This guide was written by me (blade) right now....because I was bored...

Estimated time of tweaks and modifications: 20 minutes or less.
Estimated time of Adware/Spyware/Virus scan and Defrage: Varies from PC to PC.

STEP1: Apperance

If you have a Windows theme program, turning it off will increase performance. To get optimized performance, use the Windows "Classic" theme.

Next, right click "My Computer", go to "Properties" and go to the "Advanced" tab. There should be a section labled "Performane", click the corresponding button. There will be a bunch of check boxes. Go through and uncheck the ones you don't want. Doing so will decrease Windows apperance, but it will increase performance.





STEP 2: Settings

In the same porperties box ("System Properties") as used in stepo 1, go to the "Automatic Update" tab. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO MANUALLY UPDATE,  turn that off, it will save memory, otherwise just leave it. Next, go back to the "Advanced" tab and hit  the button under "Performance" yet again.  There will be another tab labled "Advanced" in this box, go to it. Click the button under "Virtual Memory" at the bottom. Depending on the size/number of HDD you have, set this amount. It will speed up performance mildly. I have an 80 and 120 GB HDD, so I have the Initial and Max set to 4096 (the max) on both HDD's.



STEP 3: Services

Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
This part will require thorough reading.

The following services MAY be stopped and set to "Manual" without causing problems. To do so, right click the service and hit "Properties". Your Services section should looks similar to this:



* Automatic Updates - Searches for Windows Updates, but slows the Computer down aswell. (Advanced users only!)
* Error Reporting Service - Does anybody still use this? Sends an error report to Microsoft when a program crashes.
* FTP Publishing Service - Only needed if your computer is a server.
* Indexing Service - Speeds up searches, but not enough to be worth the memory usage.
* Machine Debug Manager - An un-needed program debugger.
* Messeger - Not related to MSN Messenger or Windows Messenger, it is not nedded unless your computer is a server
* Plug and Play (Advanced) - Automatically detects and attempts to install new hardware. Only disable this if you are an advanced user.
* Security Center (SP2) - This annoying program that Windows calls the "Security Center" really doesn't do a whole lot, and doesn't work properly.
* Remote Registry Service -- You don't remotely access the Registry of other systems on your local network.
* Run As Service -- You don't use any applications that run as an alias.
* World Wide Web Publishing Service - Again, only needed for a server.

Note: This step can also be done through msconfig, but it is not recommended unless you really know what you're doing.


STEP 4: Clean-up
Are there any programs that aren't needed anymore that start automatically?  Whatpulse? Steam? Disable as many programs that automatically start with your PC.


Next, we'll get rid of that un-wanted Ad/Spyware. Download (if you do not already have) one of the following programs.
AdAware
Spybot S&D

After installing one of those, run an adware check. Delete all of the files it finds unless you KNOW they are needed. Note: Before using the adware/spwyware programs to delete un-wanted wares, it is best to attempt to do so manually using Start >  Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.


This next part may take some time, so don't do this if you have anything you need to do on the PC:

1)Update your Anti-Virus Virus definitions (if applicable) and your Operating Sytem through Windows update.
2) Do a virus check if you have an Ant-Virus. If you don't, I suggest getting Norton Anti-Virus. Also: Thanks to Keystorm for noting, those without an Anti-Virus can do a free, online scan HERE.
3) Do a Disk De-Fragment ( Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragment )


After that's all said and done, I also suggest you look through your HDD(s) to find things you no longer need, then un-install or delete them (depending on what they are).



END OF TUTORIAL

Something else that may help you out: Your Connection up/down rate. Go to http://www.dslreports.com/stest and follow the directions given


Tutorial by Blade
Hope it helps
Note: If you have anything I should add to this tutorial, or comments, please post in this thread. Please excuse any spelling errors.

Also note: I will add more to the guide, and more screenshots later

Control Panel Image.

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Originally posted by blade
In the same porperties box ("System Properties") as used in steo 1, go to the "Automatic Update" tab. Turn that off, it will save memory.

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Originally posted by blade
Next, we'll get rid of that un-wanted Ad/Spyware. Download (if you do not already have) one of the following programs:
AdAware
Spybot S&D

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Originally posted by KeyStorm

Besides this couple of points, your tutorial is nice.  Maybe a couple of reg keys would make it more complete, like the TimeToKill one, can't really recall.

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Originally posted by blade
RE: the msconfig thing - na, because this is supposed to be a tutorial that even a n00b could do msconfig requires a bit of knowledge of wtf you're doing.

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cheers blade, thats cool of you

I've configured all of the settings now, where did you get all of this info from?

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Originally posted by traxor
cheers blade, thats cool of you

I've configured all of the settings now, where did you get all of this info from?

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Originally posted by blade

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Originally posted by traxor
cheers blade, thats cool of you

I've configured all of the settings now, where did you get all of this info from?

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You're welcome and it's stuff I've learned in the last few years

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Originally posted by traxor
ahh, cool, lol, well anyway, you got any ideas about making my internet connection go a bit faster if you know what i mean (sending, downloading and browsing will suffice)

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Originally posted by blade

Well I need to know some stuff first:
Connection type (ADSL, DSL, Cable, Dial-up, etc)
Connection up/down speed (you can test that at http://www.dslreports.com/stest )
Provider
Using a firewall or router?

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Originally posted by traxor

Well, its... Blueyonder Broadband Internet, its digital, lol,

246.1kbp/s  30.1K bytes/sec, and no, i ain't using either. but i'm using lots and lots and loats of virus software..

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Originally posted by blade
Firstly, you only need 1 Anti-Virus, more than that is over-kill.
Seccondly, I would suggest you use firefox.
Thirdly, find out if there are any limitors in place on your speed (some companies include software to limit how fast the connection is streamed for un-suspecting users, lowering their server loads.)

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Originally posted by traxor
3rd. I will do this, but can you help oh genious friend of mine

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Originally posted by blade
Not much I can help with....I would suggest you do the test at the link below, if you haven't already:
http://www.dslreports.com/stest

Compare your results to those that your ISP states as the standard down/up speeds (usually posted on their website).

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Originally posted by traxor

quote:

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Originally posted by blade
Not much I can help with....I would suggest you do the test at the link below, if you haven't already:
http://www.dslreports.com/stest

Compare your results to those that your ISP states as the standard down/up speeds (usually posted on their website).

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I've already tested that, as I said earlier mate. The isp site hasn't got any statistics on it whatsoever, and the only thing they installed, was the blueyonder browser, and the modem drivers.. well, i installed..

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Originally posted by blade

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Originally posted by traxor

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Originally posted by blade
Not much I can help with....I would suggest you do the test at the link below, if you haven't already:
http://www.dslreports.com/stest

Compare your results to those that your ISP states as the standard down/up speeds (usually posted on their website).

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I've already tested that, as I said earlier mate. The isp site hasn't got any statistics on it whatsoever, and the only thing they installed, was the blueyonder browser, and the modem drivers.. well, i installed..

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well it then, because the drivers may hae the limiters right in them Other than that I can't think of anything to speed ur connection up, other than getting a new one

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Originally posted by traxor

I've searched google, aren't there any tweaks or anything that I can use, i don't care about the legalities, all I want is to speed it up

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There are some register values you can modify to REALLY increase the speed (Firefox and firewalls won't, ). You should , seriously, it's not that hard.