Speeding Up Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 - user group has ... · PDF fileof any "Windows 8" or "Windows 8.1" computer. 4 BASIC STRATEGY •No direct editing of the “registry

11

SPEEDING UP

“WINDOWS 8” AND

"WINDOWS 8.1"

http://aztcs.org/

http://aztcs.org/

http://apcug.org/

http://apcug.org/

2

Web location for

this presentation:

http://aztcs.org

Click on “Meeting Notes”`

3

SUMMARYUsing the "System" applet of the

Windows “Control Panel” and

using services.msc which is a

“Microsoft Management

Console” Snap-in, you can

dramatically increase the speed

of any "Windows 8" or

"Windows 8.1" computer.

4

BASIC STRATEGY

• No direct editing of the “registry”

• Make reversible changes to the

"Windows.." operating system

• Make “image backups” and

“restore points”, prior to making

changes

• Take advantage of the

compounding effects of multiple

speedup tweaks

5

PROCEDURE & TOPICS

• Step 1: Make an image backup

of your "Windows" hard drive

• Step 2: Create a “restore point”

with Windows' "System Restore"

• Step 3: Set “Visual Effects” for

“..best performance”

• Step 4: Supersize the swap file

6

PROCEDURE & TOPICS (continued)

• Step 5: Run “Revo Uninstaller

Freeware”

• Step 6: Use "services.msc" to

disable some services

• Step 7: Perform “Error-checking”

on all hard drives.

• Step 9: Defragment all hard drives

• Step 10: Turn off startup programs

http://aztcs.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/speedupWindows/startup_programs.pdf

7

DETAILS OF STEP 1:

Drive Image Backup

• Use "Redo Backup", "Macrium

Reflect Free Edition", "Clonezilla",

"Acronis True Image..", or "Windows

7 File Recovery" AND an external

hard drive to create a "backup

image" of the entire C: drive of your

"Windows 8" or "Windows 8.1"

computer.

http://redobackup.org/

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

http://clonezilla.org/

http://ugr.com/TrueImage.html

8

DETAILS OF STEP 1:

Drive Image Backup (continued)

• Our instructions for using the

free and open source “Clonezilla”

to make an image backup of a

hard drive can be found at

http://aztcs.org/meeting_notes/wi

nhardsig/CZ-backup.pdf

http://aztcs.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/CZ-backup.pdf

9

DETAILS OF STEP 1:

Drive Image Backup (continued)

• If your "Windows 8" or "Windows

8.1" computer has "Secure

Boot" in a UEFI (instead of a

legacy BIOS), only the

"Alternate" Ubuntu-based

AMD64 "LiveCD" of "Clonezilla"

will be able to boot up and

backup with "Clonezilla..".

10

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point”

• Use Windows' “System Restore” to

create a “restore point”

o See

http://www.vikitech.com/11302/syste

m-restore-windows-8

and

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/

4692-system-restore-how-do-

windows-8-a.html

http://www.vikitech.com/11302/system-restore-windows-8

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4692-system-restore-how-do-windows-8-a.html

11

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2a: If you are in the "Start" screen, click

on the "Desktop" tile:

12

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2b: Hover the mouse pointer over the

lower left-hand corner of the "Desktop":

13

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2c: When a thumbnail of the "Start"

screen appears, use the RIGHT mouse

button to click once, without moving the

mouse pointer:

14

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2d: A "Power User's Task Menu" will

pop up:

15

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2e: Use the left mouse button to click on

"Control Panel":

16

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2f: An "All Control Panel Items" window

will be displayed:

17

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2g: Click on "System and Security" or

"System":

18

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2h: Click on "System":

19

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2i: Click on "System protection" in the

"System" window:

20

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2j: Click on "Create" in the "System

Protection" tab of the "System Properties"

box:

21

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2k: Type in a description for the "restore

point" that you are about to create. For

example: You might type in "Just before

performing Windows 8/8.1 speedup tweaks"

22

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)

23

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2L: Click on the "Create" button:

24

DETAILS OF STEP 2:


25

DETAILS OF STEP 2:


26

DETAILS OF STEP 2:

Create a “Restore Point” (continued)• Step 2m: Close all open boxes and Windows

by clicking on their "x" buttons:

27

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects” for “Best Performance”

• Step 3a: If you are in the "Start" screen of

"Windows 8" or "Windows 8.1", click on the

"Desktop" tile:

28

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3b: Hover the mouse pointer over the


