Here's how to do it:

1. Go to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader (replace the C if you installed on another drive, like I did).

2. Create a new folder called plug_ins_disabled.

3. Move all files from the plug_ins folder to the plug_ins_disabled folder except EWH32.api, printme.api, and search.api. There should only be these 3 files in the plug_ins folder.

4. You're done.

Some times we need to stop some restart process quickly. In windows XP some times it gives auto restart warning and here is good solution for it.

1. Go to Start menu

2. Click on RUN

3. Enter the following command excluding hashcodes "shutdown -a"

its Done.

;Modifying the Autochk.exe Time-out (Scandisk Delay) Value from 10 seconds to 3 Seconds

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager]

"AutoChkTimeOut"=dword:00000003

;Disable Automatic Restart in the event of a System Crash / BSOD

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl]

"AutoReboot"=dword:00000000

;Disable The Windows XP Desktop Cleanup Wizard

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\CleanupWiz]

"NoRun"=dword:00000001

;Speed up Network Browsing by Removing Network Scheduled Tasks

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RemoteComputer\NameSpace\{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}]

;Disables Windows Take A Tour Bubble Popup

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour]

"RunCount"=dword:00000000

;Disable Remote Registry Service

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry]

"Start"=dword:00000004

;Removes the Recent Documents from the Start menu.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoRecentDocsMenu"=dword:00000001

;Classic Search, Full Path In Title Bar And Address Bar.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]

"FullPath"=dword:00000000

"FullPathAddress"=dword:00000001

"Use Search Asst"="no"

"Settings"=hex:0c,00,02,00,1b,01,e7,77,60,00,00,00

;Allows Renaming of Recycle Bin

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]

"Attributes"=hex:50,01,00,20

"CallForAttributes"=dword:00000000

;Disables Low Diskspace Warnings

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000001

;Do you want to Speedup the Windows XP Start Menu?

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"MenuShowDelay"="2"

;Maximize Your Internet Explorer's Simultaneous Downloads From 2 to 10 Connections

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]

"MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server"=dword:0000000a

"MaxConnectionsPerServer"=dword:0000000a

;Remove the Queue-it-up, Burn to CD right click options on Windows Media Player files. 

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{CE3FB1D1-02AE-4a5f-A6E9-D9F1B4073E6C}] 

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F1B9284F-E9DC-4e68-9D7E-42362A59F0FD}] 

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8DD448E6-C188-4aed-AF92-44956194EB1F}]

;Removes Sign up with Passport Wizard when trying to sign in MSN Messenger First time

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Passport]

"RegistrationCompleted"=dword:00000001

;Disables Preview (Thumbnails) of Movie File Formats (Allowing You To Move/Rename/Delete without Errors)

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.avi\ShellEx]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpg\ShellEx]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpe\ShellEx]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mpeg\ShellEx]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mov\ShellEx]

;Open Explorer From My Computer or Any Folder (Power users love this)

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

@="explore"

;Remove 'Shortcut To ...' Prefix when you create new Shortcut

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

"link"=hex:00,00,00,00

;This adds 'Command Prompt here' on Right Click Menu (When you right click on a Drive/Folder)

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Command Prompt Here]

@="Command &Prompt Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Command Prompt Here\command]

@="cmd.exe /k cd %1 "

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\Command Prompt Here]

@="Command &Prompt Here"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\Command Prompt Here\command]

@="cmd.exe /k cd %1 "

;Remove Shared Documents folders from My Computer System Folder

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}]

;Disable the Unread Mail Message on the Welcome Screen

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UnreadMail\]

"MessageExpiryDays"=dword:00000000

;Disable Compress Old Files (This is useful when Disk Cleanup Tool Stops Responding While Compressing Old Files)

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches\Compress old files]

;Windows Explorer Crashes When Opening Folder Containing avi/video files

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}\InProcServer32]

;Disabling the File Association Web Service 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system]

"NoInternetOpenWith"=dword:00000001

to add a user:

net user /add

to remove

net user /remove

Try typing net help... or net help user. The former gives descriptions about each of the commands that can be used with net and the latter gives a description of the command net user.

