Reduce the Shutdown time of Windows 2000 and XP

You can reduce the shutdown time of windows 2000 and XP using some tricks. Actually windows XP take time to close all running programs and applications before shutdown, but you can minimize this time if you have little knowledge about editing windows registry.

Follow the given steps to reduce the shutdown time:

· First click on Start button then type Regedit in Run option. Here locate the location to:
HKEY_Current_User\Control Panel\Desktop

· Here in right side panel, double click on AutoEndTasks and here its default value is 0. Now change it to 1.

· Now in same side panel double click on value name WaitToKillAppTimeout. Its default value data is 20000; now change this value of WaitToKillAppTimeout to 3500.

· Now close the registry editor and restart your computer after any changes to go into effect.

Speed Up By Closing Idle Services

This trick helps you increase your speed by closing all the idle background services. To enable this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

1.      Click Start button and click on Run option.

2.       In the Run box, type the command   “Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks”  and press Ok buttHere system will take some time to end the background idle tasks. 

ACCESS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THROUGH RUN COMMAND

• appwiz.cpl — Used to run Add/Remove wizard
• Calc –Calculator
• Cfgwiz32 –ISDN Configuration Wizard
• Charmap –Character Map
• Chkdisk –Repair damaged files
• Cleanmgr –Cleans up hard drives
• Clipbrd –Windows Clipboard viewer
• Cmd –Opens a new Command Window
• Control mouse –Used to control mouse properties
• Control –Displays Control Panel
• Dcomcnfg –DCOM user security
• Debug –Assembly language programming tool
• Defrag –Defragmentation tool
• Drwatson –Records programs crash & snapshots
• Dxdiag –DirectX Diagnostic Utility
• Explorer –Windows Explorer
• Fontview –Graphical font viewer
• Fsmgmt.msc — Used to open shared folders
• Firewall.cpl  — Used to configure windows firewall
• Ftp -ftp.exe program
• Hostname –Returns Computer’s name
• Hdwwiz.cpl — Used to run Add Hardware wizard
• Ipconfig –Displays IP configuration for all network adapters
• Logoff — Used to logoff the computer
• MMC –Microsoft Management Console
• Msconfig –Configuration to edit startup files
• Mstsc — Used to access remote desktop
• Mrc — Malicious Software Removal Tool
• Msinfo32 –Microsoft System Information Utility
• Nbtstat –Displays stats and current connections using NetBIOS over TCP/IP
• Netstat –Displays all active network connections
• Nslookup–Returns your local DNS server
• Osk —Used to access on screen keyboard
• Perfmon.msc — Used to configure the performance of Monitor.
• Ping –Sends data to a specified host/IP
• Powercfg.cpl — Used to configure power option
• Regedit –Registry Editor
• Regwiz — Registration wizard
• Sfc /scannow – System File Checker
• Sndrec32 –Sound Recorder
• Shutdown — Used to shutdown the windows
• Spider — Used to open spider solitaire card game
• Sfc / scannow — Used to run system file checker utility.
• Sndvol32 –Volume control for soundcard
• Sysedit – Edit system startup files
• Taskmgr –Task manager
• Telephon.cpl — Used to configure modem options.
• Telnet –Telnet program
• Tracert –Traces and displays all paths required to reach an internet host
• Winchat — Used to chat with Microsoft
• Wmplayer — Used to run Windows Media player
• Wab — Used to open Windows address Book.
• WinWord — Used to open Microsoft word
• Winipcfg –Displays IP configuration
• Winver — Used to check Windows Version
• Wupdmgr –Takes you to Microsoft Windows Update
• Write — Used to open WordPad

Turn Off System Restore

Right click on My Computer and choose Properties. Click on the System Restore tab and check the box Turn off System Restore. (This will increase Windows performance & save disk space)

Reduce Temporary Internet File Space

he temporary internet files clutter your hard drive with copies of each page visited. These can build up over time and take up disk space. Even more bothersome is that instead of getting new pages each time IE often takes the page out the temp internet files. This can be a problem if you are viewing a website that is updated all the time. If you are on a slow connection such as a 56K or lower then this can be good but if you are on a fast broadband connection, like me, then you can get away with decreasing the size of your temp internet files to just one meg without any performance decrease.

Windows Shortcuts

Windows: Display the Start menu
Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
Windows + F: Display Search for files
Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer
Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center
Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
Windows + break: Display System Properties dialog box
Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows
Windows + L: Lock the workstation
Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
Windows + Q: Quick switching of users (Powertoys only)
Windows + Q: Hold Windows Key, then tap Q to scroll thru the different users on your PC

WinXP Clear Page file on shutdown

1. Go to Control panel
2.  Go to Administrative tools > local security policy > local policies > security options.
3. Then change the option for “Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile”

This can speed up your computer.

For a Safer, faster XP Close Unwanted Services

To disable unneeded startup services for a safer, faster XP, use the “Services” Admin Tool (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services). If you are a single user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items, with no ill effect.

Alerter
Clipbook
Computer Browser
Fast User Switching
Human Interface Access Devices
Indexing Service (Slows the hard drive down)
Messenger
Net Logon (unnecessary unless networked on a Domain)
Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
Remote Procedure Call Locator
Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
Server
SSDP Discovery Service (this is for the utterly pointless “Universal P’n'P”, & leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open)
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Telnet (disabled for extra security)
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Upload Manager
Windows Time
Wireless Zero Configuration (for wireless networks)
Workstation