Optimize XP - A Windows XP Optimization Guide


Recommended Posts

Nice guide, I even got two new tweaks from there. I have a question about one, the SystemPages - what does it do, why should I set it the smallest size possible when benchmarks were bigger with the 0xffffffff value wich is quite a number in decimals and what was it all about Radeon owners?

  Quote
It's a good Guide, but you really don't need Cacheman with 2000/XP

Cacheman optimizes quite a few settings in Window 2000/XP:

1. Disk Cache

Windows NT4/2000/XP has a much better Disk Cache handling as Windows 95-ME. Windows NT4/2000/XP uses certain criteria to decide how to prioritize memory usage between the Disk Cache and applications. This dynamic allocation process is a continual juggling act. Four configuration presets are available.

- Minimize memory used

This setting minimizes the amount of memory used for the Disk Cache in order to maximize the amount of memory available for applications. This is the default setting for Windows NT Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional.

- Balance

This setting instructs Windows to give the Disk Cache and applications the same priority.

- Maximize throughput for file sharing

The Disk Cache gets a higher priority with this preset. It should be the best for file servers and workstations with very high I/O activity.

- Maximize throughput for network applications

This setting instructs Windows to give applications higher priority. It should be the best preset for application servers.

2. Icon Cache

Every executable file has an icon associated with it. Every time the shell displays a folder full of files it needs to obtain icons for each of those items. By saving icons that it has already retrieved into a cache, the shell is relieved of the need to constantly retrieve icons from executable files and icon libraries. This can make a vast difference to system performance, especially when accessing network drives.

After changing this setting you need to reboot at least 2 times until it becomes effective, but since it's not a critical setting Cacheman will not ask you on exit to reboot.

3. IO Page Lock Limit

If your system is very IO intensive you can increase the amount of memory that can be locked for IO operations when data is read from or written to the hard disks. When this value is 0, the system uses the default (512 Kbytes). Raising this value can give you a significant performance boost.

4. Disable NTFS last access update

By enabling this option, NT Filesystem will not record the last time a file was accessed. This can speed up disk operations if applications write many small files very frequently.

5. Hung App Timeout

Windows waits by default a long time to finally acknowledge that a particular program is "Not responding", and only after that allowing you to shut it down by clicking the End Task button.

6. Wait to Kill App Timeout

This value sets the timeout until Windows shuts down/restarts, while trying to exit all open programs.

7. Disable executive paging

Parts of system code and device drivers can be swapped out to paging file when the system needs more RAM. The system slows down when it needs that code or drivers since it must load them from the paging file. Windows stops while the required code is swapped in or out of RAM dependent on very long hard drive access times. If you have more than sufficient RAM, disabling Executive paging should improve performance.

8. Unload DLLs from memory

Windows automatically unloads DLLs when the usage count is zero, but only after the DLLs have not been used for a period of time. This inactive period might be unacceptably long at times and cause performance slow downs on low memory systems. Enable this option to disable Windows holding the DLLs in memory.

All of which help improve Windows XP performance. ;)

The problem with alot of the tweaks I see posted are comments like

"I don't know if this does anything"

"Seems to be faster now" ect.....

These same tweaks work their way into all-in-one tweaking programs and you wind up with situations like this: Dead Win XP after installation XP Smoker

  Mastertech said:
Cacheman optimizes quite a few settings in Window 2000/XP:

1. Disk Cache

Windows NT4/2000/XP has a much better Disk Cache handling as Windows 95-ME. Windows NT4/2000/XP uses certain criteria to decide how to prioritize memory usage between the Disk Cache and applications. This dynamic allocation process is a continual juggling act. Four configuration presets are available.

- Minimize memory used

This setting minimizes the amount of memory used for the Disk Cache in order to maximize the amount of memory available for applications. This is the default setting for Windows NT Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional.

- Balance

This setting instructs Windows to give the Disk Cache and applications the same priority.

- Maximize throughput for file sharing

The Disk Cache gets a higher priority with this preset. It should be the best for file servers and workstations with very high I/O activity.

- Maximize throughput for network applications

This setting instructs Windows to give applications higher priority. It should be the best preset for application servers.

2. Icon Cache

Every executable file has an icon associated with it. Every time the shell displays a folder full of files it needs to obtain icons for each of those items. By saving icons that it has already retrieved into a cache, the shell is relieved of the need to constantly retrieve icons from executable files and icon libraries. This can make a vast difference to system performance, especially when accessing network drives.

After changing this setting you need to reboot at least 2 times until it becomes effective, but since it's not a critical setting Cacheman will not ask you on exit to reboot.

3. IO Page Lock Limit

If your system is very IO intensive you can increase the amount of memory that can be locked for IO operations when data is read from or written to the hard disks. When this value is 0, the system uses the default (512 Kbytes). Raising this value can give you a significant performance boost.

4. Disable NTFS last access update

By enabling this option, NT Filesystem will not record the last time a file was accessed. This can speed up disk operations if applications write many small files very frequently.

5. Hung App Timeout

Windows waits by default a long time to finally acknowledge that a particular program is "Not responding", and only after that allowing you to shut it down by clicking the End Task button.

6. Wait to Kill App Timeout

This value sets the timeout until Windows shuts down/restarts, while trying to exit all open programs.

