Windows 7 is a great operating system, but there are a few tweaks you can make to make it even more successful. Here are three tips to get your Windows 7 installation off to a good start:

  1. Make sure your computer is up-to-date with the latest security patches. Windows 7 comes with built-in security features that can be improved by installing updates from Microsoft.
  2. Disable unnecessary programs and services. This will help reduce the amount of time and space required for Windows 7 installation, and also improve system performance.
  3. Use an easy-to-use installer. Microsoft’s installer is one of the most user-friendly options available, and it will take you through step by step instructions on how to install Windows 7 on your computer.

Back in the day, it was common to apply dozens of tweaks to Windows XP to get things just the way you wanted and to significantly improve performance. Are there equivalent tweaks for the modern incarnations of Windows?

Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.

The Question

SuperUser reader Anonymous Coward wants to tweak his Windows 7 installation:

We remember all too well the laundry list of tweaks necessary to really make Windows XP use an enjoyable and snappy experience.

Is there such a guide for Windows 7? Suggestions?

The Answer

SuperUser contributor Factor Mystic offers some solid (and stern) advice:

Hands down, the only serious problems we’ve had with Windows 7 (and its descendant Windows 8) have centered on mucking around with tweaks and then later forgetting the changes we’ve made (e.g. why won’t X app work the way it is supposed to?! Oh right, we disabled a helper app a few months ago.) So the moral of the story is: Windows is pretty great right out of the box these days, but if you’re going to poke around disabling apps, making registry changes, and otherwise customizing your experience, make sure to keep a simple text log so you can look back and see the changes you’ve made.

The system is quite good enough as it is; it’s not 1998 any more.

Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.