29

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3c: When a thumbnail of the "Start"



mouse pointer:

30

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3d: A "Power User's Task Menu" will

pop up:

31

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3e: Use the left mouse button to click on

"Control Panel":

32

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3f: A "Control Panel" window will be

displayed:

33

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3g: Click on "System and Security" or

"System":

34

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3h: Click on "System":

35

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)

• Step 3i: Click on "Advanced system settings":

36

DETAILS OF STEP 3:

Set “Visual Effects”.. (continued)• Step 3j: Click on the “Settings” button in the

"Performance" section of the "Advanced" tab

of the "System Properties" box:

37

DETAILS OF STEP 3:


• Step 3k: A “Performance

Options” box will appear:

38

DETAILS OF STEP 3:


• Step 3L: Select the "Adjust

for best performance" option:

39

DETAILS OF STEP 3:


40

DETAILS OF STEP 3:


• Step 3m: Click on the "Apply" button:

41

DETAILS OF STEP 3:


• Step 3n: Close all open Windows and

boxes by clicking on their "x" buttons:

42

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File



"Desktop" tile:

43

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4b: Hover the mouse pointer over the


44

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4c: When a thumbnail of the "Start"



mouse pointer:

45

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4d: A "Power User's Task Menu" will

pop up:

46

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4e: Use the left mouse button to click on

"Control Panel":

47

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)

• Step 4f: A "Control Panel" window will be

displayed:

48

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4g: Click on "System and Security" or

"System":

49

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4h: Click on "System":

50

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4i: Click on "Advanced system settings":

51

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4j: Click on the “Settings” button in the

"Performance" section of the "Advanced" tab

of the "System Properties" box:

52

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4k: Click on the "Advanced tab:

53

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4L: Click on the

"Change.." button in the

"Virtual Memory" section of the

"Advanced" tab:

54

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File.. (continued)

55

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4m: A "Virtual Memory" box will be

displayed:

56

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4n: Remove the

checkmark that is to the left

of "Automatically manage

paging file size for all drives"

57

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


58

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4O: Select the "Custom

size" option:

59

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


60

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4p: Change the number in the “Initial

size (MB)” box to a much larger value but do

not exceed the “Space Available” value that is

displayed. (We suggest 200000..)

61

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


62

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4q: Change the number in

the “Maximum size (MB)” box to

the same number that you used

in “Step 4p”.

63

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


64

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4r: Click on the "Set"

button:

65

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


66

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4s: If a "System Properties" box states

that you have to set the maximum page file

size below 4096, click on its "OK" button and

go immediately to Step 4za in “Appendix 1”

on page 138:

67

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4t: Click on the "OK" button

of the "Virtual Memory" box to

make the "Virtual Memory" box

disappear:

68

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


69

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4u: If a "System Control Panel Applet"

box states that you have to "..restart your

computer.., click on its "OK" button to make

this box disappear:

70

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4v: Click on the “OK” button of the

“Performance Options” box to make it

disappear:

71

DETAILS OF STEP 4:

Supersize the Swap File (continued)• Step 4w: Click on the “OK” button of the

“System Properties” box to make it disappear:

72

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4x: If a “System Settings Change” box

states that “You must restart your

computer..”, click on its “Yes” button:

73

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4y: After your computer

reboots, use your Web browser and

other software application programs

to see if your computer is

significantly faster than prior to the

performance of this procedure.

74

DETAILS OF STEP 4:


• Step 4z: If your computer is not

significantly faster, perform Step 4a

through Step 4z again, and try a

larger minimum and maximum swap

file size in "Step 4p" and "Step 4q".

75

DETAILS OF STEP 5:

Run “Revo Uninstaller Freeware”

• Run “Revo Uninstaller Free” to

remove unwanted toolbars,

updaters, and miscellaneous

software programs.

o See

http://www.revouninstaller.com/rev

o_uninstaller_free_download.html

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

76

DETAILS OF STEP 5:

Run “Revo Uninstaller Freeware”

77

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc” to disable some services



"Desktop" tile:

78

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6b: Hover the mouse pointer over the


79

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6c: When a thumbnail of the "Start"



mouse pointer:

80

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6d: A "Power User's Task Menu" will

pop up:

81

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6e: Use the left mouse button to click on

"Run":

82

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6f: A "Run" box will be displayed:

83

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6g: Inside the "Search" box, type

services.msc

84

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)

• Step 6h: Click on the "OK" button:

85

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


• Step 6i: A "Services"

window will be displayed:

86

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


87

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)• Step 6j: Click on “Action” in the Menu bar

88

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


• Step 6k: Click on the “Export List” in the pull-

down menu:

89

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


• Step 6L: Use the "Export List.." box

to save the “List Report” to a

location in any hard drive, giving

the report an appropriate name

based on the time and date. (The

comma delimited .csv opens with

less problems in Microsoft Excel,

compared to the other available file

formats.)

