Crash Statistics

• According to an examination by order of Microsoft in January 2001, Windows 98 crashes every 216 hours on the average, WinNT4 every 919 and Win2k every 2893 hours.

Tuning

Basics

• highest possible DMA-mode enabled
• BIOS-tuning
• intact filesystem → run "scandisk" resp. "chkdsk /f"
• defragmented filesystem, esp. registry- and swapfiles
• fastest filesystem: NTFS
• keep at least 15% free on each partition

DOS/Win9x specific

• msdos.sys
    [options]
    autoscan=2
    dblspace=0
    disablelog=1
    drvspace=0
    logo=0
• config.sys - should be as empty as possible; otherwise begin with:
    device=%windir%\himem.sys
    device=%windir%\emm386.exe noems
    dos=umb,high
  
• autoexec.bat - should be as empty as possible

Swap File(s)

• permanent, at least twice as large as physical RAM
• on other than OS's disk to allow simultaneous accessing
• at the beginning of an empty (at least defragmented) partition (which thereafter can be filled up normally) on the fastest disk

How to tell if I need more RAM?

• In Task Manager (taskmgr.exe), at Performance, if Available Physical Memory is constantly low.
• In Performance Monitor (perfmon.exe), at Memory, if Available Bytes is constantly low.
• In Process Monitor (from Sysinternals), filter for "detail contains paging", and Enable Advanced Output or remove exclusion of pagefile, if there are excessive reads from pagefile.
• In RamMap (from Sysinternals), at Priority Summary, if Repurposed shows numbers for Priority 6 or 7 (where 5 is default, and low numbers are repurposed first).

More Free RAM

• less truetype-fonts ( c:\windows\fonts\*.ttf )
• no active-desktop / view as website
• no truecolor-wallpaper
• clean and defragmented registry
• allow as few programs as possible to start at boot-time
    - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\run\
    - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\run\
    - WIN.INI - [windows] - "load=..." resp. "run=..."
    - startup-folder
• reduce the number of running system services

Disk Cache Size

• system.ini - [vcache] (more is faster but requires RAM, of course...)
  • MaxFileCache=8192..32768 (kB)
  • MinFileCache=2048..8192 (kB)

File System

• keep directory trees to fewer than 10 levels deep
• keep filenames and directory names to fewer than 30 characters
• use NTFS compression on small volumes with files containing highly compressible data
• disable unnecessary access updates → HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate = 0

Graphics

• color depth should be 16 or 32 bit; 24 bit would require two 16 bit transfers instead of one single 16 or 32 bit transfer

Sound

• disable hardware sound in games if you don't have it... otherwise it will be emulated, but that costs speed

