Tweaks

[Cinnabar]

Just posting a couple of links you guys gave me... cuz I want them for after I reformat my computer next week....

Installing Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit

This tuning guide will help you in making Vista "almost" like XP, but with a nicer UI and dx10 support!



Step 1: Turning off Vista's NAP Control

A) Goto Start and click on “Run.

B) Next, type in “services.msc”,without the "", and hit OK. The services applet should open in a windows box. It should show you ALL the current services running on your computer.
C) Scroll down until you find "Network Access Protection Agent", right click on this service and hit "stop". Then, Right click again, and goto properties and disable activation on startup.

D) Lastely, restart your computer and NAP is now disabled!

What NAP does: It stop any and ALL executables from running that "might", note the "might", be a viral agent. If you run antivirus software theres no reason whatsoever to have this running. In most cases, it actually is a waste and EXTREMELY annoying to have this running.

Disabling Vista UAC

A) Open Administrative Tools in Control Panel

B) Double-click on System Configuration

C) Click Continue to accept the UAC prompt

D) Select the Tools tab

E) Scroll down and select Disable UAC

F) Click Launch

G) Reboot your machine

Microsoft Services you don't need...


A) Goto start.
B) search/goto run.
C) Type "services.msc” into the run prompt without the "".
D) Turn off the services below using the same method as in the NAP instructions above:

-Base Filtering Engine (if you don't use the basic windows firewall at all)

-Group Policy Client (if you don't use the different group functions like admin, and multiple user stuff)

-IKE and AuthIP IPSec Keying Modules (Disable to improve network performance and decrease RAM usage, disabling will have a negative impact on network security unless you are doing VPN type things, normal gamers/computer users have little use for VPN services.)

-Infrared monitor service (again, home users/gamers have little use for this unless your using IR wireless technology in your home, doubtful.)

-Internet Connection Sharing (Disable if you don't share your internet connection with another computer, this is different from being on a network or router, basically another computer is connecting to the internet THROUGH your computer. Home users/gamers have little use for this.)

-Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider (Disable if you don't use MS Shadow Copy.)

-Remote Access Connection Manager (Disable if you don't use dial-up connections or VPN-networks.)

-Remote Registry (It Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is stopped, only users on this computer can modify the registry. In other words, no one can hack into your computer and change your registry if this is turned off. Used by network administrators in businesses. Disable this at your digression. )

-Secondary Logon (Disable if you don't want to login two users at the same time.)

-Security Center (Disable this if your tired of that damn microsoft shield constantly blabbing at you about security problems because you turned off Vista's crappy anti-virus and firewall systems.)

-Server (Disable if you don't share files or printers via LAN as a server for another. If your printer stops working, re-enable this!)

-Telephony (Disable if you don't use dial-up.)

-Terminal Services (Disable if you don't use Remote Desktop. Turning this off permanently will increase system security!!)

-Volume Shadow Copy (Disable if you don't use MS Shadow Copy.)

-Windows Defender (Disable if you don't want to use it.)

-Windows Firewall (Disable if you don't want to use the crappy windows firewall.)

[UPDATE
-SuperFetch (Disable this, It's one of those "helpful" services that caches all your ram for programs the OS thinks your going to use. So if you also use your PC for other things (word processing, surfing) you will find that the OS thinks you might do some word processing today for example and caches some ram and assigns it to that program just in case your run it), Ferain from the AoC forums reminded me about this, completely forgot !





Hope this helped !

-Draga

[Jive]

well a tweaks thread needs more tweaks =) I only have XP, so some XP tips, and in-game
*do these only if you know your PC well, these are only suggestions and WILL improve your pc's overall performance*

1. Turn Off XP System Restore:
Unneeded system process running, using resources.

2. CCleaner:
One of the best if not THE best FREE pc cleaning utility, a must have if you already do not

3. Defrag with something other then Windows default defragger:
Defragging your PC is a BIG deal and is VERY important. I use Diskeeper, i always suggest it, I've always used O&O as well, both are very kick ass.

4. Proccess Tree:
Crtl+Alt+Del for us.. If you have over 38 or so, *bottom left* thats to many and IS effecting your gaming. Start to end the ones you arent using and also go to "Start>Run>"msconfig">Startup" this is all the programs that start when your PC starts up.. even if you dont use it, its running. what a waste huh?.

5. Driver updates:
This is iffy.. but most of the time updating your drivers results in a faster, smoother running

6. Dont have files on your desktop:
Only shortcuts, no files or folders. having stuff other then shortcuts on your desktop causes your pc to startup slower and also use more memory when its running.

7. In-game, Turn off Shadows and Bloom:
On my system, running everything on "high" turning off shadow and bloom gain me A LOT of fps. IMO shadow is useless and bloom i can do without.

8. Early Access Download:
Remember to delete the early access download files *NOT THE GAME* from your computer as its something like 14gb of cluster junk...then do step number 3 =)

9. Clean the inside of your PC:
Dust on your motherboard/video card etc is like throwing a heavy blanket into your car engine. The hotter your PC gets, the more "sluggish" its proformance is and it leads to crashing, game lag, bsod etc a ton of stuff.

10. if you are using AA in game:
Odd "fiX" that worked in beta and still does for some people. When in-game swtich your AA to any other AA setting and then back you will notice a FPS increase. IE. say i have AAx2 and have 10fps. i switch to AAx8 and now i have 21FPS. This works sometimes because it may flush video *dunno on this*

[Kilgoran]

Has anyone tried those "tweaks" for vista 64 ultimate? I want to try it, but then again, my system is running stable.

[SSSlippy]

I use most of them. They are fine to use.

[Xerien]

The Vista services are safe to disable and should not affect stability. I have some of them turned off like Shadow Copy, ICS, Remote registry, Infrared manager, etc.

If you use applications like RCA, DameWare, etc. you might need the remote services.