What Windows features you turn off?

Polarman · Dec 19, 2009, 10:34 PM

We all know that Windows (XP, Vista or 7) has many features bundled within. Some of them are neat but a lot is really not necessary.

Making Windows lean and mean is what most of us look for. I'm not talking about Vlited barebone install here.

Basicaly, it's a fresh install followed by some tweaking and turning off some unwanted features.

For my part, this is what i turn off:

Indexing
Built-in Defrag
Error Reporting
Remote Assistance
System Restore
Hibernation
Gadget Sidebar
Welcome center
Sound sheme

Except for XPS Viewer, everything else is turned off in "Windows Features" in the uninstall section of Vista.

This is not counting some disabled services.

So what do you have turned off?

Kursah · Dec 19, 2009, 11:19 PM

I don't use hibernation, remote assist, or sound schemes...really beyond that I just leave my OS alone. Haven't found a need to trim anymore, at least yet I'm not necessarily in the need to extract every ounce of performance...plus 7 x64 is smooth and stable on my rig, I figure there's no sense messing with it if things are ok and my current performance is where I want it. Back in the P2/3/4 and W98se/XP days I tweaked a lot more, but I also reinstalled the OS a lot more too.

beyond_amusia · Dec 19, 2009, 11:45 PM

I shut off the Tablet PC functions - no need for them since I don't owns a multi touch screen.

erocker · Dec 19, 2009, 11:57 PM

Auto-Defrag and Windows Search also gets tuned off for me.

francis511 · Dec 20, 2009, 12:12 AM

That annoying checkbox under nics for "allow the system to turn off blah blah..."

SummerDays · Dec 20, 2009, 12:51 AM

Forget about running the Windows Experience Test on a new build, because it automatically turns on AERO.

DirectorC · Dec 20, 2009, 12:59 AM

I wouldn't consider System Restore to be anywhere near 'unwanted'. It has saved my ass a bunch of times when I play with drivers or software that bonks my system.

And ever since I started using Windows 7 I leave everything default. It's still the fastest Windows ever. The tweaking I do is through msconfig/HijackThis to slim down all the startup processes that companies like to sneak in (such as Adobe, Ahead, Logitech, Creative, HP etc with their background services for nearly every app/device--most of which communicate online and check for updates, no thanks!).

Jstn7477 · Dec 20, 2009, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerDays

Forget about running the Windows Experience Test on a new build, because it automatically turns on AERO.

What's so bad about Aero? It doesn't seem to slow down my system or anything.

Soylent Joe · Dec 20, 2009, 02:41 AM

I get rid of all the Action Center alerts.

mlee49 · Dec 20, 2009, 03:07 AM

Uh UAC anyone? Thats the first move I make when I install vista.

DirectorC · Dec 20, 2009, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlee49

Uh UAC anyone? Thats the first move I make when I install vista.

True LOL. I think that's a given for pretty much all of us with Vista/7.

Dec 19, 2009, 10:34 PM	#1
Polarman Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Laval, Qc Posts: 1,575 (0.88/day) Thanks: 41 Thanked 300 Times in 199 Posts System Specs	What Windows features you turn off? We all know that Windows (XP, Vista or 7) has many features bundled within. Some of them are neat but a lot is really not necessary. Making Windows lean and mean is what most of us look for. I'm not talking about Vlited barebone install here. Basicaly, it's a fresh install followed by some tweaking and turning off some unwanted features. For my part, this is what i turn off: Indexing Built-in Defrag Error Reporting Remote Assistance System Restore Hibernation Gadget Sidebar Welcome center Sound sheme Except for XPS Viewer, everything else is turned off in "Windows Features" in the uninstall section of Vista. This is not counting some disabled services. So what do you have turned off? __________________

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Dec 19, 2009, 11:19 PM	#2
Kursah Eligible for custom title Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Missoula, Montana, USA Posts: 6,558 (2.72/day) Thanks: 727 Thanked 1,349 Times in 1,118 Posts System Specs	I don't use hibernation, remote assist, or sound schemes...really beyond that I just leave my OS alone. Haven't found a need to trim anymore, at least yet I'm not necessarily in the need to extract every ounce of performance...plus 7 x64 is smooth and stable on my rig, I figure there's no sense messing with it if things are ok and my current performance is where I want it. Back in the P2/3/4 and W98se/XP days I tweaked a lot more, but I also reinstalled the OS a lot more too. __________________ Overclocking is Easy! Get Results! - GTX 260/280 Unofficial Support Thread TPU's Gaming Headphone/Headset Thread - Share your experience - My Heat -

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Case:	Lian Li Lancool PC-K62
Sound Card:	Auzen X-Fi Forte 7.1 + FiiO E9 to Denon D2000, JVC HA-DX3 and a Custom Hi-Fi 2.1 setup.
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Dec 19, 2009, 11:45 PM	#3
beyond_amusia Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 857 (0.37/day) Thanks: 253 Thanked 63 Times in 62 Posts System Specs	I shut off the Tablet PC functions - no need for them since I don't owns a multi touch screen. __________________ Being honest about who you are sometimes comes at a price, but it's worth it.

