Performance tools
Microsoft provides tools to help you improve the performance of your device. You can use test tools from other publishers to measure and improve the performance of your devices as well. This topic includes information about the Windows ADK and download links for the Windows ADK and other Microsoft performance tools.
Download performance tools
You can download the tools in the following table to assess and improve the performance of your PC.
| Tool | Description | Download link |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) | Tools to assess and deploy Windows images. You can use tools in the Windows ADK to improve the performance of your PC running Windows beyond the minimum requirements of the Windows HCK. Includes:
|
Use the latest ADK drop from Connect. |
| Windows Hardware Lab Kit (HLK) | Tools to test whether your PC running Windows meets the requirements for compatibility. You can use the performance tools in the Windows ADK to improve the performance of your PC beyond the Windows HLK requirements. | Use the latest HCK drop from Connect. |
| PowerCFG.exe | Inbox tool to control power schemes (also named power plans), to use the available sleep states, to control the power states of individual devices, and to analyze the system for common energy-efficiency and battery-life problems. For information about the PowerCFG.exe and the /sleepstudy option, see Modern standby SleepStudy. |
Inbox. |
| PwrTest.exe | Test tool that enables developers, testers, and system integrators to exercise and record power management information from the system. You can use PwrTest to automate sleep and resume transitions and to record processor power management and battery information from the system over a period of time. For more information, see PwrTest. |
Available in WDK (see below). |
| Media eXperience Analyzer | Media performance, quality, and power analysis tool that is used by developers and testers to optimize media scenarios on devices running Windows. This tool helps you analyze failures in media playback, webcam capture, and real-time communications HCK requirements. It ships as part of the Windows ADK. | Download and install the Windows ADK |
| Visual Studio Professional 2012 | Visual Studio Professional 2012 is a professional-quality integrated development environment that simplifies the tasks of creating, debugging, and deploying software for Windows, Microsoft Office, and the web. | Download kits for Windows hardware development |
| Windows Driver Kit (WDK) | WDK integrates with Visual Studio Professional 2012 to provide a complete environment for developing, deploying, testing, and debugging drivers. | Use the latest WDK drop from Connect. |