WindowsXP Registry

From Mikeslab

There are a couple minor things you can do to improve performance a tiny bit more. This one involves the registry, so be sure to read the instructions throughly, and always always back up the registry first.

Contents 1 Backing Up The Registry 2 Disable Low Disk Space Check 3 Disable 8.3 File Names For Backward Compatibility 4 Write Caching

Backing Up The Registry

1. Go to Start and type in: regedit and press Enter.
2. Click on "Computer" if it is not highlighted, and go to File -> Export.
3. Choose a filename like "Backup" and press Ok.

Disable Low Disk Space Check

1. On the left pane, navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
2. Right-Click on a white space in the right pane and select "New Key"
3. Name the new key "Explorer" (without the quotes).
4. Open the Explorer key that you just created.
5. Right-Click on the white space in the right pane and select "New DWORD (32-bit) Value"
6. Name the DWORD: NoLowDiskSpaceChecks
7. Right-Click the new DWORD and click Modify.
8. Set the value in Data to 1 and click Ok.

Disable 8.3 File Names For Backward Compatibility

1. On the left pane, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
2. Find the DWORD labeled: NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation
3. Right-Click on it and click Modify.
4. Change the value to 1 and click OK.

Write Caching

If you have a system that has SATA harddrives, and a UPS (power backup), you can enable write chaching which will boost the perfomance of your harddrives. This however poses the problem of data loss on power loss, so use with care (e.g. Have a UPS with a good battery hooked up).

1. Right click on "My Computer", go to "Manage".
2. Click "Device Manager" on the left pane.
3. Expand "Disk Drives" and then right click on your SATA harddrive.
4. Click the "Policies" tab and click "Enable Advanced Performance"