Leaner and Faster Windows XP Home with alternate shell

[BayouPinoy]

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An itch for redocorating my older laptop came up, prompting a search for alternate Windows shells. Came across this http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/. Installed, tried, and then promptly replaced the default shell with the bblean version. I turned off a few services (my laptop has 250 mb with 60 shared for video, so it can be slooow with xp home plus an av, firewall, and a web browser). The replacement shell + a "few" disabled services did make a difference. There are a few issues with functionality associated with Windows explorer as outlined on the web site. It is working fine for me so far, though. As always, the standard disclaimers apply (install and use at your own risk) and YMMV.

I like the clean look of the replacement shell. It has a fully functional toolbar, and at least four virtual desktops.

[img width=500 height=375]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/BayouPinoy/march06/bblean1.jpg[/img]



One feature I like is that you can alternately minimize an application into a floating toolbar.

[img width=500 height=375]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/BayouPinoy/march06/bblean2.jpg[/img]



Some of my disabled services. Note: My internet connection is broadband at home and at work so I don't use any of the telephony stuff.

[img width=500 height=375]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/BayouPinoy/march06/svcs1.jpg[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/BayouPinoy/march06/svcs2.jpg[/img]

[godCode]

yeah, naka suway ko gamit anang BB4Win pero hasulan kaayo ko. pero nindot gud raba na.

[BayouPinoy]

I know what you mean by the "hasul" factor. Alternative shells aren't for everybody, just as a linux desktop isn't for the average computer user (IMHO). At one time, I had a Linux installation, OS/2, Windows 98, and Windows NT on one computer, so I have a pretty good idea of how "hasul" it can get. Once the new Windows VISTA ships out, many will be stuck with a really huge Windows install that might just be slooow even on current bleeding edge systems. I say bring back DOS!

One the subject of a leaner, meaner Windows XP home on a limited resource laptop, I came across and installed "Off By One' (http;//www.offbyone.com) browser. This browser does not do the fancy stuff, does not render some images, no scripting support, etc. etc. but at 4.2 mb loaded and running, you can tell this is fast, light, and zippy. Very useful for quick looks.

Lean, mean, but basic:

[img width=500 height=375]http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/BayouPinoy/offbyone.jpg[/img]

[BadDudes]

hmmm much like talisman desktop .... http://www.lighttek.com/talisman.htm ...

[hombre]

talisman is a commercial product... and blackbox for windows does not necessarily makes your xp leaner and faster. just try to load plugins/modules like bbsysmeter, bboscilloscope, those that read rss feeds, etc. and you'll see what i mean. xoblite.net for more blackbox plugins.

you can also make your xp leaner and faster by selecting the classic win2k desktop, but that means no fancy visualstyle...

you can also try using litestep for an alternative win32 shell.

"floating toolbar"? google winroll

ps. i've posted my litestep and my bblean desktop on the desktop screenshots thread

[Mabix]

ooooo nice nice

[BayouPinoy]

talisman is a commercial product... and blackbox for windows does not necessarily makes your xp leaner and faster. just try to load plugins/modules like bbsysmeter, bboscilloscope, those that read rss feeds, etc. and you'll see what i mean. xoblite.net for more blackbox plugins.

you can also make your xp leaner and faster by selecting the classic win2k desktop, but that means no fancy visualstyle...

you can also try using litestep for an alternative win32 shell.

"floating toolbar"? google winroll

ps. i've posted my litestep and my bblean desktop on the desktop screenshots thread

I agree---you add the "unnecessary" plugins, you might as well revert to the explorer shell. I will still stick with my original objective of making my current XP Home "leaner and faster" because after I installed the alternate shell, with oe express, kerio firewall, symantec AV, the alternative web browser, and a few services disabled (nb: wired to a cable modem--havent had the chance to run the wireless access---I expect to take a hit from the wifi module), I am able to run the whole thing at under 200 mb. Configuring XP to run in "performance mode" frees up some resources, but not by much. The explorer shell is a memory hog to start with. Explored using other firewall options---had to stick with Kerio because I do not have time to learn the nuances of a couple of other freeware firewall apps. Symantec AV is a memory hog in itself. Prior to this, I was regularly using up about 230-240 mb. I submit this is a signfiicant difference in terms of actual memory used. Of course if I go crazy with the plugins, then you add x mb per plugin, etc. I am not doing this on my desktop or my other latop because I have sufficient onboard memory. I am doing this for older systems with marginal memory, e.g., my beat up laptop to: 1) extend its life, and 2) not experience as much perceived "performance lag" when I multitask among my systems. Have explored and have used some other shell alternatives. The most basic one was a featureless desktop and you had to run your apps from a command line. Thats just too basic for me.

[hombre]

for me, an alternative could and should act like the one it is replacing i want the "unnecessary" plugins since those are what i've been using with my default xp shell. i could always install linux for the kind of lean and fast system that you want (browser, email, av, firewall)... but that's just me.

anyways, you could also try lynx for dos/windows for your browser, pine for dows/windows for your email, clamwin for your av, and run windows without services (http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/200...-services.html) - the last part is not recommended by the way the list of windows services, and their functions, are listed on www.blackviper.com...

[BayouPinoy]

Somebody's trash is always somebody's gold...Same goes for "unnecessary" plugins. Don't need icons or slits if I can access the files from an "alternate" file explorer. If I had a licensed SAS or an ArcView GIS version that runs on Linux, trust me I would have had Linux on this poor old laptop. All a matter of personal need and perspective. I stand by my terminology of "alternative shell." Google apparently agrees too. Well partly anyways--1,740,000 hits include terms like replacement, tweaks, etc. But let's not go there. As for the services I have turned off, 100% of this information was from these same sites (at least what google returned), and modified based on testing and need. For example, I am unable to get Windows updates if I turn off three services. Thus, I turn these on when my other systems get their automatic update notices. Lynx just too "texty'; have tried pine and other email client alternatives as well. Just didn't get the right mix of being light and functional. Again, that's just me.