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WWW.TWEAKGUIDES.COM
[Version 3.6 ‐ September 2007]

THE TWEAKGUIDES TWEAKING COMPANION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Copyright & Credits..................................................................................................................................................... 10
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Using this Guide .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Basic Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Different Versions of Windows ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Why is the Guide So Long? .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Recommended Software ................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Links to Other Guides, Articles & Websites ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Pictures and Diagrams....................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Problems with the Guide.................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Your Responsibilities.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Basic PC Terminology................................................................................................................................................ 14
Bits & Bytes.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
PC .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
CPU ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Motherboard......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Memory ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Hard Drive ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15
CD/DVD Drive...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Floppy Drive......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Graphics Card ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Display Device..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Sound Card .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Speakers or Headphones.................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Power Supply Unit .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Heatsinks and Fans............................................................................................................................................................................................ 17
Case ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Peripheral ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Operating System and Software ...................................................................................................................................................................... 17
System Specifications................................................................................................................................................ 18
System Information Tools .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Windows System Information Tool .................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Device Manager .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
DirectX Diagnostics ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Everest.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
SIW ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19
3DMark ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Sandra................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
CPU-Z ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Nero InfoTool ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Providing System Specifications............................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Backup & Recovery..................................................................................................................................................... 21
Manual Backup ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Automatic Backup........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Windows Backup Utility...................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Norton Ghost........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 23
Online Backup ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Using System Restore ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 23
Backing Up the Windows Registry ........................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Backing Up & Restoring Passwords ........................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Backing Up Login Password ............................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Restoring Login Password ................................................................................................................................................................................ 24
Resetting your Login Password........................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Storing Passwords.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Recovering Passwords ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
File Deletion and Recovery........................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Recovering Deleted Files .................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Permanently Deleting Files ............................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Copyright © 2007 Koroush Ghazi
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Low Level Format and Zero Fill........................................................................................................................................................................ 26
System Recovery ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
Recovering from Corrupted Registry............................................................................................................................................................... 27
Safe Mode ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27

Table of Contents
Recovery Console............................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
System File Checker .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 29
BIOS Optimization ....................................................................................................................................................... 30
BIOS Post Screen ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
BIOS Settings............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
BIOS Updates .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Firmware Updates ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Interrupt Requests (IRQs).......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Disable Unused Devices.................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Move Conflicting Devices .................................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Disabling ACPI .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Installing Windows ...................................................................................................................................................... 33
Preparing to Install Windows ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Slipstreaming Windows XP SP2 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33
NLite ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Formatting the Hard Drive(s) ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
NTFS vs. FAT 32 File Systems ........................................................................................................................................................................ 34
Converting Existing FAT32 Disk to NTFS ...................................................................................................................................................... 35
Multiple Partitions................................................................................................................................................................................................ 35
Dual Boot/Multiboot System.............................................................................................................................................................................. 35
RAID Configuration............................................................................................................................................................................................. 36
Formatting and Installing Windows .......................................................................................................................................................................... 36
New Hard Drive ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Hard Drive with Existing install of Windows ................................................................................................................................................... 37
Windows XP Bootdisks ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Windows Product Activation & Windows Genuine Advantage ....................................................................... 38
Windows Product Activation ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Windows Genuine Advantage ................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Driver Installation ........................................................................................................................................................ 39
Driver Installation Order ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Step 1 - Service Packs....................................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Step 2 - DirectX ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Step 3 - Driver Signing ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Step 4 - Motherboard Drivers ........................................................................................................................................................................... 40
Step 5 - Graphics Drivers .................................................................................................................................................................................. 41
Step 6 - Sound Drivers....................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
Step 7 - Peripheral Drivers ................................................................................................................................................................................ 42
Step 8 - Firewall, Windows Update & .NET ................................................................................................................................................... 42
General Driver Installation ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
The Latest Drivers............................................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Installing Non-Executable Drivers.................................................................................................................................................................... 43
General Driver Tips............................................................................................................................................................................................. 44
PC Security.................................................................................................................................................................... 45
Viruses & Worms ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45
AVG Antivirus ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
Trojan Horses............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
A-Squared ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 47
Spyware & Adware...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Bad Spyware/Adware Scanners....................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Ad-aware 2007 .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Rootkits ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Rootkit Revealer.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 49
Sophos Anti-Rootkit............................................................................................................................................................................................ 49
Browser Hijackers........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 49
HijackThis............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 49
General Security Tips ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 50
Background Scanning Vs. Manual Scanning................................................................................................................................................. 50
Firewalls................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 50
Email Usage......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
Internet Browsing ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 51
Peer-to-Peer, Messaging and IRC Programs ................................................................................................................................................ 52

