This is kind of complicated. If it's too technical, you can do something similar by clicking on Run and then typing msconfig and shutting down all non-essential programs running in the background. I'm not sure how it works with Vista. Hope this helps:
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One other thing you can do, especially if you have a slower pc. You can stop things running in the background!
To stop services, I sometimes use the following text, just copy and paste it to a text file, USE NOTEPAD, and then rename the file stopservices.cmd
it is important to rename the file extension as well. that is the .cmd part of the name.
begin copy below line
_______________________
:: A "batch file" that stops unnecessary services to maximize performance of an XP pc while playing internet games.
::
:: ***Note*** Some services may or may not be necessary for your particualar configuration.
::
:: For a detailed descriptions of XP services that may be stopped visit http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks6.htm
::
:: The "::" leave room for definitions of each command.
:: Change directory to root.
cd\
:: Turns off excessive display while the batch file runs.
echo off
echo .
echo .
echo .
echo ..
echo ...
echo Stopping Services
echo ...
echo ..
echo .
echo .
echo .
:: Alerter Service - Notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts. If the service is stopped, programs that use administrative alerts will not receive them. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop Alerter
:: Automatic Updates - Enables the download and installation of critical Windows updates. If the service is disabled, the operating system can be manually updated at the Windows Update Web site.
net stop wuauserv
:: AVG Anti Virus service - Good, Free Anti-Virus software
net stop AVGServ
:: Enables ClipBook Viewer to store information and share it with remote computers. If the service is stopped, ClipBook Viewer will not be able to share information with remote computers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop ClipSrv
:: System Event Notification - Tracks system events such as Windows logon, network, and power events. Notifies COM+ Event System subscribers of these events.
net stop SENS
:: Com+ Event System - Supports System Event Notification Service (SENS), which provides automatic distribution of events to subscribing Component Object Model (COM) components. If the service is stopped, SENS will close and will not be able to provide logon and logoff notifications. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop EventSystem
:: Computer Browser - Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop Browser
:: Cryptographic Services - Provides three management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. If this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop CryptSvc
:: Help and Support - Enables Help and Support Center to run on this computer. If this service is stopped, Help and Support Center will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop helpsvc
:: Indexing Service - Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
net stop cisvc
:: IPSEC Services - Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver.
net stop PolicyAgent
:: IPv6 Internet Connection Firewall - Provides intrusion prevention service for a home or small office network.
:: net stop ip6FwHlp
:: Logical Disk Manager - Detects and monitors new hard disk drives and sends disk volume information to Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service for configuration. If this service is stopped, dynamic disk status and configuration information may become out of date. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop dmserver
:: Messenger - Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This service is not related to Windows Messenger. If this service is stopped, Alerter messages will not be transmitted. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop messenger
:: Net Logon - Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain.
:: net stop netlogon
:: OpenVPN Service - http://openvpn.sourceforge.net/
net stop openVPNservice
:: Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If this service is stopped, Remote Assistance will be unavailable. Before stopping this service, see the Dependencies tab of the Properties dialog box.
net stop RDSessMgr
:: Remote Registry - Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is stopped, the registry can be modified only by users on this computer. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop RemoteRegistry
:: Server - Supports file, print, and named-pipe sharing over the network for this computer. If this service is stopped, these functions will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop lanmanserver
:: System Restore Service - Performs system restore functions. To stop service, turn off System Restore from the System Restore tab in My Computer->Properties
net stop srservice
:: Task Scheduler - Enables a user to configure and schedule automated tasks on this computer. If this service is stopped, these tasks will not be run at their scheduled times. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop schedule
:: Terminal Services - Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as the display of desktops and applications to remote computers. The underpinning of Remote Desktop (including RD for Administrators), Fast User Switching, Remote Assistance, and Terminal Server.
net stop TermService
:: Themes - Provides user experience theme management.
net stop Themes
:: Universal Plug and Play Device Host - Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices.
net stop upnphost
:: Workstation - Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers. If this service is stopped, these connections will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
net stop Workstation
echo .
echo .
echo .
echo ..
echo ...
echo Services Stopped
echo ...
echo ..
echo .
echo .
echo .
pause
exit
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End copy above line.