Todays windows optimization tip

+1 to that, Alex
 
And I recommend digging deep, especially with Microsoft services - some of which do nothing but dialing home for things like customer experience feedback
 
I remember one weird occasion when we had a heavy work session with Sonar and all worked fine for 8 hours, but suddenly changed to getting drop-outs for no obvious reason ... and since this happened right after midnight I got a tip from a forumite to go check the remaining scheduled tasks - and bingo: there was one of these useless buggers that had awoken to disturb DAW peace ...
 
 

Being a PC tech, I keep a fairly "vanilla" system.  However, I do go through and disable the Ethernet NIC, stop other programs such as Malwarebytes, Logitech monitor, AMD Video helper, etc., before recording (or mixing).  After I'm done, I enable the Ethernet NIC and then restart the PC to bring everything back.
 
Another thing I do after I finish whatever recording/mixing, etc is to back up the project to a second hard drive.   

fireberd
Being a PC tech, I keep a fairly "vanilla" system.  However, I do go through and disable the Ethernet NIC, stop other programs such as Malwarebytes, Logitech monitor, AMD Video helper, etc., before recording (or mixing).  After I'm done, I enable the Ethernet NIC and then restart the PC to bring everything back.
 
Another thing I do after I finish whatever recording/mixing, etc is to back up the project to a second hard drive.   

Hmmm..different strokes I guess, but I have zero issues with any of that. I also run a vanilla system with some tweaks, but I certainly have no need to go thorugh that rather irksome process..Of course, as always YMMV.

Alex,
 
This sort of information for DAW tuning is so useful.  I wish there was a DAW tuning wiki (is there?) or something like that where the universe of knowledge for optimized DAW tweaking was available for the mortal user.
 
Can you imagine a DAW install/optimize utility that actually goes out and checks this stuff for you and makes recommendations and tweaks upon user approval?  I'm imagining it...

CakeAlexS
Sorry few things I disagree with.....

Using msconfig to disable services or apps is not recommended at all. This is generally only used for troubleshooting purposes and not optimizing!
 
Before you remove or tweak anything check to see if you can remove some applications in you control panel first under "uninstall a program".
 
If you need services just go to control panel and search for services, or find it through administrative tools.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc736564%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
 
As far as startup is concerned, once you are certain you can get rid of a process it is better to delete it rather than disable it (you could then audition with msconfig but google generally tells you all you need to know), I use ccleaner for this (although I've also been know to delete the registry keys).... check here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/74523/
 
There are lots of methods but you should not use msconfig unless you are troubleshooting or doing something that is temporary.
 
If you want to see what is going on Process Monitor is highly recommended.
 
You should never disable the task scheduler , but you should check to see what it is it is actually running. There is some stuff there you want to run. More info:
 
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2013/07/15/why-you-shouldn-t-disable-the-task-scheduler-service-in-windows-7-and-windows-8.aspx
 
cc-Cleaner is also good at cleaning up the disk and the registry. Some people don't like cleaning up the registry, the reasons are valid enough, I can understand that, but I do it and have never had a problem.
 
Always update your drivers, always run windows update.
Finally defrag! and Run chkdsk often.
Every six months I recommend running sfc /scannow but that's not strictly necessary.
 
And have a backup/rollback strategy. !!!

We should agree to disagree. I don't use msconfig to optimize. I use it to turn things off while I record music. Things that in the past are needed but have personally caused me problems during the recording process. If I could have a computer to just record music that is what I would do. This PC is used for a lot of other things. It is easier to unplug from the internet and shut the update services off then to deal with windows updates, skype update, google update or an apple update running in the background while I am trying to record music. Many times I am unaware when some these updates start until it is ready to download or install.
 
It is frustrating for me to be in the middle of working out a guitar solo only to have windows tell me that the updates are done would you like to reboot, or have a skype update banner flash during the recording process.
 
The way I choose not to deal with this is to shut it off until I am done recording. I don't want to get rid of start up apps. I just want to disable them temporarily. msconfig works just fine for that and I believe that is what it is for in the first place.
 
I agree a backup/rollback strategy is important. The goal here is not optimizing and it is not troubleshooting. it is avoiding problems that have happened to me and ruined perfectly good audio takes. That kills any creative inspiration for me.
 
I don't want to uninstall the program that I disabled. registry cleaners have messed up my computer way more then using msconfig. In fact I can't think of one time msconfig has messed anything up on my systems. 
 
I will say that since I have been doing this Sonar has been rock solid for me X1 through X3. I have not had any of the major issues that I read about on this forum. I have had hardware issues, but that was not the fault of Sonar or Windows 7.
 
I am not saying everyone should do this. People have their own methods. This is the way I approach the problem. It works for me. I know you would not disable the task scheduler and that is fine for you. I don't need those things running when I am recording music.
 
