What are the Best Ways to Optimize Windows 8.1?

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koolx

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Hello guys. I'm trying to find ways to optimize my windows 8.1 as much as humanly possible. I got some questions...

1) Which services do I disable?

2) How do I best optimize the ram?

3) How do I minimize as much as possible the start up time?
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Update Pro in Hyper-V/Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Cliff's Black & Blue Wonder
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-9900K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero
    Memory
    32 GB Quad Kit, G.Skill Trident Z RGB Series schwarz, DDR4-3866, 18-19-19-39-2T
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GeForce RTX 3090 ROG Strix O24G, 24576 MB GDDR6X
    Sound Card
    (1) HD Webcam C270 (2) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (3) Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ BL2711U(4K) and a hp 27vx(1080p)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
    Hard Drives
    C: Samsung 960 EVO NVMe M.2 SSD
    E: & O: Libraries & OneDrive-> Samsung 850 EVO 1TB
    D: Hyper-V VM's -> Samsung PM951 Client M.2 512Gb SSD
    G: System Images -> HDD Seagate Barracuda 2TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX1000i High Performance ATX Power Supply 80+ Platinum
    Case
    hanteks Enthoo Pro TG
    Cooling
    Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB TT Premium-Edition 360mm and 3 Corsair blue LED fans
    Keyboard
    Trust GTX THURA
    Mouse
    Trust GTX 148
    Internet Speed
    25+/5+ (+usually faster)
    Browser
    Edge; Chrome; IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender of course & Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit as a
    Other Info
    Router: FRITZ!Box 7590 AX V2
    Sound system: SHARP HT-SBW460 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
    Webcam: Logitech BRIO ULTRA HD PRO WEBCAM 4K webcam with HDR
I would avoid doing anything with system services. The performance benefits are highly overrated and the potential risks are much higher. This is a minefield where even experts go wrong. The problem is that there is no full documentation anywhere of what each service does so guides like Black Viper must often guess. Sometimes they guess wrong and that can mean some difficult troubleshooting for you. Setting a service startup to Manual is not a safe alternative to disabling it.

There is nothing to optimize with RAM. The so called memory optimizers are worse than useless.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Defrag regularly (I use Mydefrag)

Clean junk and registry using Ccleaner

With task manager -> startup to disable startup apps and make it start quicker.

Have at least 4 GB RAM
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Intel Celeron G530
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-H61M-S2-B3
    Memory
    6GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5450
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S19B150
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Laptop Toshiba 320GB
    PSU
    450W
    Case
    Old one
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Generic
    Internet Speed
    30mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None
    Other Info
    Netbook Samsung N145 Plus, with Windows 8.1 64 bit and Windows XP SP3, 2GB RAM
Install lots of ram, a ssd and call it a day
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570 @ 3.4GHZ
    Motherboard
    Lenovo Mahobay
    Memory
    16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG L192WS
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro
    Seagate ST31000524AS
    PSU
    Corsair HX620
    Case
    Thermaltake V4
    Cooling
    CoolerMaster Hyper212+
    Keyboard
    Dell SK-8115
    Mouse
    Razer Copperhead
    Internet Speed
    100Mbit up/dn
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MSE (Built-In Windows 8)
I would avoid doing anything with system services. The performance benefits are highly overrated and the potential risks are much higher. This is a minefield where even experts go wrong. The problem is that there is no full documentation anywhere of what each service does so guides like Black Viper must often guess. Sometimes they guess wrong and that can mean some difficult troubleshooting for you. Setting a service startup to Manual is not a safe alternative to disabling it.

I would tend to agree. However, Black Viper has been around since probably Win 95 and I have followed his recommendations for years without an issue. That said, given the speed of today's PCs and the sophistication of newer operating systems, any tweaking of services probably won't produce the noticeable performance gains it used to.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
1) Which services do I disable?
Already mentioned Black Viper is a good guide: Black Viper’s Windows 8.1 Service Configurations
But obviously, depending on on your needs, there might be services you need or do not.
Look at my screen bellow, it shows the only services, I am running, the rest is stopped.

2) How do I best optimize the ram?
Disable Superfetch, which preloads junk and www.pcwintech.com/cleanmem
Note that Superfetch might be useful, disable, restart and see the effects.

3) How do I minimize as much as possible the start up time?
Clean up junk and disable startup items with CCleaner, then update drivers, defragment HDD.
www.eightforums.com/tutorials/44351-winsxs-folder-component-store-clean-up-windows-8-1-a.html

www.wisecleaner.com/wise-care-365.html contains Boot assistant among others, which measures you boot time and advice you about changes, but do not forget to disable it afterwards, it also slows down boot. :)

There are also many scheduled tasks by Microsoft, disabling them might get you a little CPU/RAM back.
I delete those, delete because when disabled, some re-enable later. But disable for testing at first.
Code:
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\.NET Framework[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\AppID[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Autochk[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Customer Experience Improvement[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Defrag[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\DiskCleanup[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\DiskFootprint[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Feedback[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\File Classification Infrastructure[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\FileHistory[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\IME[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Location[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Maintenance[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Maps[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Mobile Broadband Accounts[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\MUI[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Multimedia[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\NetCfg[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\NetTrace[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\NetworkDriverPlatform[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Offline Files[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\PerfTrack[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Power Efficiency Diagnostics[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\RAc[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Ras[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\RemoteAssistance[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Shell - FamilySafetyRefresh / IndexerAutomaticMaintenance[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\SpacePort[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\TextServicesFramework[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Time Zone[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\TPM[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\User Data Service[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\User Profile Service[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\WDI[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Error Reporting[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Filtering Platform[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Media Sharing[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Wininet[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"][COLOR=#000000]\Microsoft\Windows\Workplace Join[/COLOR][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo E525
    CPU
    AMD A4-3300M @ 2,0GHz
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6480G 512MB shared
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    WD 465GB
    Cooling
    Fusion Tweaker
    Keyboard
    Logitech K360
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    50/50 MBps
    Browser
    Yandex
    Antivirus
    No AV & No Firewall
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170
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