1. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e
Chapter 14
Optimizing Windows

2. Objectives
Learn about Windows utilities and tools you can use to solve problems with Windows
Learn how to optimize Windows to improve performance

3. Windows Utilities and Tools to Support the OS
What happens during and after startup
Events might indicate a problem with
Hardware
Software
Security
Performance
By knowing how and when to use these tools will help you to zero in on a Windows problem

4. Windows Utilities and Tools to Support the OS
Tools covered in this chapter are;
Task Manager
System Configuration Utility (MSconfig)
Services console
Computer Management console
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
Event Viewer
Reliability and Performance Monitor
Registry Editor

5. Task Manager
Taskmgr.exe lets you view the applications and processes running on your computer as well as information about process and Memory performance, network activity, and user activity.
Figure 14-1 The Applications tab in Task Manager shows the status of active applications
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

6. Task Manager (cont’d.) Accessing task manager Applications tab
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete
Right-click taskbar blank area
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Vista Start Search box or XP Run dialog box
Enter taskmgr.exe
Applications tab
States: running or not responding
End task button at bottom of the window
Attempts a normal shutdown

7. Task Manager (cont’d.) Processes tab
Lists system services and other processes, CPU time, and memory use
Identifies applications slowing down a system
Showing all processes running under current user
System, Local Service, and Network Service accounts
Cannot display dialog box on-screen or interact with user
Stopping a process
Click End Process
Recommendation: use Applications tab first

8. Figure 14-3 Processes running under the current user for a new Vista installation
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure 14-4 Vista processes for all users
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

9. Task Manager (cont’d.)
If your desktop locks up, use Task Mgr to refresh it
Viewing running application processes
Select application listed on Applications tab
Right-click it and select Go To Process (see pg. 682)
End the process and all related processes
Right-click the process and select End Process Tree
Do not end Windows critical process
Process priority level
Determines position CPU resources queue
Use Task Manager to change priority level
Page 681 Caution note (please read)

10. Task Manager (cont’d.) Services tab
Lists currently installed services with status
A service is a program that runs in the background and is called on my other programs to perform a background task.
Figure 14-7 This Services tab of Windows Vista Task Manager gives the current status of all installed services
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

11. Task Manager (cont’d.) Performance tab (see page 684)
Identifies applications, processes using most CPU time
We will talk about Resource
Monitor later in the chapter.
Figure 14-8 The Performance tab window shows details about how system resources are being used
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

12. Task Manager (cont’d.) Networking tab
Displays how heavily network being used by a computer
Wireless connection is running at
54 Mbps
Local Wired is running at 100 Mbps
Figure 14-9 Use the Networking tab of Task Manager to monitor network activity and bandwidth used.
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

13. Task Manager (cont’d.) Users tab Shows all users currently logged on
Log off user to improve performance
Select processes, show processes
From all Users, then users tab and
logoff
Figure Use Task Manager to log off a user

14. Applying Concepts Let’s read page 686
Task Manager gives good information, but not the full picture of running processes
Process Explorer by Microsoft Technet gives much better information than Task Manager
Technet.microsoft.com
Utility is free and we will go over better on Chapter 20

15. System Configuration Utility (MSconfig)
Msconfig.exe
Use to find out what processes are launched at startup and to temporarily disable a process from loading.
Figure Use MSconfig to view and control services launched at startup. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

16. System Configuration Utility (MSconfig)
Enter msconfig.exe
Click Services tab
You can use “Disable All” button
But be careful with this, you might want;
Windows Task Scheduler, print spooler, Automatic Updates, and System Restore Service
To view only those services put there by third party software check “Hide all Microsoft services”
If you did not recognize the program, search in Google
You can permanently stop it by using the Services console (later in chapter)

17. System Configuration Utility (MSconfig)
Click Startup tab to see a list of programs
You can disable all nonessential startup tasks
Click Disable all
Or you can check and uncheck individual startup program
It is useful to see the location of the registry key or startup folder
Click apply
Click General tab, you should see selective startup selected, now Msconfig is set to control startup, click OK . See page 690 continue with step 6

18. Services Console
Used to control the Windows and third-party services installed on a system
Launching the services console
Vista Start Search box or XP Run dialog box
Enter Services.msc
Figure The Services window is used to manage Windows services
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