So yes before I record music I disable the internet and I shut down programs that I don't want running in the background. Personally even though this approach may seem unconventional and unpopular to some on this forum, it works for me and I have not had any major issues with the X series (software wise) now excuse me while I find a piece of wood to knock on
 

Hi Alex,
 
The link you posted said this about task scheduler
 
"Because disabling the task scheduler does not make your system more secure, nor does it increase system performance.  In fact, it makes your system less secure in Windows 8, and in Windows 7 and 8 makes performance worse, especially over time.
In Windows 7 the Task Scheduler is responsible for background health and cleaning processes such as optimizing prefetch and readyboot for instance.  It also handles light defragmentation runs on the system."
 
I don't disagree with this at all. I just don't want defragmentation to run. I don't want any other cleaning processes to start while I am recording. I am not connected to the internet during the recording process so that is better security then a firewall can provide. I think the performance issues arise when you leave task scheduler disabled. I don't do that. I only disable it for the hours I am recording. Same thing with updates and the other services that are disabled.
 
The goal here is not optimization. That is done at another time. The goal here is a quick turn off and then a turn everything back on when I am done so the computer does not decide to optimize on its own. As far as the start up apps go I agree. Use uninstall and get rid of junk. The things I disable are things I want to keep and turn back on shortly.
 
In fact I really don't disagree with a lot of what you posted for optimization. your right
 
I use msconfig because it is quick. Once again the goal is not optimization or backing up the system. I only own one home computer. Unfortunately for me I got to use it for everything. The other computers in the house belong to my wife and children. They each have their own because they can't use mine.
 
Skype is installed to keep up with family members and friends some of them are in the military. Sonar is not used here as a business. This is just a project studio. Although I have made some money on the side it is only so I can legally write Sonar and other music gear off my taxes.
 
I wish I had the money for a dedicated machine to be just a DAW that would be nice. but right now the funds are not available.

I really run virtually anything on my computer with no obvious negative effects on my DAW performance. Uninstalling programs you tried and don't need anymore is good advice though,and obviously you don't want to actually be running Skype or the Java Updater while you're recording.

Rubbish, msconfig is designed as a troubleshooting tool and has always been misused. Just because people use it widely doesn't mean it isn't being misused. And no it isn't dangerous it's just not best practice. It should not be encouraged as a performance tool, rather a tool for temporary changes.

"most of these tricks became totally useless"

Absolute rubbish again... Total and utter. You sound like Microsoft when they said defragging was totally unnecessary with NT3. The next release they supplied a defragger.

Name one of the items that I posted that is useless. They all work and can perform significant improvements. Often I use them as troubleshootong steps when people have performance problems and with some success. Virus scanner exclusions , defrag, schedule, startup program, windows update item, driver update, chkdsk all contribute to a stable and quick system and can bring huge improvements to performance and stability.

The only one debatable is registry optimisation as I clearly statated at the beginning and agree its dangerous to tweek the registry unless you know what you are doing. Funily enough you seem to use that one as the example. And as I stated I totally disagree with disabling task scheduler, it should be tweeked.

Everything is incorrect for window 8 :) You just press the start button and type it assuming it is set up nicely. Good point though.

CakeAlexS
Name one of the items that I posted that is useless. They all work and can perform significant improvements. Often I use them as troubleshootong steps when people have performance problems and with some success. Virus scanner exclusions , defrag, schedule, startup program, windows update item, driver update, chkdsk all contribute to a stable and quick system and can bring huge improvements to performance and stability.
The only one debatable is registry optimisation as I clearly statated at the beginning and agree its dangerous to tweek the registry unless you know what you are doing. Funily enough you seem to use that one as the example. And as I stated I totally disagree with disabling task scheduler, it should be tweeked.

I was not writing about YOUR items (which are wellknown and ok for me), but, more generally, about the tons of so called optimization tweaks that we can find on the Net, including disabling services, registry tips and so on ; and it was only to warn the beginners (the others don't really need my advices, i guess).
Sorry if it was not clear.
Also, i have not exactly the same thought about the msconfig, but it seems that your way works for you, and that mine works for me, so we can verify that "tous les chemins mènent à Rome" ;-) !
About the task scheduler, i never had the idea to disable it, and i won't (thanks for the link).
Nb :
I am an old timer (bought my first PC in 1984 - a Compaq AT286 !), so maybe i have bad habits...

Marcus will get back to you if somebody else hasn't by then...
 

Wow, i will try it (don't know a lot about user account customization) !

With a separate user account you can decide what startup programs you don't want. For instance when I load my business account, there are a whole bunch of processes related to Quickbooks running, as well as some related to Google Drive and my Google/Outlook sync. Plus lots of other stuff that I don't want running when I'm using Sonar. I believe when you create a new user account it has it's own startup folder.

Another advantage is that you can have separate settings for things like appearance (turn off Aero for example) and Windows sounds. And all of your music related data that's stored in your User folder will be kept separate.

I just find it more convenient overall. It doesn't give you massively significant performance or stability gains, but you might get some if your regular startup programs are interfering with your audio production in some way.