Tweak Vista with Ultimate Windows Tweaker

You may want to customise your system information screen with your own photo?

Optimize your network by removing QOS share you don't use it normally anyway
Media sharing is a new function which no one uses in Vista

You might want to disable the irritating Windows Error Reporting
You can also disable Windows Media Centre (it is not Windows Media Player)
Disable autoplay will help prevent virus infected thumbdrives from invading your PC

Time to shutdown is displayer in seconds each interval represent 1 second
Turn off ready boost if you do not have a ready boost flashdrive or if you are not using it at all
You might want to leave force unload DLL on as application may share DLL
Disable Tablet PC input if you are using a Laptop or PC
Disable the Windows ZIP function if you are using Winzip etc
If you keep your files tidy and seldom search for them disable it
Enable PAE
Again you might want to disable the irritating error reporter

Speed up the menu display speed

WinVistaClub has a excellent freeware tool for downloads here
Tweaks that are worth considering are boxed in red and black

How to optimize Vista Boot

Using Windows Vista Disk Defragmenter
Starting with Windows XP and continuing in Windows Vista, the Prefetcher service will automatically optimize the location of the boot files in your hard drive using Windows Disk Defragmenter. However, this occurs only after a certain number of boots and when it gets around to it (because it runs only when your computer is idle).

Microsoft has a talented team working on the Prefetcher service that even took into consideration your system boot changes. For example, you might install an updated device driver or add new hardware. To solve this problem, the systems will re-defragment the boot files every three days.

Tip: Windows keeps track of the last time that it has optimized the boot file so that it can calculate how often it should run the boot defrag. If you are interesting in finding when the last time was that the boot defrag was run, open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Prefetcher, and then look for the key named LastDiskLayoutTimeString.

An operating system that takes care of itself? Yes, Windows is getting smarter and smarter. However, there is still one problem: There is no possible way to directly initiate a boot defrag. The only way is to leave your computer on for a little while without using it at all. If you are impatient and do not want to wait, I have a solution for you.

As I mentioned earlier, the system will initiate the boot defrag only when the system is idle. Typing in a command that will start the boot is not possible. However, you can tell your computer, even when it is not idle, to process the idle tasks. This will indirectly start the boot defrag. Because the boot defrag is most likely not the only idle task waiting to be run, other processes will be run, too, which can cause your computer to appear to be doing a lot of hard work—from a few minutes up to half an hour—as it completes all tasks. During this time, your computer should not be used for any intensive activities such as playing games. If you try to use your computer while the idle tasks are being processed, you will notice slow performance until the tasks are completed.

Perform the following steps to process all idle tasks:

1. Click the Start button, type cmd in the Search box, and press Enter.
2. When the command prompt opens, type
3. Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks and press Enter.
   
4. Your computer will now work on the tasks.

Performing these steps will allow your system to defrag the boot files; however, the boot defrag is done every three days. Processing the idle tasks more frequently will do nothing to help you boot because the boot defrag will not be on your idle tasks lists all the time.

Does AMD Optimizer Actually Speed up the CPU?

Ok here is what AMD Claims that their Optimizer do:

AMD Dual-Core Optimizer Version 1.1.4 - The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer can help improve some PC gaming video performance by compensating for those applications that bypass the Windows API for timing by directly using the RDTSC (Read Time Stamp Counter) instruction. Applications that rely on RDTSC do not benefit from the logic in the operating system to properly account for the affect of power management mechanisms on the rate at which a processor core's Time Stamp Counter (TSC) is incremented. The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer helps to correct the resulting video performance effects or other incorrect timing effects that these applications may experience on dual-core processor systems, by periodically adjusting the core time-stamp-counters, so that they are synchronized.

AMD Optimizer in Windows Runs as a Service amd_dc_opt.exe

I tested the difference by disabling the service to simulate without Optimization & reenable the service to simulate with Optimization
The results are as shown below using PC Wizard 2008 as a benchmark available here


Benchmark Result With AMD Optimzer using CPU Calculations


Benchmark Result with AMD Optimizer Overall Performance


Benchmark Result without AMD Optimzer using CPU Calculations


Benchmark Result without AMD Optimizer Overall Performance

From the result it can be seen that there is no real optimzation for CPU Calculation and Overall Performance
For Overall Performance the performance change is a 1.5% drop
For CPU Calculations the performance change is a 7.3% drop
It seems that by disabling this feature processing power would be ramped up

However do note that from the Overall Performance Chart
The video performance went up to 2.4% when optimization is enabled
And note the description from AMD Site:
(The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer helps to correct the resulting video performance effects or other incorrect timing effects that these applications may experience on dual-core processor systems, by periodically adjusting the core time-stamp-counters, so that they are synchronized.)

