Thread: Useful Vista Tweaks for all users

Disable Windows Search Service

This method effectively stops and disables all search indexing processes, and is the recommended way.

1. Click on Start button, then select Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools, and double click on Services applet. Alternatively, simply type “Services” (without quotes) in Start Search box.
2. If User Account Control asks for permission, click Continue.
3. Locate an service named Windows Search. Right click on Windows Search, and then select Properties on contextual menu.
4. Click on Stop button to stop the indexing service immediately.
5. On the Startup Type dropdown box, select Disabled.
6. Click on OK button.

To re-enable the Windows Seearch, simply change back the Startup Type.

OR

Disable Indexing on Drives

This method allows users to selectively disable indexing on certain drives which rarely used or searched. However, it may take a long time to apply new attributes to all files, folders and sub-folders to exclude them from indexing.

1. Open Windows Explorer from Accessories.
2. Right click on the drive (or drive letter) that you want to turn off the indexing.
3. Select Properties on the contextual menu.
4. Unselect (untick) the Index this drive for faster searching option.
5. Click Apply or OK button.

To re-include the drive, simply select the option again.


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Disable Windows Vista Auto-Defragger

For newbies
1. Click Start > Programs > Accessories > Support Tools > Task Scheduler
2. Under left column, click the arrow for Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Defrag
3. Right click on the service and disable.

OR

For Pros
1. Right-click on Computer > Manage > Task Scheduler > Microsoft > Windows > Defrag >
2. Right-click on the instance and select Disable

Notes:
Defragging an SSD will kill it faster over time. You wouldn't defrag your RAM would you?

4 Methods for disabling UAC - http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm

Can this be stickied - if enough people make use of it?

I keep auto defrag on but I turn off search. UAC is turned off day 1.

Originally Posted by Veovis

Well you definitely want to disable UAC no matter what... but the stuff in the first post (indexing and de-fragging) is really most relevant to SSD's... if you have HDD you might want some of that stuff still on.

The indexing can seriously kill the performance of a normal machine too. On my 939, I have 2 GB RAM which is below the recommended for vista. Even with the 2 raptors in raid 0. When I turned off indexing on my first build, it dramatically reduced the bloatness of the OS. Not completely, cause 2GB is not great but still.

Thanks again for finding the service name for this build!

Originally Posted by WileECyte

Turning off UAC completely, effectively runs everything on your machine as an administrator, including your browser. With the number of 0-day exploits for browsers and browser plugins, this is definitely not desired. Especially considering most take no action on your part other than browsing the webpage.

Running UAC in silent mode is a much better option.

http://www.tweak-uac.com/uac-quiet-mode/

My gaming rig isn't used for anything else. I am not worried about web page exploits as I use a laptop for all that stuff. In the event that my gaming rig does get a bug I simply pop my vista disk in and do a complete recovery from the backup I make every 2 weeks to another drive. I just used this approach to replace a failing drive in my raid 0. Backed it up, removed failing drive, deleted raid, remade raid with new drive installed. Booted off vista install disk and did a full restore from backup. Took 30 minutes total and I was back up and running. Just have to remember to keep my back up image current.