Best Vista Setting for Game Play:

* It is recommended to Backup the system before attempting any of these optimizations.

Windows Updates:

Have all critical updates and service packs installed.

If requested to reboot, after reboot check again for more updates and service packs.

Repeat the procedure until all critical updates and all service packs, service pack roll ups are installed.

Do not turn off computer, or do anything else while the software updates / service packs are running.

Reboot as requested by the installs, and keep going back checking until no more are available for install.

Hardware Drivers:

If you computer is more then 4 months old check your manufacturer for updated drivers.

BIOS - follow instruction and update carefully -  [do not interrupt update!]

Chipset

Critical Update Drivers:

Video / Graphics Card

Sound Card

Network Adapter

and others

* We have listed some of the sites on the Web Links Page.

Vista Opertating System Changes:

Classic Mode:

1.Right click on the "Windows Button"

2.Click on Properties

3.Click on Classic Start menu

4.Click on Apply and the OK.

* All other steps assume you all ready have the Vista in Classic Mode.

Optimize Video:

1. Right click on My Computer

2. Click on Properties

3. Click on Advanced System Settings link.

4. Click on Advanced (top) Tab

5. Click on Performance (you should be on Visual Effects (top) tab)

6. Click on - Adjust for best performance

7. Click Apply, and then OK

Optimize Virtual Memory:

1. Right click on My Computer

2. Click on Properties

3. Click on Advanced System Settings link.

4. Click on Advanced (top) Tab

5. Click on Performance

6. Click on Advanced (top) Tab

7. Click on Change button - in Virtual memory at bottom

8. Uncheck Automatically manage

9. Check - Custom size

10. Intal size - * Enter Recommend Size shown at bottom of the screen.

11. Maximum size - * Enter Recommend Size + 1000 MB or the highest it recommends it set at.

12. Click on Set

12. Click OK button

If will request to reboot the computer.

If you have more then 1 drive - it is usually good to put the virtual swap file on a different disk then the operating system Vista. The operating system windows vista is usually on the first drive C:

Very Best solution (3 drives) is too have the:

Operating System (Vista) on 1 drive C:

Game data / programs on 2 drive E:

Swap file virtual memory on 3 drive F:

* This solution would give you the very best performance possible for disk access.

Disable network auto tuning

The problem with Vista's network stack

If you’re experiencing excessive network lags on your Vista machine, especially compared to non-Vista machines, it might be worthwhile disabling auto-tuning.

1. Click Start Run and type CMD.

2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to open the command Prompt with Administrative rights.

3. At the prompt in the Command Prompt window, type the following command

4. Type in the following command: netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

5. and then press Enter

5. Type in the following command: netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled

6. and then press ENTER:

7. Type in the command: netsh int ip reset iplog.txt

8. and then press Enter

9. Reboot the computer

* the iplog.txt - is a test file to see if anything else may be wrong with your system.

Disable Services:

1. Open Control Panel - in Programs node (Add / Remove Programs)

2. The Uninstall or Change a Program window, click on the "Turn Windows Features On or Off "

3. Windows Features window click to un-select the following:

Remote Differential Compression

Indexing Service

4. click OK and Close windows

5. Reboot the system

Advanced - More Service to Disable (not required)

1. Start Window Button - Control Panel

2. Administrative Tools

3. Services - Find each service on the list one at a time.

4. Double click on a service - when opens

5. Look at startup type: change it to " Disabled "

6. Click on OK to close the box, and then find the next one.

Disable the Following Services:

Application Experience

Application Management

Diagnostic Policy Service

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Fax

Function Discovery Provider Host

Function Discovery Resource Publication

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

IP Helper

Offline Files

Tablet PC Input Service  - unless your computer is a Tablet PC or Laptop

Windows Search

7. Close the Service Window, and all other windows.

8. Reboot the computer.

Visit Black Viper for more information about services for Vista.

Software Utilties:

Install CCleaner - [ download ]

Run the cleaner on files and registery remove the recommend problems.

* Save registery backup, just incase you need to go back and restore.

Defrag the Computer -

1. click on windows button

2. click on Programs

3. click on Acessories

4. click on  System Tools

5. click on Disk Defragmenter

6. Anaylze the drive

7. Defrag the drive if necessary.

Check Disk -

If the computer has locked up serveral times and you had to physically turn it off more then one time.

Then run a Check Disk / Error Checking on each hard drive.

In most cases it will say it can not complete and wishs if you want to schedule at next reboot.

Say "YES" - close all windows and reboot for it to begin.

1. double click - My Computer

2. right click on hard drive - click once on "properties"

3. click on "Tools" tab

4. in the Error Checking section click on "Check Now" button

5. Check mark both boxes - Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and try to fix bad sectors.

6. If will most likely ask to reschedule - say "YES" and then reboot the computer.

Once complete the computer should return to desktop and be completed!