Versions

• Windows 1 - requirements: 8088 CPU, 256 kB RAM, floppy, DOS 2.0
  • 1985-11-20: 1.01 (99$)
  • 1986-01: 1.02 (for european market)
  • 1986-08: 1.03 (new features)
  • 1987-04: 1.04 (patches and updates)
• Windows 2 - requirements: 8086 CPU, 512 kB RAM, 2 MB HD space, floppy, DOS 3.0
  • 1987-11: 2.03 (new: overlapping windows, shortcuts)
  • 1988-05: 2.1 (extended hardware support)
  • 1989-03: 2.11 (patches and new features)
• Windows 3 - requirements: 286 16 MHz, 1 MB RAM, 8 MB HD space, floppy, DOS 3.1
  • 1990-05: 3.0 (new interface, VGA (640x480x16), program manager, file manager, and much more)
  • 1991-10: 3.00a (patches)
  • 1991-12: 3.00a ME (multimedia extensions: mediaplayer, cd-player, etc.)
  • 1992-03: 3.1 (more multimedia, digital sound, SVGA)
  • 1993-12: 3.11 (some patches)
  • 1994: 3.2 (chinese only)
• Windows for Workgroups - "Sparta" - requirements: 386SX, 6 MB RAM, 16 MB HD space, floppy, DOS 3.3
  • 1992-10: 3.1 (NetBEUI included)
  • 1993-12: 3.11 (small enhancements)
• Windows NT 3.1 - "Daytona" - requirements: 386DX 25 MHz, 12 MB RAM, 75 MB HD space, floppy or cd-rom
  • 1993-07: 3.10.511 (32 Bit, preemtive multitasking, multiprocessing, NTFS, network features)
  • 1994-09: 3.50.807 (patches, new hardware)
  • 1995-06: 3.51.1057 (can run Win95 programs, opelgl support, unicode, long filenames)
• Windows 95 - "Chicago" - requirements: 386DX, 4 MB RAM, 50 MB HD space, floppy or cd-rom
  • 1995-08: 4.00.950 (new interface, start menu, explorer, multimedia, multitasking, plug&play)
  • 1996-02: 4.00.950a (OEM service release 1)
  • 1996-09: 4.00.1111b (OEM service release (OSR) 2) - "Nashville": USB, AGP, FAT32
  • 199?-??: 4.00.1214b (OEM service release (OSR) 2.1 - if version of ntkern.vxd is '4.03.1212' (?)
  • 1997-11: 4.00.1214c (OEM service release (OSR) 2.5) - integrated: internet explorer 4.0
• Windows NT 4.0 - "Cairo" - requirements: 486DX 25 MHz, 16 MB RAM, 110 MB HD space, floppy or cd-rom
  • 1996-08: 4.00.1381 (win95 interface, network and multimedia features)
• Windows 98 - "Memphis" - requirements: 486DX 66 MHz, 16 MB RAM, 300 MB HD space, floppy or cd-rom
  • 1998-06: 4.10.1998 (new hardware support (USB, AGP, IrDA, DVD), slightly improved interface, multimedia features)
  • 1999-05: 4.10.2222 (Second Edition) (new hardware support (Firewire, DSL), internet connection sharing)
• Windows 2000 - "NT 5.0" - requirements: 586 133 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 650 MB HD space, cd-rom
  • 2000-02: 5.00.2195 (win98 interface, new hardware support, new tools, slight improvements)
• Windows ME - "Georgia" - requirements: 586 150 MHz, 32 MB RAM, 320 MB HD space, cd-rom
  • 2000-08: 4.90.3000 (Millennium Edition) (slightly improved interface, new system component versions)
• Windows XP - "Whistler" - requirements: 686 233 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 1500 MB HD space, cd-rom
  • 2001-10: 5.01.2600 (new colorful interface "Luna", some gimmicks, quick user switching)
  • 2003-04: 5.02.3790 (Server 2003)
  • 2005-05: 5.02.3790 (x64 Edition)
• Windows Vista - "Longhorn" - requirements: 800 MHz, 512 MB RAM, 9 GB HD space, dvd-rom
  • 2006-11: 6.00.6000 (new 3D desktop "Aero", requires DX9 graphic)

see also: winhistory.de

Shortcuts

Commands

• certmgr.msc - certificate manager
• ciadv.msc - indexing service
• compmgmt.msc - computer manager
• devmgmt.msc - device manager
• dfrg.msc - defragmentation
• diskmgmt.msc - disk manager
• eventvwr.msc - event manager
• fsmgmt.msc - shared folders
• gpedit.msc - group policies
• lusrmgr.msc - local users and groups
• ntmsmgr.msc - changeable media
• perfmon.msc - performance monitor
• services.msc - service manager
• netplwiz - users and passwords (Vista only)
• dxdiag.exe - direct X

control.exe [command]

• - control panel
• access.cpl - accessibility
• admintools - system administration
• appwiz.cpl - applications
• desk.cpl|desktop - desktop, display
• folders - folder options
• fonts - fonts
• hdwwiz.cpl - hardware wizard
• inetcpl.cpl - internet settings
• intl.cpl|international - regional and language options
• irprops.cpl - infrared connections
• joy.cpl - game controller
• keyboard - keyboard
• main.cpl|mouse - mouse
• main.cpl,@1 - keyboard
• mmsys.cpl - sounds and multimedia
• modem.cpl - modem
• ncpa.cpl - network connections
• nusrmgr.cpl - user manager (XP only)
• powercfg.cpl - power
• printers - printers
• scannercamera - scanners and cameras (XP only)
• sysdm.cpl - system
• telephon.cpl - telephone modem settings
• timedate.cpl - date and time
• userpasswords - users and passwords
• userpasswords2 - users and passwords (XP version)

rundll32.exe [command]

mostly untested and case-sensitive.

