Vista: Simpler is NOT Always Better

[Farhang]

Sorry, my XTREME CPU Windows Vista Tweaking Guide has not been completed yet! But here is a part of it related to UAC:


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User Access Control (UAC)

OK, after you installed your Vista, it is recommended to disable the User Access Control (UAC).

To disable the User Access Control (UAC):

- Go to msconfig. (Press Windows+R keys and type msconfig)
- Open the Tools pane.
- Scroll down to Disable UAC and click on that line.
- Press the Launch button.
- A CMD window will open. When the command is done, you can close the window.
- Close msconfig. You need to reboot the computer for changes to apply.


Or:


- Go to Control Panel.
- Go to User Accounts and Family Safety.
- Go to User Accounts.
- Click on Turn User Account Control On or Off.
- Uncheck the Use User Access Control (UAC) to help protect your computer.
- Restart.


Note that if you want to disable UAC, you should do this before you install any program. Not doing so can lead to problems later.

Advance Tweak

UAC uses a driver called the UAC File Virtualization Filter Driver or luafv.sys to trick legacy apps (apps that aren't correctly written for UAC's least privilege) into thinking they are running with the privileges they think they need but really don't. Of course, if you aren't using UAC then you do not need this driver loaded. So if you have choose to permanently disable UAC, you may want to disable this driver.
The setting is located in the registry:

This is they key in it's default (enabled):

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\luafv]
"Start"=dword:00000002

This is the key disabled:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\luafv]
"Start"=dword:00000004

For more info please visit Chris123NT's Page.


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Defrag program = Defraggler. Awesome, free, fast, easy.

Believe me, i tested way too many Defrag programs. Perfectdisk 2008 is the only way to go. Yes, it's not free but it really worth the cash.

[Violet_wind]

thx

[MagicLess]

Readyboost.

I'm running with 2 gigs of RAM and running into issues with memory. I put in a 2GB USB stick and those memory problems went away. Readyboost, doubled my RAM for $20.

[MeltDown]

Readyboost.

I'm running with 2 gigs of RAM and running into issues with memory. I put in a 2GB USB stick and those memory problems went away. Readyboost, doubled my RAM for $20.

You could also physically double your RAM for $20 after rebate:
Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

[Dean]

You could also physically double your RAM for $20 after rebate:
Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Yeah, and all of the benchmarks I've seen with ReadyBoost point to the fact that it doesn't increase performance.

-Dean

[MagicLess]

Not a bad price. Too bad I'm done with upgrades for the year, and if I do upgrade, it's got to be something better then DDR2 800 RAM.


Dean,

It's not performance that I'm going for, it's avoiding flat out system stutters from using 97% of my RAM. Should make alt+tabbing out of games a bit smoother, too, I'm hoping.

[TechnologyCoordinator]

Yeah, and all of the benchmarks I've seen with ReadyBoost point to the fact that it doesn't increase performance.

-Dean

From my personal experience at 2GB, I agree with your conclusion. However, I wonder if it would have greater benefits with lower amounts of physical memory.

[MagicLess]

From my personal experience at 2GB, I agree with your conclusion. However, I wonder if it would have greater benefits with lower amounts of physical memory.

When Vista first came out, performance wise, 1GB was useful for Readyboost, 2GB was not. Then again that was a year ago, and that Tom's article about Readyboost probably didn't require as much RAM as I use.

[Holy_COW]

UAC: 1st thing I do after logging in for 1st time!
Defrag: POS, now I'm using Perfect Disk, pretty good.
Backup: I use Acronys Home

[randomizer]

First thing I do is disable the sidebar crap, then UAC, then I install drivers. I still use Vista's defrag, it works fine.