4-1 Optimizing System Performance

> Manage and troubleshoot driver signing.

Driver signing can be accessed from System Properties under the hardware tab.

> Configure, manage, and troubleshoot the Task Scheduler.

To use the Task Scheduler: In Control Panel double-click the Scheduled Tasks folder.

To schedule a new task: Double-click Add Scheduled Task. Follow the instructions in the Scheduled Task wizard.

To stop Task Scheduler: On the Advanced menu, click Stop Using Task Scheduler.

To modify a Scheduled Task: Right-click the task you want to modify, and then click Properties.

• To change the program being run, in Run, type the path for the new program. To change the schedule for the task, click the Schedule tab. To customize the settings for the task, click the Settings tab. To set security for the task, click the Security tab.

> Manage and troubleshoot the use and synchronization of offline files.

By using Offline Files, you can continue to work with any shared files or folders on a Microsoft network, even when you are not connected to the network. You can make files available offline from any computer that supports Server Message Block-based (SMB) File and Printer Sharing, including Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0. But you can not use offline files on Novell NetWare networks.

To set up Offline Files:

• Open My Computer, on the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
• On the Offline Files tab, make sure that the Enable Offline Files check box is selected. Select Synchronize all offline files before logging off to get a full synchronization. Leave it unselected for a quick synchronization.

To make a file or folder available offline:

• In My Computer or My Network Places, click the shared network file or folder that you want to make available offline.
• On the File menu, click Make Available Offline.
• To undo making a file or folder available offline, right-click the item and click Make Available Offline again to remove the check mark.

> Optimize Windows 2000 Professional desktop.

The location and size of the paging file can greatly affect performance. Putting the paging file on a separate, fast, low-use drive can boost performance. The size setting of the paging file is also critical to performance. A paging file that must constantly expand and shrink requires additional processor and I/O overhead. Usually, you should set the size of your paging file at two or two-and-a-half times the amount of installed physical memory.