Windows 95

himem.sys Bug

• if himem.sys needs 40 instead of 1 kb (only in some sub-versions): at offset 0x51F5 change "01 BC 02" to "01 58 02"

Defrag

• startup-parameter "/p" to also defrag readonly files (also in Win98 ?)

Windows NT4

Shutdown

• power down after shutdown of NT4 Workstation with most ATX/APM-mainboards (some may need a BIOS-update)
  • assure at least SP4 to be installed
  • save system32\hal.dll e.g. to hal.dll.old
  • copy SP\hal.dll.softex over system32\hal.dll
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\PowerDownAfterShutdown = "1"
  • reboot

Internet Connection via Command Line

• dial: rasphone -t "RAS-connection"
• hangup: rasphone -d "RAS-connection" (or rasdial /disconnect or rasphone -h

Windows 2000

• "<CD>\i386\winnt32 /checkupgradeonly" analyzes upgrade readiness
• "<CD>\i386\winnt32 /cmdcons" installs the recovery console in the startup menu
• Since SP3 the (post-SP3) security updates contain the "Qchain" functionality, so that several security updates can be installed in any order without rebooting the system in each case. The security updates can be installed with the option /M for quiet-mode, with /Z for no reboot.
• "hotfix.exe /L" lists all installed hotfixes
• Q329170 should only be installed if really necessary. It seems to have a "bug" that causes a 60 seconds delay when user is logging off.
• "iexpress.exe" can create simple, self-extracting, or self-installing CABs
• "%windir%\inf\sysoc.inf" lists hidden windows components. To uninstall them, remove "hide" from the repsective lines in this file, then run Control Panel, Software...
• CD\Support\Tools: seems to install Application Compatibility Tool to simulate older OSses
• "regsvr32 %windir%\AppPatch\slayerui.dll" actives compatibility tool property dialog (if service pack 2 is installed)
• "regsvr32 /u %windir%\system32\regwizc.dll" deactivates "phone home" behaviour (?)
• "wuauclt.exe /detectnow" triggers Windows Update
• "cmd /c cd /d e:\foo && d:\foo\bar.bat" runs two commands (change dir, run batch) one after another in a shell, then closes the shell
• cmd /k "cd %L" -- starts the command line and changes to the selected directory via context menu
• sudo.bat = runas /user:Administrator "cmd /c $*" -- run a command with superuser priviledges
• tlist.exe -- prints tasks and services to console -- from win2k-cd support\tools\support.cab

Show and Remove Dead Drivers

• define system variable: "set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1"
• in same console, "start devmgmt.msc", then select "show non-present devices" (? Ausgeblendete Geräte anzeigen)
• non-present devices should be listed transparently and can now be deleted

Integrated Installation with Service Pack on Bootable CD

• prepare
  • copy i386 folder and other wanted files from original setup CD to target cd root folder, e.g. d:\win2000
  • empty (but not delete) lang subfolder if extra languages not needed
  • download and extract http://home.online.no/~msols/bootfiles.zip (or create bootsector using other tool)
  • copy CDROM_IP.5 (for win2k prof. else other) and CDROM_NT.5 to d:\win2000
• slipstream
  • extract downloaded service pack to temporary folder, e.g. d:\win2ksp4
  • run "d:\win2ksp4\i386\update\update -s:d:\win2000"
• create cd with Nero
  • click New Compilation, then CD-ROM (Boot)
  • on Boot tab choose image file: d:\bootfiles\w2kboot.bin, No Emulation, Number of loaded sectors: 4
  • on ISO tab choose "ISO Level 2", "Mode 1", "ISO 9660", "Joliet", relax all ISO restrictions
  • on Label tab choose a title, e.g. WIN2000SP4, click new
  • add files from d:\win2000 to compilation, click burn
  • on Burn tab choose Disc-At-Once, click write
• NO GUARANTEE! ;)
• see details at http://bink.nu/bootcd/

Services

• collected list of services, with recommendations to handle

Directory Access Rights

If you are cloning an installed a Windows NT system from one NTFS volume to another, and you are using simple file copy (not using xcopy/o/x or dd for some reason, e.g., because you want to build up the file system from scratch), you might want to re-set some directory access rights for enhanced security when users log in without admin priviledges. The following table gives direction to some default access rights of Windows 2000. Details on Power-Users and Creator-Users are largely omitted, so you better don't use this in a professional environment.

