Optimizing Virtual PC for Mac

I haven't really found a single "good" repository for details on how to optimize Windows XP for running within Virtual PC for Mac - so I thought I'd create my own list here (for future reference) This will make windows as ugly as possible (but who needs "pretty" when running OSX?, and "potentially insecure" (but, then again, you're running windows...so no big deal, right?). I also don't care about sound or printing from within my VM - so you may not want to trim as hard as I do... I do the following after a clean install of Windows XP:

1. Deactivate sticky keys - this drives me nuts! Under accessibility Options, shut off sticky keys, filter keys, toggle keys, and everything else annoying.


2. Uninstall everything that is not going to be used - this includes all components and accessories that are atuomatically installed with windows. You don't need to use a calculator within a virtual machine... :)


3. Install VPC additions


4. On Start | Run... | Sysdm.cpl, do the following:
   
   1. Advanced | Settings | Performance - set "Adjust for best performance"
   
   
   2. System Restore - turn off system restore
   
   
   3. Automatic Updates - turn off Automatic Updates
   
   
   4. Remote - uncheck remote assistance invitiation
   
   
   5. Hardware | Device Manager - disable the sound card (Sound Blaster 16), Standard Game Port, COM1, COM2, and LPT1 (I don't connect anything to my VM, and I don't like sound coming from it - so why burden it?)
   
   


5. Under Start | Run | Desk.cpl do the following:
   
   1. Themes - Choose "Windows Classic"
   
   
   2. Desktop - Choose "None" for the background
   
   
   3. Screen Saver - choose "None"
   
   
   4. Screen Saver | Power - Set to never shut off
   
   
   5. Appearance | Effects - Uncheck everything except to underline letters
   
   
   6. Settings - Set resolution as low as you can handle - I personally think that 1152x768 works really well on my PowerBook G4...


6. Right-click start menu and choose "Properties", then:
   1. Start Menu - Select "Classic Start Menu
   2. Start Menu | Customize - Uncheck "Use Personalized Menus"
   3. Toolbar - Uncheck "Hide inactive icons"


7. Start | Run | Wscui.cpl and do:
   
   
   1. Shut off firewall
   
   
   2. Resources | Change the way security center alerts me - uncheck everything


8. Under c:\ | Tools | Folder Options:
   
   
   1. View - Uncheck "Automatically search for network folders" and "Remember each folder's view settings"
   
   
   2. Click "Apply", then "Apply to all folders"


9. Open "My Computer" | Search | Change Preferences and turn off animated assistant


10. Turn off fast user switching and welcome screen


11. Start | Run | Services.msc, and stop and set to manual each of the following:
    
    
    1. Application Layer Gateway Service
    
    
    2. Automatic Updates
    
    
    3. Cryptographic Services
    
    
    4. Distributed Link Tracking Client
    
    
    5. IPSec Services
    
    
    6. Logical Disk Manager
    
    
    7. Network Location Awareness
    
    
    8. Print Spooler
    
    
    9. Protected Storage
    
    
    10. Remote Registry
    
    
    11. Secondary Login
    
    
    12. Security Center
    
    
    13. Shell Hardware Detection
    
    
    14. Task Scheduler
    
    
    15. TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
    
    
    16. Themes
    
    
    17. WebClient
    
    
    18. Windows Audio
    
    
    19. Windows Firewall/ICS
    
    
    20. Wireless Zero Configuration


12. Cleanup and defrag c:\


13. Backup this VM - it's a good starting place

I also allocate as much RAM as possible to my VM, and shut off all the extras (sound, network, etc) in my VPC settings.

It works for me. Now VPC is usable...