Windows golden image optimization is the process of reducing the size and improving the performance of the Windows OS image that is used as the base for the desktop pools. Some of the best practices for Windows golden image optimization are:

Disable unnecessary services: Services that are not required for the desktop functionality or user experience should be disabled to reduce the resource consumption and potential security risks. For example, services such as Windows Search, Windows Defender, Windows Update, and Superfetch can be disabled for better performance and stability.

Disable power options: Power options such as hibernation and sleep mode should be disabled to free up disk space and avoid potential issues with the desktop state. Hibernation can consume a large amount of disk space by creating a hiberfil.sys file that stores the system memory contents when the desktop is powered off. Sleep mode can cause problems with network connectivity and user sessions when the desktop is resumed from a low-power state.

Other best practices for Windows golden image optimization include:

Activate Windows OS paging: Paging is a mechanism that allows the OS to use a portion of the disk as virtual memory when the physical memory is insufficient. Paging can improve the performance and stability of the desktops by preventing out-of-memory errors and reducing memory contention. However, paging can also increase disk I/O and wear, so it should be configured with caution and monitored regularly.

Turn off automatic Windows maintenance (scheduled tasks): Automatic Windows maintenance is a feature that runs various tasks such as disk defragmentation, disk cleanup, security scanning, and system diagnostics in the background. These tasks can consume a lot of CPU, memory, and disk resources and interfere with the user experience and desktop performance. Therefore, it is recommended to turn off automatic Windows maintenance and run these tasks manually or on a scheduled basis when the desktops are not in use.

Turn off automatic Windows Updates: Automatic Windows Updates is a feature that downloads and installs updates for the OS and other Microsoft products in the background. These updates can consume bandwidth, disk space, and CPU resources and cause compatibility issues with some applications or drivers. Therefore, it is recommended to turn off automatic Windows Updates and manage the updates manually or through a centralized tool such as VMware Update Manager or Microsoft WSUS. References: [Optimizing Your VMware Horizon View 7.x Golden Image] and [VMware Horizon 8.x Professional Course]