90

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


91

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


92

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


• Step 6m: Stop and disable “services”

that you do not need. (Do not make any

changes to the "Volume Shadow Copy"

service or the "Power Service". The

"Power Service" is needed by "Windows

Audio" service so disabling it will cause

your sound card to fail. The "IP Helper"

service is needed for conventional file

and printer sharing in "Windows 7",

"Windows 8", and "Windows 8.1".)

93

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


Step 6n: For documentation on what you can

stop and disable, see

http://www.blackviper.com/service-

configurations/black-vipers-windows-8-service-

configurations/

and

http://www.tweakhound.com/2013/10/22/tweak

ing-windows-8-1/10/

http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-8-service-configurations/

http://www.tweakhound.com/2013/10/22/tweaking-windows-8-1/10/

94

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


For example, to stop and disable the "Themes"

service, do the following inside the "Services"

box:

Example Step 1: Locate the "Themes" service:

95

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


Example Step 2: Use your RIGHT mouse

botton to click on the "Themes" service:

96

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


Example Step 3: Click on "Properties" in the

pop-up context menu:

97

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 4: A "Themes Properties" box will

be displayed:

98

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 5: Click on the "Stop" button to

stop the "Themes" service:

99

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 6: Click on drop-down list button

to the right of "Automatic"::

100

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 7: A drop-down list will be

displayed:

101

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 8: Click on "Disabled" in the

drop-down list:

102

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 9: "Startup type" will now be

shown as "Disabled":

103

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


Example Step 10: Click on the "Apply" button:

104

DETAILS OF STEP 6:

Use “services.msc”.. (continued)Example Step 11: Click on the "OK" button to

make the "..Properties.." box disappear:

105

DETAILS OF STEP 6:


• Extended view versus standard view

of the services.msc "Microsoft

Management Console" snap-in

o See

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/

configure-services-mmc-to-open-in-

standard-view-by-default/

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/configure-services-mmc-to-open-in-standard-view-by-default/

106

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives



"Desktop" tile:

107

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives• Step 7b: Hover the mouse pointer over the


108

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives• Step 7c: When a thumbnail of the "Start"



mouse pointer:

109

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives• Step 7d: A "Power User's Task Menu" will pop

up. (You can also get to this menu by

pressing "Windows" key + x key".):

110

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives• Step 7e: Use the left mouse button to click on

"File Explorer":

111

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives• Step 7f: A "File Explorer" window will be

displayed:

112

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives (continued)

• Step 7g: Use the RIGHT mouse button to

click on the C: drive:

113

DETAILS OF STEP 7:


• Step 7h: Click on “Properties” on the pop-up

context menu.

114

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives (continued)• Step 7i: A “..Properties” box will be

displayed:

115

DETAILS OF STEP 7:

Error-checking on all hard drives (continued)• Step 7j: Click on the “Tools” tab:

116

DETAILS OF STEP 7:


• Step 7k: Click on the “Check” button:

117

DETAILS OF STEP 7:


• Step 7L: An "Error Checking.." box will

be displayed:

118

DETAILS OF STEP 7:


• Step 7m: Click on "Scan drive":

119

DETAILS OF STEP 7:


120

DETAILS OF STEP 7:


121

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives



"Desktop" tile:

122

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8b: Hover the mouse pointer over the


123

DETAILS DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8c: When a thumbnail of the "Start"



mouse pointer:

124

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8d: A "Power User's Task Menu" will

pop up. (You can also get to this menu by

pressing "Windows" key + x key".):

• :

125

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8e: Use the left mouse button to click on

"File Explorer":

126

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8f: A "File Explorer" window will be

displayed:

127

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)

• Step 8g: Use the RIGHT mouse button to

click on the C: drive:

128

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


• Step 8h: Click on “Properties” on the pop-up

context menu.