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Encrypting Files................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52
Balancing Security vs. Performance................................................................................................................................................................ 53
Memory Optimization.................................................................................................................................................. 54

Table of Contents
CPU L1 and L2 Cache................................................................................................................................................................................................ 54
Physical RAM ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 54
RAM Size.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 54
RAM Speed.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
RAM Timings ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Video RAM.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Windows Memory Management Settings................................................................................................................................................................ 55
Disk Cache........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 56
Icon Cache ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 56
General Memory Settings.................................................................................................................................................................................. 56
Windows Prefetcher ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 56
Cacheman ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 57
Virtual Memory in Windows XP................................................................................................................................................................................. 57
Clearing the Pagefile .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
Setting the Pagefile - Partitions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 57
Recommended Pagefile size ............................................................................................................................................................................ 58
More RAM ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 59
Drive Optimization ....................................................................................................................................................... 60
Windows Disk Indexing .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 60
Windows Disk Defragmenter ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 60
Background Defragmentation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 61
Advanced Defragmentation ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 61
PageDefrag .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 61
Dirms & Buzzsaw................................................................................................................................................................................................ 61
Diskeeper ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 61
Frequency of Defragmentation.................................................................................................................................................................................. 63
Boot Optimization ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 64
Bootvis .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 64
Analyzing System Startup ................................................................................................................................................................................. 64
Optimizing System Startup................................................................................................................................................................................ 64
The Control Panel ........................................................................................................................................................ 65
Accessibility Options ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 65
Add Hardware .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 65
Add or Remove Programs ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 65
Set Program Access and Defaults ................................................................................................................................................................... 65
Administrative Tools.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Component Services .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Computer Management ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Data Sources (ODBC)........................................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Event Viewer........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Local Security Policy .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Performance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Services ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Automatic Updates ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Data Sources (ODBC) ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 68
Date and Time.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 68
Date and Time ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Time Zone ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 68
Internet Time........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 68
Display ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 68
Themes ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 68
Desktop................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 68
Screen Saver ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Appearance.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Settings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 69
ClearType ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 70
Graphics Card Control Panel............................................................................................................................................................................ 70
Folder Options.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 70
General ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 70
View....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71
File Types ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 71
Offline Files .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71
Fonts ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 71

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Game Controllers ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 72
Internet Options ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 72
Keyboard....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 72
Mouse ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 72

