Optimize Windows XP
Question: How can I make Windows XP run better?
Answer: Run down this FAQ and we’ll show you a bunch of tricks and tips to make Windows XP run better.
There’s also a program that will do it for you. Check out PC Bug Doctor.
Question: Anything I should do before I start this optimization?
Answer: Yes. Before you do anything, you should set a system-restore point by clicking Start > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore and choose Create a restore point. If something goes wrong, you can return to System Restore and put the computer back the way it was before you started fiddling with it.
Question: How do I improve boot-up speed on XP?
Answer: Click Start > Run and type msconfig and click OK.
Click the Services tab and put a checkmark by Hide All Microsoft Services so no Windows services are shown in the list.
Go through and turn off anything that doesn’t seem critical. If you make a mistake and turn something off that upsets the system, you can come back later and turn it back on. If this happens, you can also reboot into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key while your computer starts up and come back to msconfig to fix the problem. Note that if you see “Office Source Engine”, leave that turned on, since it is part of Microsoft Office 2003.
Next, go to the Startup tab and turn off anything you don’t think is needed. Often this is where programs that are loaded in the system tray on the bottom right side of your screen are loaded.
Again, if you turn them off and there’s a problem, you can come back later and turn them on again.
See how to use MSConfig in this TechnologyTips video.
Question: Will freeing up disk space on my system help?
Answer: It certainly will. To work well, your computer needs a minimum of 300 MB of free space on your C: drive. Anything less, and the system will labor. It’s similar to your having to perform a task in a confined space as opposed to having some elbow room. The easiest way to clean up disk space is to click Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
Question: Should I defrag my hard drive every week?
Answer: Unless you save and delete a lot of files every day, run the Windows Defragmenter frequently but every week is unnecessary. Defrag as a fix is a bit overrated. You don’t need to do this more than every month. Do it on a schedule of twice a month if you often install and remove programs. The defragmenter tool can be started by clicking Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. This tidies up your computer’s hard drive making it faster to access programs and data.
Question: Do lots of programs installed on my PC hurt its performance?
Answer: Yes, because they put information into the registry which clutters it, and sometimes they’ll load sub-processes (mini programs) into the system tray during start-up. You should regularly do some computer house-cleaning to get rid of any programs you have installed but no longer use.
Click Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs to find and remove programs you don’t use.
If you want to clean your registry with a commercial program to get rid of the clutter, try RegistryBooster 2 from the TechnologyTips Software Library.
Question: What about Windows Update?
Answer: Run Windows Update weekly to see whether there are non-critical drivers or other updates that are available. Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com or click the Windows Update icon by clicking Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Update.
Question: What about spyware?
Answer: Spyware can certainly reduce the performance of your computer. Be sure to regularly scan for it and eliminate it when it’s found. Here’s a free scanner.
Question: What about driver updates?
Answer: A driver is a small program that helps your operating system control various hardware — monitor, printer, keyboard, and more. It is a good idea to periodically update drivers for things like video cards, sound cards, and the like. New drivers will often become available to fix critical bugs. Many parts of your computer require their own drivers — you can check with your computer maker’s website to look for these. For example, on the Dell support website at www.support.dell.com the company lists new drivers for download. If you built your own computer, check the websites of your component’s manufacturers.
Question: Should I update my BIOS?
Answer: An update to your BIOS (which is the programming that runs the computer before Windows starts) will sometimes help make a system more efficient.
Question: What about my swap file?
Answer: You may see a small system performance improvement if you move your swap file to a second hard drive, if you have two installed. A swap file is the area on the hard drive that Windows uses as memory if it runs out of RAM. To do this click, Start > Control Panel > System. Click the Advanced tab, then click the Settings button under “Performance”. Click the Advanced tab there; then, under “Virtual Memory” click Change and reassign the swap file to a new hard drive. This tip is only really useful if the hard drive you are moving it to is attached to the motherboard on a separate controller from the one your C: drive is on. So, if you have two hard drives, one with the C: drive and E: drive and a second with F: and G:, then move the swap file to either the F: or G: drive.