19. Services Console
Make sure EXTENDED tab at the bottom of the window is selected (page 691)
As you select each area, there will be description is displayed
If there is no description, it is put there by the third party service
Right click its name
Select Properties

20. Services Console (cont’d.)
Selecting Properties
Provides more information about a service
Allows stopping or starting a service
Service startup types
Automatic (Delayed Start): starts shortly after startup, after the user logs on
Automatic: starts when Windows loads
Manual: starts as needed
Disabled: cannot be started
Useful when cleaning up a Windows system

21. Computer Management Consolidates several Windows administrative tools
Use to manage local PC and other network computers
Administrator authority required
Viewing may allow lesser privileges
Accessing Computer Management in Vista
Enter compmgmt.msc in Vista Start Search box
Click Start, right-click Computer, and select Manage
Control Panel
Click System and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and double-click Computer Management

22. Figure Windows Computer Management combines several administrative tools into a single easy-to-access window
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning. See pg.693 for better view

23. Figure 14-21 Use the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window to change items on the Start menu
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

24. Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
Program file: mmc.exe (let’s create one, see page 694)
Windows utility to build customized console windows
Console is a single window containing one or more administrative tools
Snap-ins are individual tools in a console
C:\users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
Default location for the console file
Figure An empty console. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

25. Event Viewer Eventvwr.msc or
Start, All Programs, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer
Tool for troubleshooting problems with Windows, applications, and hardware
Also a Computer Management snap-in
Manages logs of events
Three most important views of logs
Application log
Security log
System log

26. Event Viewer (cont’d.) Logs new to Windows Vista
Custom Views
The Setup log
The Forwarded Events
The Applications and Services Logs
The Subscriptions log
System log: most important log other than security
Records three error event types
Information, warning, and error events

27. Event Viewer (cont’d.) Click log to view
Save time reviewing logs by using filters
To view most significant events when troubleshooting check Critical and Error under Event level
Avoid ballooning log file
Set size limit
Specify what happens when log reaches this limit
Event viewer is most useful in solving intermittent hardware problems

28. Reliability and Performance Monitor
Perfmon.msc (another MMC snap-in)
Collects, records, and displays events, these events are called Data Collector Sets
Windows XP
Monitor called Performance Monitor or System Monitor
Starting the monitor
Use Administrative Tool applet in Control Panel
Open Computer Management Console
Enter perfmon.msc in Vista Start Search box or XP Run box

29. Reliability and Performance Monitor (cont’d.)
Contains three monitoring tools
Performance Monitor provides real-time view of Windows performance counters
Reliability Monitor provides historical data showing stability
Data Collector Sets utility collects data about the system
Viewing system diagnostics data as a report
Right-click System Diagnostics and select Latest Report from shortcut menu (See pg )

30. The Registry Editor
Difficult problems might require editing or removal of a registry key
Registry organization
Registry is;
Database designed with a treelike structure (i.e., hierarchical database)
Contains configuration information for Windows, users, software applications, and installed hardware devices
Registry built in memory at startup
Windows uses current hardware configuration and information taken from files

31. The Registry Editor (cont’d.)
Registry organized into five treelike structures
Each segment called a key
Each key can have subkeys
Subkeys can have more subkeys and can be assigned one or more values
Data is organized in hive files
Different from organization in registry keys
Five files stored in the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder
Each hive is backed up with a log file and a backup file, stored in same place

32. The Registry Editor (cont’d.)
For Windows Vista:
C:\users\username\Ntuser.dat holds the preferences and settings of the currently logged on user.
Windows XP: uses two files to store information about current user
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Ntuser.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Usrclass.dat

33. Figure The Windows registry is logically organized in an upside-down tree structure of keys, subkeys, and values.
HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA does not use a hive (Does not appear in the editor because data is not stored in this key. This key is used only as a pointer to performance data provided by Windows so that applications that monitor Windows performance can easily access this performance data)
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure The relationship between registry subtrees (keys) and hives
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

34. The Registry Editor (cont’d.)
Five keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM)
The most important key, contains hw, sw, and security data, Device Manager reads data from HKLM\Hardware
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG (HKCC)
Contains PnP information about hw configuration for startup
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (HKCR)
Determines which application is open when user clicks twice on the file. Process relies on the file’s extension to determine which application to load.