Table of Contents
Pointers................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 72
Pointer Options.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 72
Wheel .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Increasing USB Sample Rate ........................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Network Connections.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 73
QoS Packet Scheduler....................................................................................................................................................................................... 73
Windows Firewall ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 73
Network Setup Wizard ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 73
Phone and Modem ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 74
Portable Media Devices ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 74
Power Options.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 74
Power Schemes .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 74
Advanced.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 74
Hibernate .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 74
UPS ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Printers and Faxes ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 75
Regional and Language Options .............................................................................................................................................................................. 75
Regional Options................................................................................................................................................................................................. 75
Languages............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 75
Advanced.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
Scanners and Cameras.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
Scheduled Tasks ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 76
Security Center ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 76
Sounds and Audio Devices........................................................................................................................................................................................ 77
Volume.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 77
Sounds.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 77
Audio, Voice......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 78
Optimal Sound Configuration............................................................................................................................................................................ 78
Speech ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 79
System ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 79
General ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Computer Name .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Hardware .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Device Manager .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Optimize Drives ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 80
Remove Unused Devices .................................................................................................................................................................................. 81
Advanced.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 82
System Restore................................................................................................................................................................................................... 84
Automatic Updates ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 84
Remote ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 84
Taskbar and Start Menu............................................................................................................................................................................................. 84
Taskbar ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 84
Start Menu............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 84
User Accounts.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 85
Fast Startup - Skipping Login Screen.............................................................................................................................................................. 85
User Accounts - Advanced ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 85
Users ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 86
Advanced.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 86
Windows Firewall......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 86
Wireless Network Setup Wizard ............................................................................................................................................................................... 87
Startup Programs......................................................................................................................................................... 88
Microsoft System Configuration Utility ..................................................................................................................................................................... 88
General ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 88
System.ini & Win.ini............................................................................................................................................................................................ 88
Boot.ini .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 88
Services ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 89
Startup................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 89
Startup Program Identification and Removal.......................................................................................................................................................... 90
Windows Startup Inspector ............................................................................................................................................................................... 91
Autoruns ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 91
HijackFree ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 91
Services.......................................................................................................................................................................... 92

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Services Utility.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 92
Microsoft Services............................................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Non-Microsoft Services...................................................................................................................................................................................... 93
Identifying Non-Microsoft Services .................................................................................................................................................................. 93

Table of Contents
Cleaning Windows....................................................................................................................................................... 95
Disk Cleanup ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 95
Remove Unnecessary Windows Files............................................................................................................................................................. 95
Add or Remove Windows Components .......................................................................................................................................................... 95
Remove Old System Restore Points............................................................................................................................................................... 96
Advanced Disk Cleanup Usage........................................................................................................................................................................ 96
Recycle Bin................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Configuration Advice .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Renaming or Deleting the Recycle Bin ........................................................................................................................................................... 97
CCleaner ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 97
Configuration Advice .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 97
Analyzing and Deleting Unnecessary Files.................................................................................................................................................... 98
Manual Drive Cleaning ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 98
Task Manager................................................................................................................................................................ 99
Configuration Advice................................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
Resource Usage Monitoring ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
Processes............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 99
Commit Charge ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 100
CPU Usage ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 100
Memory Usage .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 100
Setting Processor Affinity ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 101
Windows Registry...................................................................................................................................................... 103
Cleaning the Registry................................................................................................................................................................................................ 103
RegSupreme...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103
RegCleaner ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 104
Compacting the Registry.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 105
NTRegOpt .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Registry Editor............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 105
Editing Existing Entries .................................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Creating New Registry Entries ....................................................................................................................................................................... 106
Backing Up Portions of the Registry.............................................................................................................................................................. 106
Restoring Sections of the Registry ................................................................................................................................................................ 106
Registry Tweaks ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 107
Improve Menu Responsiveness and Shutdown Speeds ........................................................................................................................... 107
Increase NTFS System Performance............................................................................................................................................................ 107
Prevent MSN Messenger From Running...................................................................................................................................................... 108
Turn Off CD Autoplay ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 108
Turn Off Windows XP Built-in CD Burning ................................................................................................................................................... 108
Change Thumbnail Quality & Size ................................................................................................................................................................. 109
Disable Thumbnail Cache ............................................................................................................................................................................... 109
Turn Off 'Low Disk Space' Notification .......................................................................................................................................................... 109
Disable Balloon Tips......................................................................................................................................................................................... 109
Turn Off System Beeps.................................................................................................................................................................................... 110
Disable Windows Key ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 110
Change Foreground Application Priority....................................................................................................................................................... 110
Group Policy ............................................................................................................................................................... 111
Group Editor Tweaks ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 111
Disable System Restore .................................................................................................................................................................................. 111
Turn off built-in XP CD Burning ...................................................................................................................................................................... 111
Prevent Windows Media Digital Rights Management from Internet Access .......................................................................................... 111
Remove 'Shared Documents' Folder............................................................................................................................................................. 111
Remove Shutdown/Logoff/Restart messages ............................................................................................................................................. 111
Turn off User Tracking (will Also disable personalized menus)................................................................................................................ 111
Prevent Access to Windows Components ................................................................................................................................................... 112
Turn off CD/DVD Autoplay .............................................................................................................................................................................. 112
Disable Internet Explorer splashscreen ........................................................................................................................................................ 112
Disable Windows Messenger ......................................................................................................................................................................... 112
Customize Internet Explorer Appearance..................................................................................................................................................... 112
Remove Recycle Bin Icon from Desktop ...................................................................................................................................................... 112
Remove My Documents Icon from Desktop................................................................................................................................................. 112
Remove My Computer Icon from Desktop ................................................................................................................................................... 112

