Flexible application of Windows XP hardware configuration files

When talking about the hardware configuration file, many friends ignored its role in Windows XP. In fact, if it is used properly, it can greatly improve the efficiency of the system.
What is a hardware configuration file?

The hardware configuration file refers to a series of commands that tell Windows which devices should be started and which settings of each device should be used when the computer is started. When you install Windows for the first time, the system automatically creates a hardware configuration file named "Profile 1, all devices installed on this computer are enabled in the Profile 1 hardware configuration file.

 

In the "System Properties" and "hardware" dialog box, you can see a "hardware configuration file" button, which opens the window shown in, the list of available hardware configuration files on the local computer is displayed in the "available hardware configuration files" list.

Functions of hardware configuration files

Load only the device driver in the hardware configuration file

Under "available hardware configuration file", you can use the arrow button to move the hardware configuration file to the top of the list as the default setting, in this way, only the hardware devices enabled in the selected configuration file will be loaded when Windows is started. Once a hardware configuration file is created, you can use the Device Manager to disable and enable the device in the configuration file so that the driver of the device will not be loaded the next time you start the computer, this increases the system startup speed.

Quick Switch between different work environments

As mentioned above, we can create multiple different hardware configuration files at the same time to adapt to different working environments, you only need to select the item "waiting for the user to select the hardware configuration file" in the "hardware configuration file selection" section, after the computer is started, the "hardware configuration file" option similar to the multi-boot menu will appear, and you can switch between different working environments at will.

For laptop users, hardware configuration files will be very practical, because most laptops are used on mobile occasions. When users move their laptops from one place to another, the hardware configuration file allows you to change the devices used by the computer. For example, you can create multiple hardware configuration files for different scenarios. This makes switching very convenient.

Increase startup speed

If you do not create multiple different hardware configuration files, or want to automatically load the default hardware configuration files during startup without displaying the list items, enter "0" in "seconds" in "hardware configuration file selection ". Of course, even if you still select different hardware configuration files from the list, you only need to press the Space key at startup to display the list.

Restore Default Configuration

If the hardware change exceeds a certain limit, Windows XP may require users to reactivate the system, which is very troublesome. However, if we back up the original hardware configuration file every time we install or change the hardware, just click "copy" in the window shown in Figure 1, then, type a new file name in the "copy configuration file" text box. In the future, you can re-import the hardware configuration file backed up in advance.

The preceding operations must be logged on as the system administrator.

Clear unnecessary hardware information in the system

If you often plug or remove hardware devices due to some requirements, the process of re-installing the driver will leave a lot of hardware registration information in the system, when the system starts, it will repeatedly communicate with these non-existing devices, leading to slow down the system speed. How can we clear the redundant hardware information?

You can delete the hardware configuration file Profile 1 and create a new hardware file. This is the new system. For the sake of insurance, do not delete it immediately. First click "copy" to back up (Profile 2) and rename it, for example, change it to "Profile", and then restart the computer, the following prompt is displayed:

Windows Cannot determine what configuration your computer is in select one of the following:

1. Profile

2. Profile 2

3. None of the above

Here, "1" and "2" are the existing hardware configuration files in the system. Of course we choose "3", so that Windows can re-detect the hardware, in this case, the dialog box "Check hardware" appears, prompting "Windows must be adjusted for the first time you start your computer with the new configuration. This process takes several minutes. The "configuration settings" dialog box will appear later, prompting "Windows has successfully set the configuration of the new computer, and its name is Profile 1 ", click "OK" to reinstall the driver of the hardware device.

Note: After you restart the system, remember to delete the two hardware configuration files except Profile 1. Otherwise, you will still be asked which configuration file to use when starting the system.