Recommended Settings

Microsoft* Windows* Vista* Setup	Setting	Description of how to set up Windows* Vista
Windows* Aero	Enable	Ensure Windows* Aero* is enabled - Right click on desktop -> Personalize -> Window color and appearance -> click on Open Classic Appearance Properties for more color options - Ensure Windows* Aero* is checked. Note: In order for Aero* to work on Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 and 3000 Vista* drivers should be installed prior to setup Aero* feature in Vista.
Search Indexing	Enable	Leave Search Indexing Enable - You can check if Search Indexing is enable by Open Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Indexing Options. The Indexing location will include: Offline Files Start Menu and Users.
Internet Offline Files	Enable	Leave Internet Offline files Enable - You can check if Offline files are enabled Open Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Offline Files. On the general tab the Disable Offline Files button should appear.
Disable Screen saver	Disable	Right click on desktop -> Personalize -> Screen Saver. Set the screen saver to None
Disable Power management	High Performance	Right click on desktop -> Personalize -> Screen Saver -> Change Power settings -> Select High performance and click Change plan settings below this option. A new view will appear called Edit Plan Settings. Change Turn off display to Never. Click Save Change.
Vista* Desktop Display resolution and monitor refresh	Custom	Right click on desktop -> Personalize -> Display Settings. In the Display Settings dialog choose Resolution=1280x1024 and Colors= Highest (32bit). Click the Advanced Settings button. Select the Monitor tab and change the Screen refresh rate to 75 Hz.
Remove always on top	Disable	Right click on Windows* task bar at the bottom -> Properties -> Taskbar -> uncheck Keep the taskbar on top of other windows
Remove hide inactive icons	Disable	Right click on Windows* task bar at the bottom -> Properties -> Select the Notification area tab and uncheck Hide inactive icons
Disable Windows* Defender	Disable	Open Control Panel -> Security -> Windows* Defender. Click on Tools in the toolbar at the top. Click on the Options link in the next view. Uncheck all boxes.
Disable Windows* Welcome screen	Disable	Open Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Welcome Center. Uncheck Run at Startup at the bottom of the Windows* Welcome screen
Disable System Protection (previously System Restore)	Disable	Open Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> System. Under the tasks link on the left side select System Protection. Uncheck Local Disk found in the Automatic restore points section.
Disable Windows* Update	Disable	Open Control Panel -> Security -> Windows* Update. Click on the change settings link on the left side. Select Never check for updates (not recommended)

Running Benchmarks

Your system should now be ready for benchmarking. We recommend running workloads five (5) times in a row after you Process Idle Tasks without reboot in between, and then taking the median score of the five runs.