Win2000 Setup Techniques
Many settings touch on the registry, so be cautious when operating and focus on backing up!
The target is Windows 2000 Professional.
Memory Performance Optimization:
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management, set ClearPageFileAtShutdown=1.
If memory ≥ 128MB, perform the following optimizations:
Set DisablePagingExecutive to 1: Forces actively running files to stay in memory rather than being moved into virtual memory.
Set LargeSystemCache to 1: Windows 2000 uses system cache (similar to VCache in Windows 9x), significantly improving disk input/output performance.
System Performance Optimization:
1. CPU Level 2 Cache
L2: The level 2 cache of the CPU is a component of the CPU. However, Windows 2000 does not automatically detect the L2 cache, requiring manual setup.
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\SecondLevelDataCache, adjust the value (in KB) to match the actual size of the L2 cache used by your CPU.
Note: You can use hexadecimal or decimal values; it is recommended to use decimal for setting the size value.
2. Correct Disk Cache
Windows 2000's default I/O page file settings are conservative. For different amounts of RAM, using different disk caches is a better approach.
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\IoPageLockLimit, modify its hexadecimal value based on the amount of RAM:
64MB → 1000;
128MB → 4000;
256MB → 10000;
512MB or more → 40000.
3. IRQ Interrupt Requests
Each major component of the computer has an assigned IRQ interrupt number. By adjusting the priority of each IRQ request, you can optimize system performance. Here, the optimization target is the system/CMOS real-time clock, which enhances motherboard performance through the motherboard.
1) Identify components that require higher performance.
2) Find the IRQ interrupt number used by the component. System Properties → Hardware → Device Manager → Right-click the component to check → Properties → Resources, note down the interrupt number.
3) In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl, create a new DWORD double-byte value named IRQ#Priority (# represents the specific interrupt number), and set its value to 1.
4) Restart the computer.
It is recommended to optimize the system CMOS real-time clock (IRQ8) to improve overall motherboard performance. To cancel the optimization settings, simply delete the corresponding registry key.
4. Do Not Load DLL Files
Often after using a browser, some DLL files remain in memory for a period of time, occupying part of the memory with unnecessary DLL files.
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, create a string value: AlwaysUnloadDLL, and set its value to 1.
To remove this optimization, set the key value to 0 (or delete the key).
Note: This optimization takes effect after restarting Windows.
5. Remove Excess DLL Files
Under the Windows 2000 SYSTEM and SYSTEM32 directories, there are many DLL files shared by the system or application software. Frequently installing and uninstalling software increases DLL junk files, consuming hard drive space and slowing down system operation speed.
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDlls, information about software-shared DLL paths is stored. Each DLL file's item value indicates how many applications share it. If the item value is 0, it means no software shares it, allowing you to delete it, then delete the corresponding DLL file.
6. Simplify the Registry (Use with Caution!)
The method to simplify the registry is to rebuild it:
1) In Windows 2000, use Regedit to export the entire registry (note: ensure exporting the entire registry, not just a branch), and save it as C:\X.REG.
2) Restart using DOS 7.0 and load the disk high-speed cache program Smartdrv.exe to speed up processing.
3) Run the DOS version of Regedit: C:\WINDOWS\REGEDIT /C X.REG (the parameter /C indicates regenerating the entire registry from the specified file). The rebuilt registry file will be reduced by approximately 25-30%, achieving simplification.
7. Wait Time Optimization
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control:
Set WaitToKillServiceTimeout to: 1000 or smaller.
In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop and HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop:
(1) Set WaitToKillAppTimeout to 1000, meaning only waiting 1 second to close the application;
(2) Set HungAppTimeout to: 200, indicating waiting 0.5 seconds when the application is unresponsive;
(3) Set AutoEndTasks to 1, indicating automatically closing non-responsive applications.
8. Fast Mouse Positioning
Windows 2000 allows users to set the sampling rate of the mouse, enabling it to move and position more accurately.