So it seems that the Optimizer did really perform as expected however CPU scores are affected as a result and many complains was the increase in heat generated from the system when optimzer is enabled.
My opinion is that a small increase in performance is not a great exchange for the heat generated that can potentially damage the system and cripple the CPU
Moreover I personally do not play games frequently I will probably keep out this software for a while.

Need Good Info Regarding Laptops ?

Many people buy at the spur of a moment without really known what they bought this is very true especially computers
They simply equate

• Higher GHZ CPU more powerful
• More RAM more powerful
• More Harddisk more powerful
• Graphics bigger number more powerful???

Sometimes they overbuy what is actually sufficient for needs
You don't want to spend your money on a powerful computer you don't really need
because computer devaluates faster than currency
You bought Intel Graphics because that sales person told you it is good then went home to realise you can't play games with it
You have the common misconception Integrated Graphics can't play game for now it is still generally true but changing soon with the new powerful Nvidia Integrated Graphics that rival even discrete graphics

So I know one website that is really good at giving performance figures and facts because they best represent how good the Laptop is unlike some review which gives stars anyhow irregardless of performance (You want to spend your money on getting most performance)

Graphics Comparison
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Comparison-of-Graphic-Cards.130.0.html
CPU Comparison
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebook-Processors.129.0.html

Benchmarks
Benchmarks are numbers obtain from using different hardware to run a program to test hardware performance

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

Any queries regarding terminology leave a message i will try to simplify the terms =)

New Laptop Acer Aspire 4530

1. As a result of bad experience with Acer Tech Support Centre and numerous complains about their Quality of Service

They agreed to replace my old laptop Acer Aspire 4520G with Acer Aspire 4530
It has:

1. AMD TurionX2 Processor 2.1GHZ RM-72 1MB L2 Cache (Codename: LION)
2. 3GB RAM DDR2 5300 667MHZ (Samsung chips)
3. NVIDIA GeForce 9100M G Integrated Graphics (CUDA & NVIDIA PhysX-ready)
4. 320GB WESTERN DIGITAL Scorpio 3200 BEVT 320GB(5400rpm/8MB/SATA) 2.5" HDD
5. Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)(BroadCom)
6. Wireless Adapter Atheros AR5B91 with Draft-N
   
7. Nvidia MCP 77 NFORCE CHIPSET
8. REALTEK HIGH DEFINITION AUDIO
9. LG DVD-RAM DUAL LAYER
10. BROADCOM NETXTREME ETHERNET

It is superior over my previous laptop in everyway HAPPY and it is a cool black in colour

I upgrade the RAM to 4GB and here is the Windows Experience Index results



Processor:4.8
RAM:5.8
Graphics:4.0
Gaming Graphics:4.5
Primary Harddisk:5.3

This is a great performance for a sub 1K laptop =)

TuneXP Guide

This post is to make a step by step guide and explaination of each function of TuneXP 

TuneXP dosen't come with documentation but i should be able to explain some of them hopefully .

1)FILE menu quite self explanatory

      EXIT

2)MEMORY & FILESYSTEM 

-     ACCELERATE DLL UNLOADING  (NO OBSERVABLE BENEFITS)

Well most programs comes with DLL (Dynamic Library Link) they are loaded into memory     when the program starts this will enable faster unloading of DLL libraries. I don't see much performance benefits so normally i leave this unchecked

-     DISABLE PAGING EXECUTIVE (DEPENDS ON SYSTEM)

Paging Executive uses a portion of your harddisk as RAM (Memory) Because harddisk is the slowest component in a computer this process (SWAPPING) causes your system to slow down.HOWEVER do not enable this if you have low RAM capacity <2gb>3GB  

-    FASTER SHUTDOWN (FOR EVERYONE)

This will force Windows to decrease shutdown timer so you can enable this safely

-    FILE ALLOCATION SIZE TWEAK (FOR EVERYONE)

This will enable changes to the file allocation size although the benefits can hardly be felt

-   OPTIMIZE PREFETCH ( IGNORE)

Does not really help Windows XP prefetcher is optimized by default

-   INCREASE NTFS PERFORMANCE (FOR EVERYONE WITH NTFS on XP)

This tweak removes the "Last Access Stamp" from all files. This improves general disk performance by removing massive bandwidth overhead.