35. The Registry Editor (cont’d.)
HKEY_USERS (HKU)
Contains data about all users and is taken form the Default hive
HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU)
Contains data about the current user. The key is built when a user logs on using data kept in theHKEY_USERS key and data kept in the Ntuser.dat file of the current user
Device Manager reads data from the HKLM\HARDWARE key to build the information it displays about hardware configurations. You can consider Dev. Mgr. to be an easy to view presentation of this HARDWARE key data

36. The Registry Editor (cont’d.)
Before editing the registry
Back up registry
Use System Protection to create a restore point
Back up a single registry key just before editing the key
Make an extra copy of the C:\Windows\System32\config folder
For Windows XP, back up the system state
Back up and restore individual keys
Edit the registry with Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
There is no undo feature in the Registry Editor, and no opportunity to change your mind once the edit is made.

37. The Registry Editor (cont’d.)
Use System Protection to create a restore point: Keeps information about the registry. If System Protection is turned on, Vista automatically makes a daily backup of the registry hive files in:
C:\Windows\System32\config\regback
Back up a single registry key just before you edit the key
Make an extra copy of the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder
For XP, back up the System State
XP stores the backup of the registry hives in the C:\Windows\repair folder
2K stores in C:\Windows\repair\regback folder

38. Improving Windows Performance
Assuming Windows is starting with no errors
Use 11 step-by-step procedures
Search for problems affecting performance
Clean up Windows startup process
Trouble starting windows
Address those errors first before addressing performance
See Chapters 15 and 16

39. Improving Windows Performance
Step 1: Perform routine maintenance
Verify critical Windows settings, updates are current
Clean up and defrag hard drive
Check hard drive for errors
Disable and remove unwanted startup programs
Back up data
Step 2: Check if hardware support the OS
Vista Windows Experience Index designed to measure the overall performance of a system
Start, right click Computer, Properties, Windows Experience Index

40. Step 2 (cont.) Vista Upgrade Advisor: checks compatibility
To make sure that all hardware or software installed on the system is compatible with Windows Vista, use the Vista Upgrade Advisor
Also, run System Information Utility (msinfo32.exe)
Info about processor, its speed, RAM, freespace
XP CD, run D:\I386\Winnt32 /checkupgradeonly

41. Figure Use the Windows Experience Index to get a snapshot of a computer’s performance and identify potential bottlenecks
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure The Performance monitor tracking CPU performance
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

42. Improving Windows Performance
Step 3: Check for performance warnings
Vista tracks issues that are interfering with performance.
View warnings in Windows Experience Index window
Advanced tools
Clicking an issue
Displays dialog box describing the issue
Gives suggestions to resolve it
Investigate each issue one at a time
Tools to assist in troubleshooting are listed in Advanced Tools window(see pg )

43. Figure 14-44 Vista provides these warnings and tools to improve Vista performance
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Figure Windows reports four issues that are affecting performance
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

44. Improving Windows Performance (cont’d.)
Step 4: Check the reliability monitor
Determine if a problem with hardware or software installation is affecting performance
Determine when time problem started
Figure Use Reliability Monitor to search for when a problem began
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

45. Improving Windows Performance
Step 5: Disable the indexer for Windows search
The Windows indexer is responsible for maintaining an index of files and folders on a hard drive to speed up Windows searches
The indexing service has a low priority and only works when it senses that the hard drive is not being accessed by a service with a higher priority
Therefore it may cause problems
See (page )

46. Improving Windows Performance
Step 6: Disable the Vista Aero interface
Uses memory and computing power
May require memory or video card upgrade or leaving interface disabled
Right click the Desktop, select Personalize, click Window Color and Appearance, click Open classic appearance properties for more color options. Under Color scheme, select Windows Vista Basic, click Apply
Step 7: Disable the Vista Sidebar (pg )
Might see slight performance improvement
Sidebar hold mini applications called gadgets

47. Improving Windows Performance (cont’d.)
Step 8: Plug up any memory leaks
Use Reliability and Performance Monitor
Click down arrow on the Memory bar
Use Task Manager Processes tab
Click View and Select Columns
Verify Memory Private Working Set, Handles, and Threads columns are checked
Watch values over time for increases
Solving memory leak
Obtain update or patch from program manufacturer’s Web site

48. Improving Windows Performance
Step 9: Consider disabling the Vista UAC box
Might slightly improve performance
Disabling not recommended
UAC box can protect your system against users making unauthorized changes and against malware installing itself without you knowledge
Step 10: Consider using Vista ReadyBoost
Flash drive or secure digital (SD) memory card used to boost hard drive performance
Acts as a buffer to speed up access time
Best for hard drive less than 7200 RPM
Windows automatically tests device qualifications
256 MB to 4 GB, 256 MB free space, 2 MB/sec of throughput. See pg. 723 for more information.

