Windows Tweaks Guide For By Windows Geeks Team Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Important Notes on This Guide........................................................................................................... 5 Usage Instruction.................................................................................................................................. 5 No Warranty .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Hosting, Distribution & Translation ................................................................................................... 6 Tweaks for Windows XP ...................................................................................................................... 6 Before You Begin Tweaking XP ................................................................................................. 6 Tweaks for Startup ..................................................................................................................... 8 Tweaks for Shutdown .............................................................................................................. 10 Tweaks for Mouse .................................................................................................................... 10 Tweaks for Start Menu ............................................................................................................. 12 Tweaks for Desktop ................................................................................................................. 13 Tweaks for Themes.................................................................................................................. 13 Tweaks for Taskbar ................................................................................................................... 14 Tweaks for Graphics ................................................................................................................ 15 Tweaks for Memory ................................................................................................................. 19 Tweak UI ................................................................................................................................. 20 Tweaks for Scheduled Task ...................................................................................................... 24 Tweaks for ClearType .............................................................................................................. 26 Tweaks for Processor Scheduling ............................................................................................ 26 Tweaks for Hardware ............................................................................................................... 27 Tweaks for SSD ....................................................................................................................... 28 Tweaks for Windows Built-In .................................................................................................. 30 Tweaks for Disk Cleanup ......................................................................................................... 32 Tweaks for Defrag.................................................................................................................... 35 Tweaks for Drivers ................................................................................................................... 36 Tweaks for System Tray ........................................................................................................... 36 Tweaks for Page File ................................................................................................................ 36 Tweaks for Indexing Service.................................................................................................... 38 Tweaks for Add/ Remove Programs ......................................................................................... 39 Tweaks for Remove Unnecessary Windows Files .................................................................... 40 Tweaks for Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop Sharing ................................................. 40 Tweaks for Network Printers and Folders ................................................................................ 41 Tweaks for Internet Explorer 9 on Windows XP ..................................................................... 41 Tweaks for Firefox on Windows XP ....................................................................................... 45 Tweaks for Google Chrome on Windows XP ......................................................................... 46 Tweaks for Windows Vista ................................................................................................................. 49 Vista Usage Notes .................................................................................................................... 49 Search Box .............................................................................................................................. 49 User Account Control .............................................................................................................. 49 Administrator Command Prompt ............................................................................................. 50 Notification Area ..................................................................................................................... 50 Windows Aero Interface .......................................................................................................... 50 Before Using This Guide ......................................................................................................... 50 Tweaks for Backup................................................................................................................... 51 Tweaks for Restore .................................................................................................................. 58 2 Tweaks for Auto Login ............................................................................................................ 59 Tweaks for Auto-Start Applications.......................................................................................... 59 Tweaks for Task Scheduler ....................................................................................................... 60 Tweaks for Date and Time ....................................................................................................... 60 Tweaks for Fonts ...................................................................................................................... 61 Tweaks for Personalization ...................................................................................................... 62 Tweaks for Glass Window Borders .......................................................................................... 65 Tweaks for Turning off System Sounds .................................................................................... 65 Tweaks for Start Menu ............................................................................................................. 65 Tweaks for Windows Sidebar ................................................................................................... 69 Tweaks for Disk Defragmenter ................................................................................................ 70 Tweaks for Mouse .................................................................................................................... 72 Tweaks for Graphics and Interface .......................................................................................... 73 Tweaks for Indexing Options ................................................................................................... 75 Tweaks for Recycle Bin ........................................................................................................... 78 Tweaks for Visual ..................................................................................................................... 78 Tweaks for User Account Control ............................................................................................ 80 Tweaks for Drives .................................................................................................................... 80 Tweaks for Page File ................................................................................................................ 82 Tweaks for Welcome Center ..................................................................................................... 87 Tweaks for Security Center & Other Security Related ............................................................. 91 Tweaks for Speeding up Windows Vista ................................................................................. 92 Tweaks for Internet & Networking .......................................................................................... 98 Tweaks for Windows 7 ..................................................................................................................... 103 Install Windows 7 from a USB Thumb Drive ........................................................................ 103 Tweaks for Login ..................................................................................................................