Speed up your computer

ndmmxiaomayi SG

1) Add more RAM. Use CPU-Z to determine the type of RAM you are using.

2) Find out your motherboard's model to determine the maximum amount of RAM you can add. Buy and slot in.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

If you don't wish to add more RAM, cut down on the graphics.

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ndmmxiaomayi SG

To browse files faster, do the following:

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Eliminate extra softwares to free up more disk space.

Go to your Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs.

A list of your installed software will appear. Scroll through it and remove anything you dont use anymore. (Some programs might have been preinstalled on your computer when you bought it.)

Next, click the big button on the left labeled Add/Remove Windows Components. This lists XP components that were automatically installed with Windows. Remove whatever components you dont need.
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Eliminate extra fonts. Those that aren't readable at when the font size is set to 16, or those that have weird symbols replacing the normal letters and numbers can be removed.
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Clean up your disk. Go to Start, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. Check these boxes: Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, Temporary Files, Web Client/Publisher Temporary Files and Temporary Offline Files.

For more advanced users:

1) Open up notepad and type this in:

c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sageset: 1
c:
cd \
cd c:\windows\prefetch
del *.* /q

2) Save the file, changing the extension from .txt to .bat
For this tip's purpose, we will call it clean.bat

3) Execute the file. This will run the Disk Cleanup program in a special mode which asks what items you will want cleaned when Disk Cleanup performs an unattended cleanup. Check the items you wish to have cleaned up, then click OK.

4) Right-click on the clean.bat file and click edit. Change the first line to read:

c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sagerun: 1

5) Save the file. You can execute this file in place of running Disk Cleanup, or, to have this program run unattended, run the Add Scheduled Task Wizard in the Control Panel and create a scheduled task using the clean.bat file you just created.

Edit:

GUI interface for the lazy.

ATF Cleaner by Atribune.

CCleaner (This comes with Yahoo! toolbar)

CCleaner Basic Edition (Basic edition, has no toolbar)

CCleaner Slim Edition (Slim edition, no toolbar, in English only)

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Clean the registry.

If unsure, please ask someone or don't clear it.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Defrag it.

Note: Any programs that are running must be closed and no screensaver. This will disrupt defragmentation and data may be lost as a result.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Use DMA (Direct Memory Access).

DMA is a technology that lets you transfer data efficiently.

R3SsH|n SG

anything that shows you all running process and applications except task manager?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Got.

Go to Start, Run and type in services.msc

ndmmxiaomayi SG

For advanced users:

Open registry editor.

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ndmmxiaomayi SG

Improve the swapfile performance.

Redblood SG

Mr. Green

you are talking about stuff that applies generally to XP

XP = extra problem

not bad ...

why not change back to windows 2000 ?

Redblood SG

oh ya ...

did you mentioned stop automatic windows update? i too lazy to read all your reccomendations.

do you know some updates are crap and actually ... confilcts with existing softwares?

sand king SG

Put your computer in the fridge... read somewhere that computers run faster when its cool Mr. Green

lpx88 SG

Good tweaks..bt this part 'ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1″' u sure is correct?

lpx88 SG

Disable Unnecessary Services

Because Windows XP has to be all things to all people it has many services running that take up system resources that you will never need. Below is a list of services that can be disabled on most machines:

* Alerter
* Clipbook
* Computer Browser
* Distributed Link Tracking Client
* Fast User Switching
* Help and Support - (If you use Windows Help and Support leave this enabled)
* Human Interface Access Devices
* Indexing Service
* IPSEC Services
* Messenger
* Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
* Portable Media Serial Number
* Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
* Remote Procedure Call Locator
* Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
* Remote Registry Service
* Secondary Logon
* Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
* Server
* SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n' Pray will disable this)
* Telnet
* TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
* Upload Manager
* Universal Plug and Play Device Host
* Windows Time
* Wireless Zero Configuration (Do not disable if you use a wireless network)
* Workstation

To disable these services:

1. Go to Start and then Run and type "services.msc"
2. Doubleclick on the service you want to change
3. Change the startup type to 'Disable"

Speedup Folder Access - Disable Last Access Update

If you have a lot of folders and subdirectories on your computer, when you access a directory XP wastes a lot of time updating the time stamp showing the last access time for that directory and for ALL sub directories. To stop XP doing this you need to edit the registry. If you are uncomfortable doing this then please do not attempt.

1. Go to Start and then Run and type "regedit"
2. Click through the file system until you get to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem"
3. Right-click in a blank area of the window on the right and select 'DWORD Value'
4. Create a new DWORD Value called 'NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate'
5. Then Right click on the new value and select 'Modify'
6. Change the Value Data to '1'
7. Click 'OK'

Improve Boot Times

A great new feature in Microsoft Windows XP is the ability to do a boot defragment. This places all boot files next to each other on the disk to allow for faster booting. By default this option in enables but on some builds it is not so below is how to turn it on.

1. Go to Start Menu and Click Run
2. Type in "Regedit" then click ok
3. Find "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOpt imizeFunction"
4. Select "Enable" from the list on the right
5. Right on it and select "Modify"
6. Change the value to "Y to enable"
7. Reboot
(This one i dont dare to try Embarassed Laughing )

Improve Swapfile Performance

If you have more than 256MB of RAM this tweak will considerably improve your performance. It basically makes sure that your PC uses every last drop of memory (faster than swap file) before it starts using the swap file.

1. Go to Start then Run
2. Type "msconfig.exe" then ok
3. Click on the System.ini tab
4. Expand the 386enh tab by clicking on the plus sign
5. Click on new then in the blank box type"ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1"
6. Click OK
7. Restart PC
(Eh mayi the command is only "ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1" without the quotations btw Wink )

Make Your Menus Load Faster

What this tweak does is remove the slight delay between clicking on a menu and XP displaying the menu.

1. Go to Start then Run
2. Type 'Regedit' then click 'Ok'
3. Find "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"
4. Select "MenuShowDelay"
5. Right click and select "Modify'
6. Reduce the number to around "100"

This is the delay time before a menu is opened. You can set it to "0" but it can make windows really hard to use as menus will open if you just look at them - well move your mouse over them anyway.

Improve XP Shutdown Speed

This tweak reduces the time XP waits before automatically closing any running programs when you give it the command to shutdown.

1. Go to Start then select Run
2. Type 'Regedit' and click ok
3. Find 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\'
4. Select 'WaitToKillAppTimeout'
5. Right click and select 'Modify'
6. Change the value to '1000'
7. Click 'OK'
8. Now select 'HungAppTimeout'
9. Right click and select 'Modify'
10. Change the value to '1000'
11. Click 'OK'
12. Now find
13. 'HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop'Select 'WaitToKillAppTimeout'
14. Right click and select 'Modify'
15. Change the value to '1000'
16. Click 'OK'
17. Now find
18. 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\'Select 'WaitToKillServiceTimeout'
19. Right click and select 'Modify'
20. Change the value to '1000'
21. Click 'OK'

ndmmxiaomayi SG

You can change XP back to anything except Windows 2000 and NT. Laughing

ndmmxiaomayi SG

You have to create a new one, it's not part of system.ini

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I know some updates are crap, but it's better to enable it if some people are going to be forgetful.

It's all up to users. Not all are useful, not all will work for them.

Disable automatic updates:

Control Panel, Automatic Updates, Turn off Automatic Updates.

ditzy SG

I have one specially for cad work with 6 fans dedicated to cooling its internals with the aircon on, keeps all my hdd at a constant 20 degrees celcius during operation and running windows 2000. Works like a charm. Laughing