as virtual memory. If you have any questions regarding ReadyBoost you can visit Tom Archer’s blog. Feel free to comment below your experience with ReadyBoost.
In order to take advantage of this feature and boost performance as stated above you will need a flash memory device. But if you really want to see the boost your device should meet some minimum performance and space requirements:
• The device must be at least 64 MB
• The device must be USB 2.0
• It has to be able to read at 3.5 MB/s
• It has to be able to write at 2.5 MB/s
But don’t worry if you do not know the device’s specs or is unsure about it, just give it a try. To get started using ReadyBoost, follow these steps:
• First, plug in USB storage device.
• If autorun is enabled, Vista or Windows 7 will ask you what you want to do with it. Just select the option that says “Speed up my system”
- If your device is fast enough you will see a properties dialog box for further configuration.
- Select “Use this device”
- Select the amount of space on it you want to dedicate for the ReadyBoost system file.
- Click OK and you are finished.
• If autorun is disabled, then go to Computer and right click on the removable storage device and select Properties.
- If your device is compatible, you will see a ReadyBoost tab. Select that tab by clicking on it.
- Then select “Use this device”
- Select the amount of space on it you want to dedicate for the ReadyBoost system file.
- Click OK and you are finished.
From now on your memory device will be used instead of hard disk as virtual memory. If you have any questions regarding ReadyBoost you can visit Tom Archer’s blog. Feel free to comment below your experience with ReadyBoost.
Defragment Hard Drives Using Command Prompt
Today I am sharing the easiest method with you to defragment your hard drive. Though you can perform this task with third party applications also, but why don’t do it a simple way. Here is a simple method to defragment your drives using Command Prompt : 1. Click on Start and then select Run, type CMD in it and hit enter. 2. Suppose you want to defrag your C drive, then in the command box, write defrag C: -f -v and hit enter. The defragmentation will start. Similarly, you can perform this task on diffrent drives by changing the name i.e defrag C: -f -v defrag D: -f -v defrag E: -f -v
Windows 7, Vista, USB File Copy / Transfer Speed Slow
When transferring files from one medium to another within the computer or outside it, sometimes due to bugs the process becomes painfully slow. This could be from one folder to another or from the computer to an external hard drive.
These slow transfers leave the user in a fix as how to get things done quickly, this becomes all the more important when the user is in a hurry. The bar that displays “calculated left time” only makes the process slower then helping the entire process. This is enviable regardless of which method one uses, whether he drags and drops it, or he cut –copy –pastes it or he uses “send to”. However there are eleven solutions to fix this problem.
Solution 1: KB938979 Vista Performance Update: in this the estimated time left takes a long time to be calculated at the same time getting rid of other bugs.
Solution 2: KB931770 Hotfix bug where copying files from network place will stop at “Calculating Time Remaining” dialog window showing “0 minutes remaining” status.
Solution 3: Turn Off Remove Differential Compression.
Solution 4: Disable TCP/IP “Receive Window Auto-Tuning” and/or “Receive Side Scaling”.
Solution 5: Use Alternative Copying or Moving File Operation Engine.
Solution 6: Turn Off Windows Search.
Solution 7: Turn Off Indexing Services.
Solution 8: Disable Thumbnail Preview.
Solution 9: Turn Off IPv6 Support.
Solution 10: Microsoft Workarounds for Slow Large Files Transfer between Vista and 2003 or XP Computer.
Solution 11: Drivers Update should be done regularly. These methods insure that the bugs that hinder the process of transfer of files is not effected in Vista.
These slow transfers leave the user in a fix as how to get things done quickly, this becomes all the more important when the user is in a hurry. The bar that displays “calculated left time” only makes the process slower then helping the entire process. This is enviable regardless of which method one uses, whether he drags and drops it, or he cut –copy –pastes it or he uses “send to”. However there are eleven solutions to fix this problem.
Solution 1: KB938979 Vista Performance Update: in this the estimated time left takes a long time to be calculated at the same time getting rid of other bugs.
Solution 2: KB931770 Hotfix bug where copying files from network place will stop at “Calculating Time Remaining” dialog window showing “0 minutes remaining” status.
Solution 3: Turn Off Remove Differential Compression.
Solution 4: Disable TCP/IP “Receive Window Auto-Tuning” and/or “Receive Side Scaling”.
Solution 5: Use Alternative Copying or Moving File Operation Engine.
Solution 6: Turn Off Windows Search.
Solution 7: Turn Off Indexing Services.
Solution 8: Disable Thumbnail Preview.
Solution 9: Turn Off IPv6 Support.
Solution 10: Microsoft Workarounds for Slow Large Files Transfer between Vista and 2003 or XP Computer.
Solution 11: Drivers Update should be done regularly. These methods insure that the bugs that hinder the process of transfer of files is not effected in Vista.