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TweakUI........................................................................................................................................................................ 113
Configuration Advice................................................................................................................................................................................................. 113
General ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 113
General>Focus.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 113

Table of Contents
Explorer............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 113
Explorer>Shortcut ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 113
Explorer>Thumbnails ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 113
Explorer>Customizations................................................................................................................................................................................. 113
My Computer>Autoplay>Types...................................................................................................................................................................... 113
Taskbar and Start Menu .................................................................................................................................................................................. 113
Control Panel ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 114
Windows Explorer ..................................................................................................................................................... 115
Set Explorer's Default Startup Folder............................................................................................................................................................ 115
Speed Up Explorer ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 115
Remove 'Shared Documents' From My Computer ..................................................................................................................................... 115
Force All Columns in Explorer To Be Visible ............................................................................................................................................... 116
Rename Multiple Files...................................................................................................................................................................................... 116
Edit Context Menus .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 116
Add 'Copy To' and 'Move To' Commands to Context Menus.................................................................................................................... 117
Context Menu Editors....................................................................................................................................................................................... 117
Folder Views Not Being Saved....................................................................................................................................................................... 117
Repair Incorrectly Displayed Icons ................................................................................................................................................................ 118
Move the My Documents Folder .................................................................................................................................................................... 118
Make the My Documents Folder Private....................................................................................................................................................... 118
Disable Windows File Protection.................................................................................................................................................................... 118
Change Default Location for Programs and Common Files...................................................................................................................... 119
Internet Explorer ........................................................................................................................................................ 120
Internet Explorer 6 & 7.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 120
General ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 120
Security ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 121
Privacy ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 121
Content ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 121
Connections ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 122
Programs ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 122
Advanced............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 123
Tips & Tweaks............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 124
Streamlined Internet Explorer View ............................................................................................................................................................... 124
Change or Disable Internet Explorer Click Sound ...................................................................................................................................... 124
Internet Explorer Launched From Shortcuts ................................................................................................................................................ 125
Internet Explorer Launched From Hyperlinks .............................................................................................................................................. 125
Change Internet Explorer Default Download Directory .............................................................................................................................. 126
Remove 'Links' Folder in Favorites................................................................................................................................................................ 126
Customize Internet Explorer Title Bar ........................................................................................................................................................... 126
Increase Maximum Simultaneous Downloads............................................................................................................................................. 126
Disable Internet Explorer Search Assistant.................................................................................................................................................. 127
Use Customized Internet Explorer Search Assistant ................................................................................................................................. 127
Change Internet Explorer Address Bar Search Engine ............................................................................................................................. 127
Repairing Internet Explorer...................................................................................................................................................................................... 128
Scan for Malicious Software ........................................................................................................................................................................... 128
Reinstall Internet Explorer ............................................................................................................................................................................... 128
Temporary Internet Files Folder ..................................................................................................................................................................... 129
DNS Cache Issues ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 129
Windows Update........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 130
Windows Update Usage .................................................................................................................................................................................. 130
Security Patch Links and Release Dates ..................................................................................................................................................... 130
Windows Update on Other Browsers ............................................................................................................................................................ 131
Repairing Windows Update............................................................................................................................................................................. 131
Other Internet Browsers ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 131
Outlook Express ........................................................................................................................................................ 132
General ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 132
Read.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 132
Receipts.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 132
Send .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 132

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