7. Disable executive paging

Parts of system code and device drivers can be swapped out to paging file when the system needs more RAM. The system slows down when it needs that code or drivers since it must load them from the paging file. Windows stops while the required code is swapped in or out of RAM dependent on very long hard drive access times. If you have more than sufficient RAM, disabling Executive paging should improve performance.

8. Unload DLLs from memory

Windows automatically unloads DLLs when the usage count is zero, but only after the DLLs have not been used for a period of time. This inactive period might be unacceptably long at times and cause performance slow downs on low memory systems. Enable this option to disable Windows holding the DLLs in memory.

All of which help improve Windows XP performance.  ;)

Eh, most of those things can be done in regedit if you really want them and IO Page Lock Limit does nothing. The only that might be useful is the Icon cache, but if you want that you could always go LargeSystemCache-1. now I used the program when I was under 98 and loved it, but I really believe you do not need it for XP no matter what they say.

  Quote
Eh, most of those things can be done in regedit if you really want them
LOL, just about any tweak utilities settings can be done manually. The whole point of including the utility is so you don't have to. Editing the registry manually is a bad practive since the registry has no native undo feature and changes are instantaneous. Not to mention it is alot easier and faster to use a utility. I like to keep things as simple as possible.
  Quote
and IO Page Lock Limit does nothing.

This is not true. But how much performance you will gain off of this value is based on what you use your system for and how much memory your system has.

  Quote
but I really believe you do not need it for XP no matter what they say.

Well I've installed this and configure it on over 1000 PCs with XP by now and it has improved performance. If you really feel so strongly against not using this program, you have every right not to. But the tweaks it includes will boost your system performance and I am not about to make it more complicated for people to use these tweaks by including them manually when a simple free utilitly can do it for you.

After some more research:

IO Page Lock Limit:

You will only notice performance differences with server or database applications (e.g. MS SQL Server). There are no negative effects for a large value, even if most applications will not profit from an increase, there is no reason for keeping the value low.

So at worst the value is harmless.

  Mastertech said:
After some more research:

IO Page Lock Limit:

You will only notice performance differences with server or database applications (e.g. MS SQL Server). There are no negative effects for a large value, even if most applications will not profit from an increase, there is no reason for keeping the value low.

So at worst the value is harmless.

Firstly, yes, this is an INVALID key now.

After I think after Win2000 Service Pack 2 (though I really think it was SP1), this key was invalidated by MS (many people ran tests and it showed that this key was no longer being called by the system). As WinXP usually follows Win2000, I would say it was invalidated for WinXP as well.

Also, performance increases are also seen in applications like video editing when this key did work.

  Quote
Firstly, yes, this is an INVALID key now.

After I think after Win2000 Service Pack 2 (though I really think it was SP1), this key was invalidated by MS (many people ran tests and it showed that this key was no longer being called by the system). As WinXP usually follows Win2000, I would say it was invalidated for WinXP as well.

Do you know of any sites that confirm this? Because online information regarding this setting is very limited and the opinions on its validity seem to be coming from other forums with no real proof. I'm not saying its not true I just like to be certain. For example Microsoft makes no reference to this setting one way or the other that I could find.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • UK planning measures to stop illegal content from going viral by Usama Jawad Image via Pixabay A few days ago, we learned that the UK's digital regulator Ofcom has mandated adult websites like Pornhub to put robust age check mechanisms in place to ensure that age-inappropriate content like pornography is not readily available to minors. Now, the government-approved authority has set its sights on a new target. According to an announcement on its website, Ofcom is now holding a consultation period for a set of measures it is proposing to curb the spread of illegal content online. These methods are a part of Ofcom's "Year of Action" initiative, where the regulator is taking decisive practical actions to ensure the online safety of the UK's citizens. Ofcom is proposing the implementation of better recommender systems and crisis response protocols to restrict illegal content from going viral online. In addition, it has also proposed the utilization of proactive mechanisms like hash checks for illegal images to nip the problem in the bud and not even allow any such visual content to be published online. Furthermore, the regulator will be asking tech firms and social media platform owners to leverage artificial intelligence systems in order to detect content like fraud and suicide. People who regularly engage in the practice of publication of illegal content online will also be punished with new sanctions. Lastly, Ofcom wants to build upon its existing child protection codes and capabilities online. It is planning to do this by placing restrictions on interactions between minors and streamers during livestreams. It will urge website owners to block users who share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and is also proposing the development of AI tools to detect grooming activities and CSAM. The consultation period is open until 5pm on October 20, 2025. Ofcom is soliciting feedback from "service providers", law enforcement authorities, and the public until that deadline to finalize its proposal.
    • What are you talking about? I have had 4 Samsung fold devices and they all have the crease. It is not as noticable when facing straight on but its still noticable.
    • Well they would be right 90% of the time.
    • It didn't help but it certainly wasn't the cause.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      TIGOSS earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      henryj earned a badge
      First Post
    • First Post
      CarolynHelen earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      henryj earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Community Regular
      Primey_ went up a rank
      Community Regular
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      480
    2. 2
      +FloatingFatMan
      194
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      164
    4. 4
      Xenon
      81
    5. 5
      Som
      76
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!