Registry Tweaks

[Katokato]

I found this website while searching vista tweaks on google: Computer Modifications - Registry Tweaks

what do you guys think about those registry tweaks, are they safe, unsafe, benefitful or unbenefitful?

 

[niemiro]

Hello,

They will work, but they are very drastic and heavy handed. If you do follow any, keep a good record of what you have changed and what from. For example, it is not always very wise to just kill all of your programs and threads, rather than let them shut down, however, it would improve shutdown slightly. It is your own choice, but hopefully someone else will give you a second opinion. Also, I would not try them all in on go!

IMO,

Richard

 

[MilesAhead]

I don't understand the one about Prefetcher. It was my understanding(although it's tough to know a lot for certain when it comes to Windows Registry numbers) that the only relevant numbers were 0,1,2 or 3 to set what kind of prefetching(none, only boot, only programs, boot and programs etc.) but he suggests 5. If my take on Prefetcher is correct, then that should be identical to setting it to 1(iow, only the first bit Windows really uses is set.)

If anyone has contradictory info I'm glad to dismiss that myth too if that's the case.

 

[Brink]

Hi Miles,

I'm not sure what 5 is for either. I always though it was just 0 (disabled), 1, 2, or 3, as well.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/108833-superfetch-change-preload-data.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/72293-superfetch-memory-prefetcher.html

 

[MilesAhead]

I bet in Redmond there's a safe with a secret list what all the numbers mean.

This is one page that seems to agree with us at least:
Tweak Windows Prefetch and Superfetch for Better Performance

 

[Katokato]

I tried them and they worked wihtout problem. Yeah im not too sure about the prefetch one, i set mine to 5. When i get home i willl check my prefetch folder to see if i have anything under prefetch. Actually i will delete everything from prefetch, then see if windows makes prefetch files while under the setting of 5. (I know that deleting prefetch files will hinder system performance, but i will test it just out of my curiosity).

I foudn more tweaks and will be trying them out soon, do you think these are legit?: http://tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks11.htm

I will create a system restore point though.

 

[MilesAhead]

If my theory is right, it should only track applications. The ReadyBoot folder should be empty(if you delete it for your test that is.) The relevant bit is the first bit, which is 1 which is Prefetch applications only. Don't know what setting the 3rd bit would do unless maybe it gets you a cup of coffee.

 

[Katokato]

i think the setting of 3 would be both boot and applications. I think i read somewhere that you can go to a setting up to 9 for the prefetcher. (it said higher the number more resources it iwll be dedicating to prefetching).

 

[MilesAhead]

I was talking about the 3rd bit counting from the right starting at 1, not the number 3. The number 5 sets the first bit and the third bit in binary. 0101 = 5

 

[Katokato]

Alrgiht. I deleted everything from prefetch, including readyboost folder. My registry setting is at 5. I just need to wait a few more weeks and see is prefetch files start generating. Enable superfetch is still set to 3. Do you think i should put super fetch to 5 for this test to be accurate?

 

[Brink]

Alrgiht. I deleted everything from prefetch, including readyboost folder. My registry setting is at 5. I just need to wait a few more weeks and see is prefetch files start generating. Enable superfetch is still set to 3. Do you think i should put super fetch to 5 for this test to be accurate?

Kelvin,

Nar, I wouldn't think you would need to since the tweak only mentioned the EnablePrefetcher DWORD value being changed to 5.

 

[MilesAhead]

I'd say change one thing at a time unless you have some solid docs. One variable in the equation.

 

[Katokato]

Okay, this is the second day of using my computer. I see prefetch files in the prefetch folder at a setting of 5. I see mostly rundll, explorer.exe, winrar.exe, winlogon.exe prefetch files, i also see avast!. So i think that the setting of 5 is currently working for me. I also see my readyboost folder being filled up (curently 4 files in there) i use a 4 gig ready boost. 25.2 mb prefetch size at the moment.

Turning off prefetcher wont add any prefeth files to the folder correct?

 

[Brink]

Correct. Turning off prefetcher would stop it from adding files.

 

[pacinitaly]

wow, I remember doing these tweaks..... had to re-image

 

[patio]

All i'll comment on is those giving them a try should have ERUNT in their toolbox....

 

[Katokato]

with the prefetcher at 5 setting, files are accumulating in the prefetch folder. maybe it is a secret setting, anyone know bill gates's email?