Microsoft Windows performance tips that worked for me

- disable User Access Control http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm

- disable Indexing http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/28450/what-is-searchindexer.exe-and-why-is-it-running/

- disable Everything Search loading on startup (if you have installed it)

- in Control Panel\Performance Information and Tools , Adjust Visual Effects by unchecking everything and leave only Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts