How To: Speed up Windows XP in 5 Simple Steps

[paulhcctt]

OK, 1st lesson from the "Brainiac", i'm hoping to do ne of these a week.

Speeding Up Windows XP

1. Disable File Indexing

This indexing service gets info from files on the hard drive and creates a "searchable keyword index."

If you don't use the XP search feature often to look for documents, you can turn this feature off, and the difference you'll notice is a slight increase in the time it takes for your computer to find a file, but an overall increase in general speed for everything else.


How to : From My Computer > right-click on the C: Drive > select Properties.
Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." Apply changes to "C: sub folders and files," and click OK.

2. Clean Up Prefetch, temp, and cache files

Windows stores a lot of temporary files that can be safely cleaned out once a month or so. This is also good to do before running virus or spyware scans, as it clears many things out of your system that would need to be scanned.

How to : Download CleanUp!: www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup created by Steve Gould, Excellent Software
How to use CleanUp! : Download, Install, and Run.

3. Install some RAM

If you are running 128mb or 256mb of Ram, it's pretty cheap and easy to upgrade to 512mb. This is the only suggestion I will make that will actually cost money, but it's also the one that will best improve performance.

How to : Run Belarc advisor or Everest Home Edition to determine the type of RAM you need (PC3200 DDR2 PC100 SODIMM ETC)

4. Remove Programs & files you no longer need or use

Having old games or other software you no longer use can take up a lot of space on your hard drive, which can lead to an overall decrease in your PC's performance.

How to : Removing old programs is easy. From the Control Panel click on the "Add or Remove Programs" Icon. You can safely remove programs like games, demos, and other software you no longer use. If you are not sure what a program is... don't delete it just yet. You can do an internet search to find out more about any mystery programs installed on your PC to decide to delete them or not.

Remember: Mp3 music files and videos you download can take up a lot of space. Go through your media files once a month or so and delete the ones you no longer use

And Finally..........

5. Turn off Windows Animations and Visual Effects

Fancy sliding, fading and animated effects that windows uses by default are easily turned off, and will make the reaction time of simple tasks like opening and moving windows, taskbars, etc... much quicker.

How to : From the Control Panel, click on the "System" icon. Click on the Advanced tab. Click the "Settings" button underneath "Performance". Uncheck the options related to animations, and other unneeded visual effects.

Personally, I only have 3 items checked in here: "smooth edges of screen fonts", "use common tasks in folders", and "use visual styles on windows and buttons". You can uncheck all of them if you like. But, just getting rid of all the animated features will help the responsiveness of your PC.

Follow this with a good Antivirus: I recommend ESET's NOD32, and you will have a faster, more healthier machine for years to come.

Hope this helps

[Emerald Midi]

Great stuff Paul and nicely explained.

Does it apply to Vista as well?

[paulhcctt]

currently working on a Vista how to at the minute, but i want to see how many users have it......


can we take a poll?

[Emerald Midi]

A poll is a good idea.

I have vista but haven't a clue as to who else is using it.

Set up the poll Paul on a separate thread (in this section, naturally . Should be interesting.

[paulhcctt]

admin said:

A poll is a good idea.

I have vista but haven't a clue as to who else is using it.

Set up the poll Paul on a separate thread (in this section, naturally . Should be interesting.

Poll has been set up

[ironbaden]

Great stuff Paul... can I just jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.... But when removing programs you really should check to see if the Game or software has its own uninstaller. I've run into issues ,such as Norton Antivirus, where you need to use the uninstaller...( usually found under start/Program files/ ...go to the software you need to uninstall and put your mouse there so you see the drop down. If there is not an uninstall then go to Add or Remove Programs.... am I right on this Paul?