129

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8i: A “..Properties” box will be

displayed:

130

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8j: Click on the “Tools” tab:

131

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


• Step 8k: Click on the “Optimize” button:

132

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


• Step 8L: An "Optimize Drives" box will be

displayed:

133

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


• Step 8m: Click on the drive that you wish to

defragment:

134

DETAILS OF STEP 8:

Defragment all hard drives (continued)• Step 8n: Click on the “Optimize" button:

135

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


136

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


• Step 8O: After the defragmentation for the C:

drive completes, you should defragment any

additional hard drives or hard drive partitions

where you store operating system, program or

data files:

Click on the listing of the drive; then click on

the “Defragment" button.

Do NOT run the defragmentation process on

hard drives or hard drive partitions that belong

to the "Windows.." operating system such as

those named "System", "System Reserved",

"Dell Utilities", Factory Image", "Backup", etc.

137

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


• In the example in page 137, you

would run the defragmentation

process on drives C: and and L: ,

all of which are hard drives that are

used to store data files

• However, you should NOT run the

defragmentation process on the D:

drive which is labeled "System

Reserved"

138

DETAILS OF STEP 8:


139

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "Physical Address

Extension" ("PAE")

• Step 4za: Perform “Step 4za" through

"Step 4zt", only if you were directed here

from “Step 4t” (on page 65).

• The objective of these additional steps is

to turn on "Physical Address Extension"

which is also known as "PAE".

• "PAE" is a Windows kernel extension.

Some processors support it and some

do not.

140

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "PAE" (continued)

• Step 4zb: Go to

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

141

APPENDIX 1


142

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zc: Scroll down to the bottom of

this Web page:

143

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zd: Click on "Register" button in to

to obtain a copy of "EasyBCD" for

personal, non-commercial use:

144

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4ze: Click on the "Download!"

button:

145

APPENDIX 1


146

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zf: Use the "Save" drop-down

button to "Save As.." the

"EasyBCD....exe" file to the "Desktop":

147

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zg: Click on the "Run" button to

install "EasyBCD" into your computer:

148

APPENDIX 1


149

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zh: If a "User Account Control" box

is displayed, click on its "Yes" button.

150

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "PAE" (continued)• Step 4zi: Click on the "Next" button:

151

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "PAE" (continued)• Step 4zj: Click on the "I Agree" button:

152

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "PAE" (continued)• Step 4zk: Click on the "Next" button:

153

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "PAE" (continued)• Step 4zL: Click on the "Install" button:

154

APPENDIX 1

Turning on "PAE" (continued)• Step 4zm: Click on the "Finish" button:

155

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zn: Click on the "OK" button:

156

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zo: The "EasyBCD" application

window will be displayed:

157

APPENDIX 1


158

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zp: Click on the "Advanced

Settings" button:

159

APPENDIX 1


160

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zq: The lower right quadrant will

be a "Change Settings" section:

161

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zr: Click on the "Advanced" tab of

the "Change Settings" section:

162

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zs: Use the down arrow button to

Change "PAE Support" from "Default" to

"Force Enable":

163

APPENDIX 1


164

APPENDIX 1


165

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zt: Click on the "Save settings"

button:

166

APPENDIX 1


167

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zu: Click on the "X" exit button to

close "EasyBCD":

168

APPENDIX 1


169

APPENDIX 1


• Step 4zv: Reboot the computer.

• Step 4zw: Go to “Step 4A” (on page 41).

170

APPENDIX 1


If you are running Windows 7 inside an

"Oracle VM VirtualBox" virtual

machine:

Prior to running the tweak with

"EasyBCD", you will probably have to turn

on "Enable PAE/NX" as follows:

171

APPENDIX 1


If you are running "Windows 8" or

"Windows 8.1" inside an "Oracle VM

VirtualBox" virtual machine

(continued):

Use the right mouse button to click on the

"Windows 8" virtual machine in the

"Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager" window.

Select "Settings" from the pop-up context

menu.

172

APPENDIX 1


If you are running "Windows 8" or



(continued):

Click on the "System" selection of the

"Settings" box.

Click on the "Processor" tab.

173

APPENDIX 1


If you are running "Windows 8" and



(continued):

Put a checkmark in the box to the left of

"Enable PAE/NX", if there is not one

already there.

Click on the "OK" button of the "Settings"

box.

174

APPENDIX 1


Documents

Speeding Up Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 - user group has ... · PDF fileof any "Windows 8" or "Windows 8.1" computer. 4 BASIC STRATEGY •No direct editing of the “registry