HTC Tricks: Boost Performance Tips for HTC

Please note that the following tips and tricks apply only to HTC phones featuring Windows Mobile. All tips and tweaks were tested on HTC Touch HD and HTC Touch Diamond and most probabily are applicable to any Windows Mobile HTC.

Well, you spent some good cash on buying your HTC phone and it’s likely that in a matter of days you’ll get disappointed by it’s responsiveness and speed. Not everyone knows that Windows Mobile devices tend to lose their speed due to intense usage in a short period of time. A Windows phone is very similar in functioning with your desktop pc or your notebook: as the time passes from a fresh Windows installation, your device will get slower and slower. Of course, this is not a rule, but it’s a very common “symptom”. This behavior is partly caused by the fact that Windows phones continuously store information (just like PC’s do) and in time, the abounding of information will slow the phone.

One of the sources of this slowing process is the Windows Registry, an hierarchical  database which  stores configuration settings, options and instructions for your device (check this out to find out more about registries). As you gradually install applications, your phone’s registries will get busy with custom data, which may occasionally lead to unpredictable behaviors ( like sudden resets, user interface lags, long waiting times, or even worse, undemanded hard resets).

This tutorial tries to give you some adviceson how to get maximize your Windows Mobile Phone’s performance. Note that in order to apply some of the herein instructions you need basic registry knowledge, so I strongly suggest you first check other internet resources about this subject, such as the one already mentioned above (Wikipedia).

A. Installing programs

- It is recommended that you install one program at a time and wait a few minutes to see if it’s installation has side effects. For the programs involving major registry changes ( like the ones meant to replace the default interface ) it’s recommended ( if not asked after installation) to perform a softreset and use the device another number of minutes before  you install another application. This is the only way you can find out if a certain application causes issues. After installing a program which demands a softreset check the Windows>Startup folder. Some programs place a shortcut file in this folder ( a .lnk file) meant to automatically start the target application after you turn the phone on. Note that  the booting time is negatively influenced by the number of these applications, so periodically check the startup folder and delete the shortcut files of the applications you consider unnecessary to start automatically (some of the shortcuts must not be deleted!)

-  Install your file management programs in the internal memory ( like Total Commander, Resco Explorer- http://htcsoftware.org/phone/file-management-software/c ); this let’s you browse your files with that program even when your phone is connected on the pc in the disk drive mode.

-  Always install graphic programs in the internal memory (we’re talking about software like SPB Mobile Shell, Wisbar Advance Desktop, Iconsoft PhonEx etc). Generally, it’s indicated that all the programs related to the today screen/homescreen and user interface to be installed in the internal memory, as this increases their speed and drains less battery power.

- One of my methods of keeping the device clean and fresh registries is not to install again after a hard reset the programs previously installed on the storage card. After you perform a hard reset, generally you will need to reinstall only the programs installed in the internal memory. The ones installed on the memory card are still there and most of them still work ( check this by going into Storage Card>Program Files , enter an application folder and click the application’s exe file; if it opens than everything is fine). If you have Resco Explorer installed, just long click the exe file of the desired application, select “Send to” and then click “Start Menu as Shortcut” ( see Image 1). This way you’ll have the application in your start menu, like an installed application,but with the advantage that the app doesn’t make, or makes less registry changes.

The below image explains how to send an exe file to Start Menu as shortcut with Resco Explorer.

- After performing a hard reset and customizing the device, quickly make a backup using SPB Backup ( this is the software I prefer most). This way you will always have something I call a “basic backup”- a backup file containing only the device settings, the PIM data, the registry configuration, and the programs installed in the internal memory in a fresh and light configuration. After the hard reset, just choose your most important applications to install,  let’s say about 10-15 apps, restore you PIMs and browser favorites, make all your favorite settings (connection settings, today plugins, power settings etc) and then perform the backup using SPB.  After making this backup file ( generally a basic backup file has 30-40 MB) you can go on and install your other apps. If something goes wrong, just open the backup file and restore it, so you don’t have to start it all over again. Believe me, this method can save allot of your time.

-  Try not not install every single app you find; just try to identify the apps you like and use  more often and install only these ones. Install other programs only when needed.

