Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache
October 1st, 2007Your Windows system is automatically optimized to run with a second level (L2) cache sized 256KB. It’s likely that your PC has a second level cache larger than this, and you can edit your registry so that your Windows system is optimized to run with the size cache actually installed.
How to Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache (Registry Tweak Instructions)
For registry fix “Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache,” you’ll need to:
Backup your system and its important files before editing your registry.
Now, open your registry. You can open your registry by using the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.exe), which is a program automatically included with most Windows operating systems. The Registry Editor lets you view, edit, and search data within the your system’s registry. You can launch your Registry Editor many ways, and the easiest way to is to click the “Start” button, select “Run,” and type “regedit” inthe “Open” box (click here for a sample image of Registry Editor and instructions on how to use Registry Editor).
Locate the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\
Memory Management] key.
You’ll need to find or create a new DWORD value called SecondLevelDataCache. Set its value to equal your Windows system’s secondary cache size, in kilobytes (KB).
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Name: SecondLevelDataCache
Value Data: Number of kilobytes your second level cache, in noted decimals
Click here for more about registry settings.
Now you can exit your registry and Registry Editor. You’ll probably need to log out of Windows for this registry tweak to take effect.
Remember:
Modifying your system’s registry can cause serious problems that may require reinstalling your Windows OS. We can’t guarantee any problems resulting from your modifying your Window registry can be fixed. You’re using these manual Windows registry fix or registry repair instructions at your own risk. It’s highly recommended you backup your system and its important files before editing your registry.
Using a Registry Editor to Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache
When you want to perform a registry fix such as Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache, it’s necessary to understand how to use your Windows system’s Registry Editor.
Once you’ve launched Registry Editor - or “REGEDIT.exe” - you’ll notice on the left-hand side of the Registry Editor window there is a tree of folders, and on the right-hand side of the window the contents - or the “values” - of the folder you’ve selected are displayed.
Similar to when you’re using web browser Internet Explorer, when you want to expand a branch of your registry’s folder tree and see the structure of a section of the registry, you simply double-click on the folder or click once on the plus sign (+). To see the contents of a key - or “folder” - you simply click on the key and view the values listed in the right-hand side of the window.
To add a key or value, you’ll right-click the “Edit” menu with your mouse, then select “New.” You can also rename almost any key and any value in about the same way you’d rename a file on your computer: just right-click the registry key or value and select “Rename,” slowly click on the registry key or value twice, or simply press F2 on your keyboard. You can delete a registry key or registry value by clicking on it to select it and pressing “Delete,” or by right-clicking the registry value or key and selecting “Delete.”
You should backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Editing your registry can be intimidating to you if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or registry value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire Windows operating system, or damage your PC beyond repair.
About Registry Settings
Data Type
The “Data Type” refers to the type of data - or data format - of the registry value. Data types are usually:
- REG_BINARY, in which the value is stored in raw binary code.
- REG_DWORD, which is typically used for boolean values in your registry and is a four-byte number. This registry data type might show in your REGEDIT tool as a decimal or hexadecimal format.
- REG_EXPAND_SZ, which is a string of variables that are replaced when this data type is called to action by software.
- REG_MULTI_SZ, which is used for registry values that are composed of multiple values or lists. In this data format, each of these values or lists are seperated by a null character type.
- REG_SZ, which is used for text values and strings.
System Key
“System Key” stands for the location of a Windows registry value. Usually your computer’s system keys can be found under “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE”, and because of this system keys will affect your entire system.
User Key
Your “User Key” in your registry stands for the location of a specific Windows registry value. Typically, your computer’s user keys can be found under “HKEY_CURRENT_USER”, and because of this, user keys only affect the settings of the current Windows system user or account.
Value Data
“Value Data” refers to what data is acceptable to be written to the registry value.
Value Name
The “Value Name” refers to what the name of a registry value that you’ll be creating or editing. Typically, value names are not case sensitive.
Hardware Enhancements Through Registry Tweaks and Registry Hacks
Registry hacks and registry tweaks are not limited to improving your system’s software and account settings — you can also edit your Windows registry to enhance and improve your hardware.
And learning how to Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache isn’t the only registry tweak for your Windows hardware –there are various registry tweaks you can perform that will also improve your system’s processor and motherboard, along with hardware registry tweaks that will change how graphics, video, and other images are displayed, how your disk drive functions, what your mouse, keyboard, and printer are capable of, and how your network and modem work.
If you’re a computer expert, you can browse the other security registry tweaks below to improve your Windows hardware.
Registry Tweaks Related to Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache
» Stop Your PC Speaker Error Beeping
» Control Your Windows MicroProcessor Performance
» Display Details in Your Device Manager
» Optimize Windows for a Larger Secondary Cache
» See Your System Processor's Brand, Model, and Speed
» Power Your PC Down After Shutdown
» Display Hidden Devices in Your Device Manager