We all know about the new feature "Windows Experience" or "Performance Index" in Windows Vista that has continued with Windows 7. Its a new feature which automatically calculates your system's performance index based on the hardware you have. It can be between 0.1 to 7.9 in Windows 7.

Better system hardware, better Performance Index and better system performance.

"Windows Performance Index" is shown in "System Properties" which can be accessed by right-clicking on "My Computer" icon on Desktop and select "Properties" or from "Control Panel".

Using this trick, you can increase the Index up to 7.9 in Window 7.

BEFORE APPLYING HACK IN WINDOWS 7



AFTER APPLYING HACK IN WINDOWS 7



The benefit of this hack is, there are a few features in Windows Vista / Windows 7 which can only be used if your "Windows Experience Index" reaches the minimum requirements. So by increasing the Index manually, you can use those features.

Not to mention bragging rights.. you could do this to shut someone up who is bragging about their score.. and there are only too many of those ..

Example of feature not available unless your "Index Score" meets requirement is the toolbar in "Photo Gallery's Slide Show" while opening a wallpaper in Explorer.


BEFORE YOU START .. TURN OFF "UAC" !!!!

CONTROL PANEL > USER ACCOUNTS AND FAMILY SAFETY > USER ACCOUNTS > TURN OFF USER ACCOUNT CONTROL > SLIDE SLIDER DOWN IN WINDOWS 7.


HERE'S HOW TO DO IT
---------------------------------

1. Click "Start" > "Run" > type:

Code:
%windir%\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore


Press "Enter".

2. You'll see one or more .xml files in the folder. Sort them by Date (click on Date) Created or look at their name. The file name will be in following format:



For Windows 7 the file will look similar to this:
------------------------------------------------------------
Code:
2009-09-19 23.06.33.523 Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT



Where "2007-11-08 22.23.17.858" might differ from machine to machine and Windows Installation date/time and vice versa for Windows 7.

3. Open the latest file in "Wordpad" by right-clicking the file and select "Open with" and go to line having <WinSPR>. It'll be approximately the 12th line and will look like following:


For Windows 7.. it will look like this:
-------------------------------------------------
<WinSPR>
<SystemScore>7.9</SystemScore>
<MemoryScore>7.9</MemoryScore>
<CpuScore>7.9</CpuScore>
<CPUSubAggScore>7.9</CPUSubAggScore>
<VideoEncodeScore>7.9</VideoEncodeScore>
<GraphicsScore>7.9</GraphicsScore>
<Dx9SubScore>7.9</Dx9SubScore>
<Dx10SubScore>7.9</Dx10SubScore>
<GamingScore>7.9</GamingScore>
<StdDefPlaybackScore>TRUE</StdDefPlaybackScore>
<HighDefPlaybackScore>TRUE</HighDefPlaybackScore>
<DiskScore>7.9</DiskScore>



4. Change the numbers you see to 7.9 for Windows 7 .. like shown above.


5. Save the file.


6. Now open up "Windows Experience Index" and you will see "7.9" in Windows 7.

You do not have to "refresh" the score or do the test .. it will show right away

Enjoy!