[paulhcctt]

ironbaden said:

Great stuff Paul... can I just jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.... But when removing programs you really should check to see if the Game or software has its own uninstaller. I've run into issues ,such as Norton Antivirus, where you need to use the uninstaller...( usually found under start/Program files/ ...go to the software you need to uninstall and put your mouse there so you see the drop down. If there is not an uninstall then go to Add or Remove Programs.... am I right on this Paul?

in a manner of speaking......... but who uninstalls their antivirus??

norton, presonally i would never use due to it's issues regarding the registry. it ties itself in too much, that is it's let down. using the uninstaller will remove the program, but you are still left with the folder and the uninstaller still on the system.

windows was designed to uninstall software installed on it, if you have to resort to the uninstaller, you have a serious problem with that particular bit and is ill-advised to use again IMHO

[ironbaden]

paulhcctt said:

in a manner of speaking......... but who uninstalls their antivirus??

Actually ... ..... If you think Norton sucks... and wanna get something different or... If you need to upgrade norton you need to uninstall it first. Its not recommended to install one version of norton over top of the other.... during the uninstall of Norton it keeps some files that allows the New one to install properly. From experience ..if u don't uninstall it first.... bad news.... Like you say Paul... that's the prob with Norton latches onto your registry.... There are Nu8merous pieces of software that require you to use the uninstaller. The Norm is add or remove Programs... But .... Just in case... it only takes a second to check.

paulhcctt said:

windows was designed to uninstall software installed on it, if you have to resort to the uninstaller, you have a serious problem with that particular bit and is ill-advised to use again IMHO

true ....But By then its too late...and things may be mucked up... I agree its a pain and probably shows some issue with the software...but why not be safe? it only takes a sec ...check for the uninstaller and use it...that's why its there... if there is none...use Add or remove Programs... I'm no expert tho... when in doubt...google is your friend.

[oldsage]

one more for the pot! don,t try comodo antivirus.i did and found it took over my computer more and more.slowing other programs right down! even uninstalling it with it,s own uninstaller would not remove it.it can,t be removed even in safe mode! so be warned! i use nod32 and it is the best antivirus you can get,in my humble opinion!.as it does not draw heavily on your resources and works away quietly in the background.i use xp pro,and i wont be going to use vista.

[freddieca]

Thanks for the post Paul....now my computer runs the way it did when I first bought it....please post some more tweaks....GodBless!!!

[Tone_Deff (Musicmaker)]

Hi Paul,

Went through your instructions, step by step, and my computer is now moving miles faster !

Sadly, however - in the process, I lost all my 'log ins' to about ten or more sites I use, and as they are all different, I can't remember a couple of them! (I re-registered!).

Kind regards,

Tony

[modbod]

Paul

Thanks for this info and I have generally followed your advice on items 1, 4 and 5. On item 3, I already have 1gb of RAM so I'm probably OK on this.
Re item 2, I frequently use the "Tools/internet options/delete temporary files and cookies" facility---is this adequate or should we still use the Steven Gould software?

Thanks, Michael

[paulhcctt]

it is edequate, but gould's software even deletes ones that have been marked "Read Only"

Plus it saves a couple dozen mouse clicks........ very important for the prevention of R.S.S

[murphy]

Cheers for the info Paul, pc is flying now thank God.
Top Man,

Murph

[paulhcctt]

Awh Shucks

It's comments like that would make ya pack up and let murph home for a few weeks holidays while i cover his spot lol.........

Wanna Band Swap for a few weeks lol?

[murphy]

Missed your chance mate.............was home last week !!

You should have spoke up sooner.............but i'll give you a shout next time.

Murph

[paulhcctt]

murphy said:

Missed your chance mate.............was home last week !!

You should have spoke up sooner.............but i'll give you a shout next time.

Murph

Do so Paul

[violet]

hi Paul! I just wanted to thank you for your great info on making your computer faster! I did the steps you suggested and that definetlyhelped some, but buying more Ram is what really helped! Thanks again..I wouldn't have known about any of the suggestions because I am not very computer savy...thanks again...Violet Songbird