49. Improving Windows Performance (cont’d.)
Step 11: Clean windows startup
Verify startup programs kept to a minimum
Check startup folders in Windows XP
Check Software Explorer in Windows Vista
Cleaning Windows startup
Use Safe Mode and MSconfig to find out more about the problem
Disable or uninstall programs causing problems

50. Improving Windows Performance (cont’d.)
Step 11: Clean windows startup (cont’d.)
To find out if programs and services are slowing down Win. Start up, boot the system in Safe mode and watch to see if performance improves
Observe performance in Safe Mode
Improvement indicates nonessential program issue
Time a normal startup and a Safe Mode boot
Significant difference: reduce Windows startup to essentials
No improvement indicates problem with hardware device, critical driver, or Windows component

51. Improving Windows Performance
Step 11: Clean Windows startup (cont’d.)
Use MSconfig to find startup program affecting performance
You can use the Msconfig utility to zero in on the service or other program that is slowing down startup.
Recommended strategy: half-again search
Disable or uninstall background processes and startup programs
Permanently manage a service
Use services console or Windows component responsible for the service
Investigate service with good search engine
Reboot and test

52. Figure 14-60 Strategy to identify the program(s) causing the problem
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

53. Improving Windows Performance (cont’d.)
Step 11: Clean Windows Startup (cont’d.)
Check for unwanted scheduled tasks
Task Scheduler that can be set to launch a task or program at a future time, including at startup
Verify Task Scheduler contents
Review details of all scheduled tasks
Look for hidden tasks
Disable suspect tasks, test, and delete as necessary (pg )

54. How To Manually Remove Software
Manually uninstall
Programs refusing to uninstall or giving errors when uninstalling
Use as a last resort
Try program’s uninstall routine which can be accessed from the Vista Programs and Features applet in control panel, the XP Add Remove Programs Applet tin the Control Panel, or a utility in the All Programs menu
Manually delete program’s files
Manually delete registry entries (Caution, back up first!) (pg )
Remove program from All Programs menu
Restart PC and watch for errors
Fix orphaned entry (as necessary, from Msconfig to find out how the program is set to start, this entry point is called orphaned entry) (pages )

55. How To Manually Remove Software See following in pages 736-737
Keys causing an entry to run only once at startup
Check each key in the list below and move on to the next list
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServiceOnce
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

56. How To Manually Remove Software (cont’d.)
Group Policy keys affecting startup
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run
DLL programs key
Normal: do not delete unless positive
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad

57. How To Manually Remove Software (cont’d.)
Keys applying to all users and hold legitimate startup entries
Do not delete unless you suspect it to be bad
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Run
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

58. How To Manually Remove Software (cont’d.)
Entries pertaining to background services
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunService
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
Key containing value named BootExecute
Normally set to autochk
Causes system to run a type of Chkdsk program
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
Several others cause various problems at startup

59. Monitor the Startup Process
Third-party tools monitoring startup changes
WinPatrol by BillP Studios (free)
Runs in background
Monitors registry changes, startup processes, IE settings, and system files
Antivirus software
Figure WinPatrol by BillP Studios alerts you when the startup process is about to be altered
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

60. Summary Tools to optimize Windows
Task Manager
System Configuration Utility (MSconfig)
Services console
Computer Management console
Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
Event Viewer
Reliability and Performance Monitor
Registry is organized into five treelike structures
Registry Editor

61. Summary (cont’d.) To troubleshoot a sluggish Windows system
Follow 11 steps
Manually remove software
Try program’s uninstall routine
Manually delete the program’s files
Manually delete registry entries
Remove the program from All Programs menu
Restart PC and watch for errors
Fix orphaned entry (as necessary)
Use third-party tools monitoring startup changes