How to Hack the Windows Experience Index

Melanie Gross
Sep 11, 2011
Updated • Sep 12, 2011
Tutorials, Windows, Windows tips
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When you look at the Windows Experience Index (WEI), you see certain information about your PC. Have you ever wondered how you can increase the numbers without PC maintenance or purchase of a new PC? This article will detail a hack the WEI and indicate any desired numbers.

The reasons for doing this involve the Windows Experience Index API. The API in the WEI is used to enable the functionality of various programs. If the score is low, there will be impaired functionality of some sectors of a given program or the program could be completely disabled. This obviously can pose some problems. Basically this hack tricks your operating system to enable you to use features.

windows experience index

The XML File Hack

This method is a little advanced, as it does require at least basic knowledge of XML files. Just stick to these instructions and you will make it through. Before proceeding, please create a System Restore point.

Begin by navigating to C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore.

Open a file ending with Formal.Assessment (Initial).WinSAT. There may be more than one file like this. If so, check the file dates and use the most current file. Right-click the file and select edit to open the file in the notepad. Click on the Edit menu and then click find in the dropdown menu. A dialog box will open. Type ‹WinSPR› in the dialog box. Click “Find Next”.

Notepad highlights where the code starts. This is the code that will be edited. Any WEI values can be edited. The following list shows what tags edit certain values. For this demonstration, the tags you are looking for are the ones that follow the WinSPR tag.

  • SystemScore tags change the overall rating
  • MemoryScroe tags change the Memory rating
  • CpuScore tags change the Processor rating
  • GraphicsScore tags change the Graphics rating
  • GamingScore tags change the Gaming Graphics rating
  • DiskScore tags change the Primary hard disk rating

Feel free to change any of the given values. The next step is to save the file without renaming it. Save it to the Desktop. Cut the file from the desktop and paste it in the following location:
C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore. Select Move and Replace in the window.

You will then be prompted for administrator permission. Click “Continue” and you will be prompted to provide a password if you are not already logged on as the administrator. Now go back to the Windows Experience Index and notice the changes.

This method is somewhat advanced. There is a free program available that will do this work for you. It is called WEI editor and you can download it from this link:

http://www.jtechsoftwares.in/windows-rating-changer.html

Download and install the program. You will need Admin privileges to run the program. After installation, a simple GUI is presented

windows 7 ratings changer

All you have to do is enter the numbers as you see fit. The range is from 1 to 7.9. Change one or more of the values. You can change all of them if you wish, keeping in mind that the overall system rating is based on the lowest score. To make changes in the future, the program can be found in the Downloads folder in Windows 7 and will be titled “experience_index_editor.exe.

To reset WEI true values, open WEI and click “Re-run the assessment”. This may seem like it would improve system performance, but it will not. All this will do is enable additional functionality.

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Comments

  1. aq said on May 24, 2014 at 3:03 pm
    Reply

    This is useful for those who still want to enable Aero after they got a WEI Graphics score of below 3.

  2. Anonymous said on September 12, 2011 at 7:51 pm
    Reply

    What to type in the dialog box?
    Quote: “…A dialog box will open. Type in the dialog box. Click “Find Next”…”

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on September 12, 2011 at 8:57 pm
      Reply

      Sorry, the blog hid some chars, I have corrected it now.

  3. Dr.Trunks said on September 11, 2011 at 12:16 pm
    Reply

    The API in the WEI is used to enable the functionality of various programs. If the score is low, there will be impaired functionality of some sectors of a given program or the program could be completely disabled. This obviously can pose some problems. Basically this hack tricks your operating system to enable you to use features.

    I have never heared of software being (partly) disabled on basis of this score.
    But lets say some software does this: why would you want to hack it if it did?
    For example: a game might load giant textures because you score a 7,9 on the RAM part (meaning you have 12GB+ RAM or so) but in reality you only have 4GB.
    Hacking the score will have an adverse effect on your system performance because your ram cant handle the giant texture resulting in low FPS…

    I guess this is just to show off then?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on September 11, 2011 at 12:23 pm
      Reply

      I’d also say it is more for showing off. Then again, if your system scores 4.9 and you need 5.0 for a functionality, you might want to hack the score to enable it.

  4. Dean said on September 11, 2011 at 10:37 am
    Reply

    What sort of functionality will be enabled?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on September 11, 2011 at 10:39 am
      Reply

      I found this Dean which might explain it, not sure though: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Windows-Experience-Index

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