Hi
I've been using XP since it came out and I want to share my XP speedup tweaks.
 
My machine:
AMD Duron 1300 mhz
256 DDR RAM
Soundblaster 1024 Live
Geoforce 2 400MX 64MB
HD Maxtor 100 GB 7200RPM
HD IBM 80 GB 7200RPM
Windows XP PRO SP2
Windows Media Player 10
 
I use my PC mainly for playing music. I've got all my music on my computer. 100Gb of mp3's and growing. My PC is connected to my home stereo, WMP10 works fine for my need. The volume leveling is a great thing.
 
I always make a clean install.
I apply SP2.
Latest Nvidia Drivers.
XP Soundblaster Drivers (I use SBLiveXPDrvUpdate from 1999)
Other needed drivers.
 
The tweaks:
I turn of indexing of my C: drive (I only use NTFS)
I turn of error reporting (My computer->properties)
I then go to performance->visual effects, turn off all, except: smooth edges of screen fonst(I use clear type, so must hav this on, drop shadows for icon labels, use visual styles)
The advanced: processor scheduling: programs. memory usage: programs. Virtual memory: 268 268.
I turn off system restore. It never helped me anyway. I take my time doing an image of my c drive with Drive Image (I glad I have a copy of that awesome software) when I'm done with all these tweaks and installed all my needed software.
I turn of remote assistance.
The I apply these registry tweaks: (Do a search at TweakXP for them if you're unsure)
Filesystem:
NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate (1)
NtfsMftZoneReservation (2)
PriorityControl:
IRQ8Priority (1)
Win32PrioritySeparation (38)
Memory Management:
IOPageLockLimit (10000)
SystemPages (40000)
 
I also do a search in the registry for:
WaitToKill
and sets both Applicat Timeout and Service Timeout to 5000
 
The I go to services (through my computer->manage->computer management
I turn of these services (setting it to manual):
Computer browser (im not on a network)
Error reporting (yes here to)
Fast user switching (first I turn it of in Control panel->User Accounts->Change the way user log on and of)
Help and support (it can still be used)
IPSEC Services
Messenger (i think SP2 now turns it of)
NVIDIA Display Driver Service
Remote Registry
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
 
Then I install the software needed.
Then I use NTREGOPT and shrinks the registry useally with 10%.
Then I defrag my C: drive
 
These things really makes my system fly.
Maybe i forgot some minor things, but the best ones are here.
 
Hans A
Greetz from Sweden
 
PS! Comments welcome DS!