Stopping Unneeded Startup Services

Along with the core operating system and programs that Windows XP runs when it starts, there is also a host of services involved. Many of these services are necessary for Windows XP to operate correctly. However, many of them are for features in Windows XP that you may not use at all. You can peruse the services and disable any service that you do not want to run. The fewer services that run, the more quickly Windows XP will boot.

Caution:

Exercise caution when stopping services. If you do not know what a service does or are unsure of the ramifications of stopping the service, leave it alone. Some services are critical to Windows XP's operations, so make sure you understand what the service is before you disable it.

To reduce the number of services that start on bootup, you can access two different areas of Windows XP. The first is the System Configuration Utility. The Services tab shows you the services that start when the computer boots.

You can stop a service from starting by simply clearing the check box next to the service and clicking OK. However, before you do so, there is another way to disable services that you may prefer because the interface gives you more information about the service in question.

Open Control Panel/Administrative ToolsServices or else select Start/Run, type services.msc, and click OK. Either way, you see the Services console.

I prefer to use the Services console instead of the System Configuration Utility because it describes what the service does. Additionally, you can double-click a service and examine its properties.

Notice the Startup Type column in Figure 4-2. This information lists whether the service is automatic or manual. Manual services are only started in Windows XP when you start a process that requires the service. Some other process may require the service that has a "dependency" relationship with it; in this case, the dependency service will start, as well. Because these services do not start automatically when you boot Windows XP, you do not need to do anything with manual services.

However, all services listed as automatic start when Windows XP boots. These are the services that increase boot time. As I have mentioned, many of them are necessary and important, so you should not stop automatic services from booting unless you are sure of the ramifications. You can get this information by looking at the Description column. Here's a quick look at common services you may want to live without:

Automatic Updates: This service enables Windows XP to check the Web automatically for updates. If you don't want to use Automatic Updates, you can disable the service. You can always check for updates manually at the Windows Update Web site.

Computer Browser: If your computer is not on a network, you don't need this service. If you are on a network, leave it alone.

DHCP Client: If you are not on a network, you do not need this service. If you are on a small workgroup, you can still increase boot time by configuring manual IP addresses (which I explore later in this chapter).

DNS Client: If you are not on a network, you do not need this service. If you are, leave it alone.

Error Reporting and Event Log: You don't have to use these services but they can be very helpful, so I would leave them configured as automatic.

Fax: If you don't use your computer for fax services, you can disable this one.

Help and Support: If you never use the Windows XP Help and Support Center (found on the Start menu), you can disable this service.

IMAPI CD-Burning COM: This service enables you to burn CDs on your computer. If you never burn CDs, you can disable the service.

Indexing Service: Your computer keeps an index of files but if you rarely search for files, the service is just a resource hog. You can stop it and turn the service to manual.

Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing: If you do not use these features, you can disable them.

Infrared Monitor: If you do not use infrared devices, you can disable this service.

Messenger: This service sends alert messages on a local area network (it is not the same as Windows Messenger). If you are not on a network, you can disable this service.

Print Spooler: If you do not do any printing from the computer, you can disable this service. If you print, make sure you leave it as automatic.

Remote Registry: This service allows remote users to modify the Registry on your computer. If you are not on a network, you can disable this service.

System Restore Service: This service allows you to use System Restore. If you have turned off System Restore anyway, you do not need to turn off the service. If you do, you turn off System Restore.

Themes: If you do not use themes, you can disable this service.

Windows Image Acquisition: If you do not use scanners or digital cameras, you can disable this service.

Wireless Zero Configuration: If do not use wireless networking devices, you can disable this service.

Run SYSEDIT.EXE from the Run command.

Expand the system.ini file window.

Scroll down almost to the end of the file till you find a line called [386enh].

Press Enter to make one blank line, and in that line type

Irq14=4096

Note: This line IS CASE SENSITIVE!!!

Click on the File menu, then choose Save.

Close SYSEDIT and reboot your computer.

Done. Speed improvement will be noticed after the computer reboots.
Update: The most speed improvement is visible with IDE drives, however there are reports that this tweak also does good for SCSI disks. In any case, it won't harm your system, so why not try it yourself and let me know what you find.