- Install alarm programs and sounds in the internal memory instead of SD.

B. Usage and maintenance

- From time to time check your running processes. Best way to do this is using Dutty Taskmanager ( http://htcsoftware.org/dotfred-task-manager-244/), a powerful system software. Stop or kill the unnecessary processes, as they eat up your RAM and other system resources. You will find out yourself which processes can be closed and which can’t or shouldn’t be closed ( a tip: the processes listed in the upper half are from your apps and the processes listed below are system processes that must not be touched).

Above image: Left – Process list in Dutty Task Manager
Right- Killing a process with Dutty Task Manager

– Periodically run a RAM cleaner ( for instance you can use the FreeUp RAM addon of SK Tools, or htcAddicts CleanRAM utility)

- Clear cache files and temporary folders each 2-3 days. You can do this manually or using dedicated software ( for example, Sk Tools has such options)

- Use less shortcuts in your start menu and categorize them in folders. Also, delete orphan shortcuts and icons.

- Use interface-changing apps only if you like your device to look pretty. Otherwise, avoid them; in order to function they eat allot of memory, thus slowing the device’s responsiveness during  other activities, like video/audio playback, internet browsing and other).

- Try to limit the number of programs that periodically connect to internet.

– Perform a soft reset from time to time, even if the device seem to work fine.

C. Registry Tweaking

In order to perform registry changes you first need to have a registry editor installed. Usually, official roms don’t come with a registry editor, but installing one it’s easy. You can find both free or paid registry editors. I personally prefer Resco Registry, an addon to Resco File Explorer, because it’s a finger-friendly program, easy to use and equipped with all the basic functions you need. Feel free to check XDA-Developers registry wiki page, where you can find a list of the most popular registry editors, with descriptions and links. Some registry tweaks can be made automatically by using programs like Advanced Config Tool 3.3.

- Increase file system cache to 8MB and file system cache filter to 131072 using Advanced Config ( see Image 3). This will speed up TouchFlo3D/Sense 2.5 ( if you are using a HTC Diamond or a newer htc model)

-  Go to HKLM\System\Storagemanager\Fatfs and change key Cachesize from 16384 to 32768 ( see Image 4)– this is also for speeding up TouchFlo/Sense.

Image 3

Image 4 – changing cache size (the image also serves as example for any registry modification performed with Resco Registry). Click on image to view in full size.

- HKLM\System\GDI\GLYPHCACHE\limit = 16384 or 32768 – boosts TF3D scrolling speed.

- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Drivers\TouchPanel , Value = PressureThreshold – Change from the dword:00000027 or 34 to dword:000000f0 or 240 in decimal – adjusts screen sensitivity.

- HKCU\ControlPanel\Keybd – change InitialDelay from 250 to 50 – decreases keyboard response time ( for qwerty devices)

- [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GWE\Menu] set “AniType” to dword:00000000  and “CUIHandler” to dword:00000000 – these will disable menu animations and finger menus (or HTC Enchasements)

- Increase touch-keyboard speed: Export HKCR\CLSID (save the registry as a reg file), then delete HKCR\CLSID. After this, import the backup of HKCR\CLSID then turn off your device about 15 sec and perform a reset.

- HKLM \Software\Opera\Preload, “RealExit”=dword:00000001 – removes Opera Mobile preload.

Notes: Some registry values and addresses may differ from a device to another. It depends on you to identify them. A tweak will have effects only after performing a soft reset. If you follow only the instructions provided in the first half you will still have a better response from your htc. There’s no need to change the registries if you don’t want to. Most of the presented tweaks can be made easily by using certain free programs, made for some HTCs ( generally they will work on any other HTC touchphone). Here are some of the most useful ones.

• HTC Diamond Tweak
• HTC HD Tweak
• HTC HD2 Tweak

Feel free to ask any questions about this tutorial.  By publishing it we do not provide the full set of methods to get the best out of your HTC phone, as it will be followed by other related tutorials. This tutorial is partly based on the author’s opinions and experience in handling HTC devices. The author shall not be responsible for any kind of damage or loss of data your device may suffer due to following this tutorial.