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Dec 19, 2009, 11:57 PM	#4
erocker Senior Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Milwaukee, WI. Posts: 31,961 (12.77/day) Thanks: 2,793 Thanked 12,322 Times in 7,833 Posts System Specs	Auto-Defrag and Windows Search also gets tuned off for me.

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Dec 20, 2009, 12:12 AM	#5
francis511 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: N.Ireland Posts: 2,363 (0.98/day) Thanks: 145 Thanked 277 Times in 257 Posts System Specs	That annoying checkbox under nics for "allow the system to turn off blah blah..." __________________

Processor:	Core I5 750
Motherboard:	MSI P55-A FUZION
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Case:	Xigmatek midgard
Sound Card:	X-fi Titanium
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Software:	Windows se7en

Dec 20, 2009, 12:51 AM	#6
SummerDays Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 272 (0.21/day) Thanks: 5 Thanked 33 Times in 28 Posts	Forget about running the Windows Experience Test on a new build, because it automatically turns on AERO.

Dec 20, 2009, 12:59 AM	#7
DirectorC Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florizy Posts: 1,597 (1.23/day) Thanks: 90 Thanked 269 Times in 248 Posts System Specs	I wouldn't consider System Restore to be anywhere near 'unwanted'. It has saved my ass a bunch of times when I play with drivers or software that bonks my system. And ever since I started using Windows 7 I leave everything default. It's still the fastest Windows ever. The tweaking I do is through msconfig/HijackThis to slim down all the startup processes that companies like to sneak in (such as Adobe, Ahead, Logitech, Creative, HP etc with their background services for nearly every app/device--most of which communicate online and check for updates, no thanks!).

System Name:	-= Son of a Whore =-
Processor:	E8400 @ 4.0GHz (445 x 9)
Motherboard:	Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R
Cooling:	Cooler Master Hyper 212+
Memory:	3GB Corsair XMS2
Video Card:	EVGA 8800 GT 512
Hard Disk:	74GB Raptor + Caviars in RAID0
CRT/LCD Model:	I-Inc 19" LCD 1440x900
Sound Card:	Audigy SE & Logitech X-540
PSU:	Corsair 750TX
Software:	Win32 v6.1.7600
Benchmarks:	Logitech KB & Sidewinder X3

System Name:	Awesomesauce \| Laptop (Toshiba A665D-S6091) \| "The Shoebox"
Processor:	Intel Core i7-3770K @ 4.3GHz/1.18v \| AMD PII Mobile X4 X920 @ 2.3GHz\|AMD E-350 APU
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Sound Card:	Realtek ALC898 \| Realtek ALC269 with harman/kardon speakers \| Realtek ALC892
PSU:	Rosewill CAPSTONE 550w (80Plus Gold) \| 75W 19.5v brick \| Seasonic 350w ITX
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Dec 20, 2009, 02:41 AM	#9
Soylent Joe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Brunswick, GA Posts: 3,033 (2.08/day) Thanks: 2,777 Thanked 676 Times in 460 Posts System Specs	I get rid of all the Action Center alerts. __________________ Heatware SteamID

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Case:	Enermax Fulmo GT
Sound Card:	Custom 700W system
PSU:	Thermaltake Toughpower 850W
Software:	Win7 64x

System Name:	Timucua 2.1
Processor:	i7-2700K
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Cooling:	Corsair H100
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CRT/LCD Model:	24" Acer G245HQ + 19" Lenovo L194
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Sound Card:	Fox Magic
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Dec 20, 2009, 03:07 AM	#10
mlee49 Eligible for custom title Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: KU Posts: 6,921 (3.50/day) Thanks: 1,598 Thanked 2,049 Times in 1,602 Posts System Specs	Uh UAC anyone? Thats the first move I make when I install vista. __________________ Heatware: Mlee49 115-0

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