-  IO PAGE LOCK LIMIT (NOT MUCH BENEFITS)

Set to your RAM size if 512MB above set to 512MB

- INTERNET

  DNS CACHE INCREASE (FOR EVERYONE)

More frequently accessed sites will have the DNS cache in your computer which reduces the number of DNS lookup request

IGNORE THE REST

         

HWMonitor

This is what HWMonitor looks like

It shows the temperature taken by the thermal sensors inside your computer

Usually you will have no use for however it can act as a diagnostic tool such as computer slow downs especally graphic cards during intense gaming.Above all else isn't it interesting to know how hot is your internal component running?

The software is from CPUID team at http://www.cpuid.com/

Things to note about this applet

1)Small in size

2)No install required to uninstall just delete it

The software is obtained from their website in 2 versions 32bit and 64 bit

32bit is for all standard Windows XP 32bit and Vista 32bit

64bit is for those 64bit Vista Edition there is also Windows XP 64 bit edition but you rarely come across it.

To know what operating system you are running simply right click "My Computer" and select "Properties"

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

Glossary

ACPI a power management technology implementation built into recent systems

AMD Turion X2 refer to the dual core AMD Processor core#0 and core#1

GPU refer to the graphic card temperature

While HDD refer to the Harddisk temperature obtained from SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology)

Free Windows Themes and TuneXP

Besides LINUX and UNIX system i also happen to know some good Windows Tools that everyone should have in their PCs

Note the following tools only works in Windows XP

1)TuneXP From Driver Heaven Final Version no other updates 3 Mirrors list below

http://www.driverheaven.net/dforce/

http://www.download.com/TuneXP/3000-2086_4-10290929.html

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/TuneXP.shtml

This nifty little tool provides a simple and non intimidating GUI to activate some functions in Xp to speed it up. Although it is possible to activate the tweak from Windows Registry often i find it too tedious to do it manually not mentioning the possibilty of messing up your Registry.

It is small in size, freeware and most tweaks works especially the faster shutdown function. However the usefulness of the ultrafast booting really leave much to be desired. Anyway it is really a useful tool even for non tech savy users.

2)Themes for Windows XP

I know some really good free themes on the net. They are 1)FREE 2)NO SPYWARE/ADWARE/MALWARE I SCANNED them myself 3)LOW ON SYSTEM RESOURCES USAGE 4)UNINSTALLS WITHOUT SCREWING UP YOUR SYSTEM

1) BricoPacks from CrystalXP contains Light Vista looks KDE looks Longhorn Looks

http://www.crystalxp.net/bricopack/

2) FlyKiteOSX from http://osx.portraitofakite.com contains Mac OS X for PC users

http://www.flyakiteosx.com/download/

3) Alienware theme from Alienware (a high performance PC vendor) It is not exactly freeware because it contains WindowsBlind Software which is not free BUT this edition is free intended for Alienware customers. I am not their customers but oh well it is free anyway...

Click on the picture "Click here to download AlienGUIse"

http://www.alienware.com/community/alienguise/theme-manager.aspx

4)Nvidia theme from NVIDIA (a video card maker) Same as above it is a it also contains WindowsBlind Software which is not free BUT this edition is free intended for NVIDIA customers but this time I am their customer both my laptop and PC uses NVIDIA Cards

http://www.nvidia.com/content/areyouready/downloads.html

1)ComCast XP website

Last but not least for this post I know a particular website containing lots of information and freeware pertaining to Windows XP.

It debunks a lot of XP myths and has a Large collection of useful software that are free license

Must check it out

http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html

Know any other good website that have great Windows software that are free?

Feel free to put them up here

Next Posting will be PowerTools for Power Users