Improve Hibernate / Shut Down Time In Windows XP Tablet
Windows XP takes a long time to shut down, and then to start up – and hence, many users use the Hibernate option so that they do not have to wait 3-4 minutes for their computer to start up. Those of you (with tablet PCs) who like using the Hibernate option might have faced the problem where your tablet PC takes an unnaturally long time (say somewhere around 10-15 minutes) to go into hibernation. This can be extremely frustrating at times as this beats the entire point of using the Hibernate option.
Although there is no straight-up solution to this problem, a few suggestions are put forth in this article. First off, the slow hibernation problem may due to the fact that you have less amount of physical memory (around 1GB, or less). This, combined with the fact that you might have several processes running in the background (or in the foreground too), might cause the slow hibernation problem.
Furthermore, the amount of hard disk space is also crucially linked to the speed and ease of hibernation. The hibernation process creates an image of the current system status and stores it on your hard disk, and then turns off the power. If you have only a tiny amount of free memory left (say a few MBs or even less), then the hibernation process is not going to work properly.
Lastly, according to a Microsoft article that was released sometime back, the slow hibernation process can be avoided by upgrading to Service Pack 2 (SP2) – in case you are using the first XP edition.
Thus, to recap, upgrade your RAM, make sure you have SP2, and at least 1GB of free hard disk space on your tablet PC if you want Hibernation to function properly.
Although there is no straight-up solution to this problem, a few suggestions are put forth in this article. First off, the slow hibernation problem may due to the fact that you have less amount of physical memory (around 1GB, or less). This, combined with the fact that you might have several processes running in the background (or in the foreground too), might cause the slow hibernation problem.
Furthermore, the amount of hard disk space is also crucially linked to the speed and ease of hibernation. The hibernation process creates an image of the current system status and stores it on your hard disk, and then turns off the power. If you have only a tiny amount of free memory left (say a few MBs or even less), then the hibernation process is not going to work properly.
Lastly, according to a Microsoft article that was released sometime back, the slow hibernation process can be avoided by upgrading to Service Pack 2 (SP2) – in case you are using the first XP edition.
Thus, to recap, upgrade your RAM, make sure you have SP2, and at least 1GB of free hard disk space on your tablet PC if you want Hibernation to function properly.
- Click on start > run, then type compmgmt.msc and press enter.
- Click on Services and Application.
- Now, the right hand panel will have three options – Services, WMI Control, and Indexing Service. Double-click on Services.
- Scroll down the list to locate Routing and Remote Access, and double-click on it.
- In the dialog that shows up, select Disabled from the dropdown list under the Startup typeheading.
- Click on OK.
- Exit the Services applet.
- Set command to delete ARP cache at 5-minute duration.
- Open a command prompt with administrator privileges. [You can do this by logging in to your system as an administrator, and going to Start -> Run, and entering cmd.]
- At the prompt, enter the following commands:
SCHTASKS /CREATE /SC MINUTE /MO 5 /TN ARPFLUSH /TR
C:\WINNT\system32\netsh\interface\ip\delete\arpcache
- Exit the command prompt.
After this, your computer will delete the ARP cache every five minutes and you will not face the “ARP cache will not clear” error message again.
Improve, Enhance, Make Better Browsing Experience With Internet Explorer
Tweak Internet Explorer to Enhance Speed
Most Internet Explorer (IE) users complain about its slow speed, and how much time it takes to start up, and load web pages. However, a few tweaks will ensure that your IE experience becomes twice as fast. This article will tell you how to carry out these minor modifications – all you have to do is follow the steps listed out below.
IE Tweak 1
- Launch Internet Explorer, and select the option Tools -> Internet Options.
- Select the Advanced tab.
- In the Settings field, scroll down to the heading called Multimedia. There, you have to clear the check-boxes next to the following options (as per your preference):
- Play animations in webpages
- Play sounds in webpages
- Show pictures
- Click on Apply, and then OK.
However, the problem with this tweak is that it will greatly restrict your internet experience – all at the cost of speed. This might not be an attractive option to many.
IE Tweak 2
- Again, open the Internet Options dialog.
- Select the Content tab.
- Under the AutoComplete section, click on the tab that says Settings.
- Clear the check-boxes next to the Forms and User names and password on formsoptions.
- Click on OK.
- Click on OK at the Internet Options dialog.
IE Tweak 3
- Open the Internet Options dialog, and select the Security tab.
- Under the Security level for this zone section, click on the tab that says – Custom Level…
- In the list that you see, select the Disable option for any (or all) of the following:
- ActiveX controls and plugins
- Java
- Scripting
- Click on OK.
- Click on OK in the Internet Options dialog.
This tweak too, like Tweak 1 above, will greatly limit your internet browsing experience and you might not like it. However, if you want speed at all costs, it might be worth it.
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