Windows XP Registry Tweaks and Other Secrets to Improving PC Performance
Windows XP, like all earlier versions of Windows,
begins to degrade in performance over a period of time. A number of
factors contribute to this problem, but you can tune up XP
and make
it perform better by following a few simple procedures. The first
thing to look at is implementing a few Windows XP registry tweaks.
1. Clean your Windows Registry
Clean up your PC by running an antivirus scan at periodic intervals to ensure that your system's performance is not being degraded by virus, spyware and malware. Clean up your Windows registry to ensure that orphaned and redundant entries are not eating up your system resources.
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Remember that the Windows registry is the most vulnerable part of your Windows XP OS. The registry can get bloated, corrupted or damaged as you install and uninstall applications. Over time this will slow down your PC, generate indecipherable errors, report missing files and even become subject to spyware and malware attacks. Windows can even shut down protectively if the Registry is damaged. You could clean this registry manually by navigating to Start>Run and typing Regedit in the dialog box. However, it is advisable not to clean the registry manually if you are not an expert on Windows Operating systems. There are a number of Software tools, called Windows Registry Cleaners that are available for purchase and download which can do the job for you. You can schedule periodic cleaning with such a tool to ensure optimum performance of your Windows XP PC.
2. Disable Indexing Services
This is a service that uses up a large amount RAM and creates a lot
of noise pollution. The service indexes and updates lists of file on
the computer so that user searches can be serviced with ease. If you
are a person who knows exactly where everything is on your computer and do not use the search facility,
you can speed up your PC by disabling this service.
To disable
this service go to Start> Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs >
Add/Remove Windows Components and uncheck the Indexing services.
This will save you RAM and CPU usage on your Windows XP.
3. Optimize Display Settings
Windows XP desktop can be loaded with a variety of pictures that please your eye, but they will waste your system resources and slow down your PC. You will have to load a desktop background that helps achieve this and further helps to speed up your Windows XP.
To change the settings of your desktop go to Start>Control Panel>System>Advanced Tab>Settings tab and
uncheck everything but the following:
* Show shadows under menus
* Show shadows under mouse pointer
* Show translucent selection
rectangle
* Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
*
Use visual styles on windows and buttons
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4. Speed Up Folder Browsing
Windows XP searches for network files and printers every
time you open a file. This causes a slight delay in opening and
displaying your file. This can be fixed to increase browsing speed
by tweaking the computer as explained below.
Navigate to My Computer and on the Tools menu click on Folder options. In the
folder option dialog box click on View tab. Uncheck automatically
search for network folders and printers check box and click apply
and then OK. You will have to reboot the system for the settings to
take effect.
5. Disable Performance Counters
Performance counters are monitor utilities that check on the PC
performance. These utilities consume system resources and can slow
down your computer. Disabling this utility can improve the speed of
your Windows XP.
To disable this utility, download and install the
Extensible Performance Counter List from the Microsoft website.
Select each counter in turn in the utility window and clear the
Performance counters enabled checkbox at the bottom of the dialog
box. This will disable the Performance counters.
6. Improve Memory Usage
Cacheman is the utility that helps tweak computer memory and improve the performance of the Windows XP PC. Go to Show Wizard feature on this utility and select all. You will need to run each wizard by selecting the next button on every screen keeping the default options, until you are done. You must then save and exit from Cacheman and restart Windows for your settings to take effect.
7. Optimize your Internet Connection
A simple method of optimizing the Internet connection is to download a TCP/IP Optimizer. In the general settings tab of the optimizer you will need to enter the connection speed in Kbps. You will then have to enter details of the Network adapter interface that you use. You will have to specify that you want optimal settings and save your settings. You will have to reboot your computer in order to apply the settings.
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8. Optimize Your Pagefile
The pagefile.sys is used by the operating system to resize the page file. You can optimize this by giving the page file a fixed size. Right click on My Computer and select properties. In the Advanced Tab of the dialog box that appears select the Performance tab and then Settings button. Select the Advanced Tab in the second dialog box that appears and under Virtual Memory select Change. Highlight the drive containing your page file and make the initial size of the file the same as the Maximum size of the file. Windows XP sizes the page file to about 1.5X the amount of actual physical memory by default. If the memory on your computer is less than 512MB it is best to leave the page file at default settings. If the memory is more than 512 MB it is good to change the ratio to 1:1 page file size to physical memory size.
9. Run a Boot Application Such as BootVis to Improve Boot Time
You can download and run any booting process improvement software such as BootVis to improve the booting time. These applications start, analyze and log your system's boot process. Once that is done you will have to optimize system boot before rebooting. Many of these applications come with a GUI interface to select this option. When the machine reboots you will be shown an Optimizing system box that will optimize your booting on Windows XP.
10. Remove the Desktop Picture
Do not load pictures for the Desktop background. They consume a lot of system resources and can reduce the speed of your PC.
11. Remove Fonts for Speed
TrueType fonts and other similar fonts use up a lot of system resources. Trim down your fonts to the bare minimum you need. You can do this by opening the Control Panel and opening the Fonts Folder and moving all the fonts you do not need to a temporary directory.
12. Use the other tools that come packaged with Windows to optimize performance
It is a good idea to use the Chkdsk, the system restore tool, the windows registry checker tool and system file checker tool that comes with the Windows Operating System to ensure that your system is performing as it should and that the system files and folders are in order. You could also use the defragmenter tool to make sure that your hard drive is not fragmented and thereby causing your PC to perform poorly.
Hope this article has helped put things into perspective. Other ways to enhance your computer experience are through the customizing of your computer work area. If you are interested in computer workstation furniture then continue browsing our site, there are more articles here for you.