Set the mouse sampling rate to 100Hz and the output buffer length to 300Hz. If the system becomes unstable after setting, change the sampling rate to 80Hz or lower.
9. Fast Menu Display
By default, Windows 2000 displays menus with a "fade-in fade-out" effect. Under this effect, modifying menu display speed isn't very noticeable.
Change the "Animated display of menus and tool tips" effect to "Scrolling Effect".
In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, set the MenuShowDelay item. Its range is 0～100000 (unit: milliseconds), change the default value to 0 or 400.
10. Remove Excess Keyboard Layouts, Input Methods, and Regional Settings
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layouts, corresponding to "Control Panel" → "Keyboard Layout/Input Method", directly delete unused keyboard layouts and input methods;
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Nls\Locale, keep items with non-empty values, delete all others.
11. Remove Unnecessary Fonts and Help Documents (Use with Caution!)
Pack the entire WINNT\FONTS directory into a compressed file for backup. Delete all unnecessary fonts, retaining only Arial, Marlett, Microsoft Sans Serif Regular, MingLiu & PMingLiu, Modern, MS Outlook, MS Serif 8, 10, 12, Script, SimSun & NSimSun, Tahoma, Times New Roman, 宋体, 仿宋, 楷体, 黑体. Extract other fonts to the FONTS directory when needed.
12. Add "Run in Separate Memory Space" Option in "Run"
In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer, create a new DWORD type MemCheckBoxInRunDlg and set its value to 1.
Note: By default, all 16-bit programs run as threads within a single shared VDM (Virtual DOS Machine) process. In this case, these programs share the memory space allocated to the VDM process and cannot run simultaneously. The setting allows users to run 16-bit programs in a dedicated (not shared) VDM process. The checkbox is only enabled when the user inputs a 16-bit program.
Start-up Optimization:
1. Disable System Serial Port Detection
Open the BOOT.INI file and make the following modifications:
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\windows="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect /noserialmice
This prevents serial port detection during startup, saving time.
2. Quick Start
Modify:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\winnt="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
to:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\winnt="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /nodetect
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control, set the SystemStartOptions key value to nodetect.
3. Disable Unused Services
Run → services.msc → Detailed list of Windows 2000 services.
Windows 2000 Service Settings
4. Speed Up Startup and Increase Recovery Time
Increase the time Windows 2000 shows the operating system list during startup. If you're not a network administrator, you can disable "Write events to system log" and "Send administrative alerts," and set "Write debugging information" to "None."
5. Remove Unnecessary Components
(1) Remove folder options' file hiding, read-only attributes;
(2) Open the SYSOC.INI file in the WINNT\INF folder with Notepad, change ",hide" to empty, save and exit. Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs → Add/Remove Windows Components, modify according to needs.
6. Disable CD Auto-play
During startup, opening the CD auto-play feature slows down boot times. Run → gpedit.msc → Administrative Templates, set whether to auto-play CDs.
7. Quick Login to Computer System
System Properties → Network ID → Network Identification → Follow the "Network Identification Wizard" instructions.
When setting, choose "This machine is for home use, not part of a business network" and "Windows always assumes the following user has logged into this machine."
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WinNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon,
(1) Set AutoAdminLogon to "1"
(2) Set DefaultDomainName to the domain name or local computer name for login
(3) Set DefaultUserName to the automatic login username
(4) Set DefaultPassword to the plaintext password. (Note: All these are string values.)
If you want to temporarily disable automatic login or need to log in with another username, hold down the Shift key during startup.
8. Speed Up Explorer Startup
In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\Namespace,
Delete [D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF] (Task Scheduler)
9. Windows 2000 Boot Disk Creation:
(1) Windows 2000 Boot Disk: D:\BootDisk\Makeboot A:
(2) Windows 2000 Boot Disk: NTDLR, NTLDRCT.COM, BOOT.INI, IO.SYS
(3) Windows 2000 Emergency Repair Disk (ERD): NTBACKUP.EXE