*1: may do anything but change permissions
*2: may do anything but change the object itself
*3: may do anything but change permissions, or delete items

Move or rename the Documents and Settings folder

• Copy the profiles (active profile via User Profiles manager), change all occurences in registry (long and short names, not controlset001), reboot. KB236621
• While installing from older Windows: copy CD to disk, edit HIVESFT.INF, change DEFAULT_PROFILES_DIR.
• Move Common Documents folder:
  • create new folder, e.g., D:\Documents
  • rename old folder to same name, e.g., C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Common Documents = D:\Documents
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Common Documents = D:\Documents
  • reboot

Windows XP

• The activation key is located in "C:\Windows\System32\WPA.DBL".
• Check activation using "%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a".
• disable integrated zip functionality: "regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll"
• disable thumbnail generation for video: "regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll"
• copy global proxy settings (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE) from current user's settings: "proxycfg -u" (useful for Windows Update)
• rebuild boot manager: "bootcfg /rebuild" in recovery console

Console Programs

• tasklist -- prints tasks and services to console
• taskkill -- allows to kill tasks from console
• systeminfo -- prints several system info to console
• typeperf -- prints performance data to console or CSV
• shutdown -- shut down, reboot, logout, or cancel shutdown from console
• tsshutdn -- shut down a server from console
• reg -- query or edit the registry from console

Show Details in Device Manager - Unnecessary with SP2?

• define system variable: "set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1"
• in same console, "start devmgmt.msc"
• device properties should now have a "details" tab

Integrate other (older? only nt?) Windows in Boot Menu = Repair boot.ini   (not tested yet)

• boot from installation cd, select recovery console
• use command "bootcfg" with parameters /list /scan /add /rebuild or /default
• see kb291980

Control automatic restart requests after update (default: message every 10 minutes)

• start gpedit.msc
• local computer - computer configuration - administrative templates - windows components - windows update
• "repeatedly request restart for planned installations" (or similar); in German: "Erneut zu einem Neustart für geplante Installationen auffordern"
• select another time interval in minutes, or deactivate (default: not configured)

Why WinXP may be faster than Win2k

• Win2k loads the complete registry into RAM -- WinXP loads only required 16k blocks, and not more than 256 per hive.
• WinXP has a decent prefetching mechanism for system and applications.
  • manually start optimizing of prefetch files: defrag c: -b ... is run automatically every 3 days when system idle - requires task scheduler

Autostarts in W2k/XP

• %WINDOWS%\Autoexec.nt
• %WINDOWS%\Config.nt
• %WINDOWS%\Web\*.htt
• %PROFILE%\Desktop   (Active Desktop)
• %PROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• %ALLUSERS%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Startup
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Startup
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Run
• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Load
• HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\System\Scripts
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command\@="\"%1\" %*"
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Common Startup
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Common Startup
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon\Userinit
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\Scripts\Startup
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update\NetworkPath
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update\UpdateMode
• HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Startup
• HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Startup
• HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
• Planned Tasks
• Login Skripts
• Network Connections
• See: c't 2003/09

Windows 7

SSD Optimization

• disable defrag (should be done automatically in 7, not in Vista)
• disable superfetch (SysMain service)
• disable prefetch: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters\EnablePrefetcher = 0x00000000
• disable search index (WSearch service)
• disable ready boost (should be done automatically)
• disable hibernation

Misc

• NoAdmin.de - Arbeiten ohne Administratorrechte unter Windows 2000 und XP
• WSUS Offline Update

Batch Programming

• replace slash with backslash:
set x=%1
set y=%2
set x=%x:/=\%
set y=%y:/=\%
echo %x%
echo %y%

Most used in germany (poll at www.giga.de)