Windows 7 - Post-Install Hardening
From Wiki³
First Things First
- Install Google Chrome.
- Install Security Essentials.
Remove Windows Bloat
- Open the Start-Menu and select Control Panel.
- Click View by: and select Large icons.
- Open Programs and Features.
- In the left panel click Turn Windows features on or off.
- Deselect Games / Internet Explorer 8 / Media Features / Tablet PC Components / Windows Gadget Platform / Windows Search / XPS Services / XPS Viewer.
- Click OK to save settings and reboot to make changes.
Update Windows / Drivers
- Run Windows Update to install the latest Windows patches.
- Install all proper drivers for your hardware.
Power Profile
- Open the Start-Menu and select Control Panel.
- Open Power Options.
- Select the High Performance plan and click change plan settings.
- Click Change advanced power settings.
- Navigate to Hard disk > Turn off hard disk after and change it to Never.
- Click OK to save changes.
Speed Up Boot Time
- WINKEY + R to bring up the run dialog.
- Run msconfig to open the system configuration.
- Navigate to the Boot tab.
- Make sure No GUI boot is checked.
- Set the Timeout to 3 seconds.
- Click Apply and then OK to save the changes. Confirm the Restart.
Modify Services
- Black Viper's Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Service Configurations
I typically follow the column entitled "Safe" and then peruse through the "Tweaked" column to see if there is anything else I can squeeze out. I also modify the following:
— NVIDIA Display Driver Service: Disabled
— Superfetch: Disabled
Enable GodMode
- Right-click the Desktop and select New > Folder.
- Name the folder God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
