Guide on how to speed-up a Windows XP Computer

 

"Windows XP" XP stands for experience, and according to Microsoft, their goal with this operating system is to improve the user experience.

The interface to make changes to your computer; that is to configure and customize is easy and can be found throughout the operating system.

The speed of the Windows XP computers may go slower and slower over time; due to usage.

In order to speed-up the computer, please follow this simple guide to learn how to increase the Windows XP.

Windows XP is available in Home and Professional editions.

Okay, lets dive in:

STEP 1.

The first step is to remove Spyware and Viruses.

The leading causes of slowdown in a computer system is spyware and viruses because you may have several spyware cookies or trojans that may be taking up your processor time while reading, storing and reporting your activity to several spy databases.

You can read up how to "Rid-Your-Computer-of-Adware,-Spyware-and-Viruses" in order to remove them and speed up your system.

Then make sure you update and run your anti spyware and virus software every week.

You must make sure you have installed tools to protect your computer against malware, spyware and viruses. At least you can do with the free ones "For Personal Use".

The Microsoft's Windows Defender is also a widely-used anti-spyware tool that is distributed freely currently for users with a "Genuine" verified copy of Windows.

Other Microsoft services and products such as "Live OneCare" and "Vista" are also included in the "Windows Defender".

You have to download and install Mozilla Firefox, Opera or Google Chrome. These browsers will allow and aid you to import all of your Internet Explorer settings, and they less open to malware than the Microsoft Internet Explorer.

After the download and installation of those browsers, you will be prompted with a "Set as Default Browser" message. Check "Don't show this again" and click "Yes".

Firefox also has a very good feature to delete cookies, cache, and temporary internet files each time you close it. You are strongly recommended to use this option. It could help to speed up your internet experience.

Google Chrome which has been noticed to be faster and less vulnerable to virus attacks from the internet, could also be given a trial.

Quick Virus Remover, could be given a trial, if your computer have been really affected by a complicated virus infection, however free virus removers should not be a replacement for commercial products.

STEP 2:
 

In order to keep your computer operating optimally, there is need to regulary clean your system registry with registry cleaners, because your computer over time may be clustered with unnecessary files that can slow it down.

However Microsoft recommends not to use registry cleaners.

 

 

STEP 3:

The next step here is to perform a disk clean up as quickly as possible to remove unnecessary files.

-Click Start in the bottom left corner, then click Run.
-Type, "cleanmgr.exe" in the text field.
-Click OK to start Disk Cleanup.

 

STEP 4:

Unwanted/unneeded software and applications should also be removed immediately because they may be reasons for the slowdown.

-Click Start, then click Control Panel.
-Click Add/Remove Programs.
-Right click any unnecessary software and click "Remove".

STEP 5:

 
Having removed the unwanted/unneeded software and applications, the next step is to defragment your Computer. This step will place similar files in close proximity on the hard disk and will help improve load speeds.

-Click Start then click Run.
-Type, "dfrg.msc" in the text field.
-Click OK to open Windows Disk Defragmenter.
-Click Analyze to determine whether you need to defrag your disk and click Defrag to defrag the disk.
-Warning!!! Do not defrag solid state drives.

STEP 6:

The next step is to try to stop unnecessary start-up programs, by reducing the number of programs that starts running automatically when your computer turns on.

-Click the Start button then Run.
-Type "msconfig" and click OK to open System Configuration.
-In System Configuration, go to the Startup tab and uncheck any programs which are not required.
        
-If you are not sure what some of the programs listed are, you can search them up online to see if they are safe to disable.

-Click OK on the System Configuration window to save the changes.
-If you encounter problems after disabling some startup programs, re-open System Configuration and choose "Normal Startup" from the General tab.

-Programs can also schedule unnecessary tasks to launch automatically when Windows starts. In order to stop such tasks, use Windows Task Scheduler. You can open Windows Task Scheduler, by clicking Start, click All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.

-Services you do not use or need should be disabled. Open Control Panel, click Administrative Tools, and select Services. Right click the services you want to disable and select "Properties", then set the start-up type to manual to disable them. Disabling the wrong services may lead to serious problems that you may not notice right away. You should not disable services if you are not experienced in this area.

STEP 7

Next is to free up graphics resources as turning off those fancy Windows XP graphics will inarduably increase the computer speed.

-Go to Start, right click Computer in the Start menu, and click Properties.
-Go to the Advanced tab. Click the Settings button under Performance.
-Select the "Adjust for best performance" option, then click OK.

STEP 8:

Next is to set Page File size.

-Go to Start, right click Computer, and select Properties.
-Go to the Advanced tab. Click the Settings button under Performance.
-Now switch to the Advanced tab of the new dialog box that opens and click on '"Change" under Virtual Memory.
-You will see "Initial Size (MB)" and the "Maximum Size (MB)".
-Change 'Initial Size' to the same value as 'Maximum Size' then click set.
-NOTE: When your computer consumes your computer's hard drive and uses it as RAM, it is referred to as thrashing. -Thrashing is bad for your computer and buying RAM (it's not that expensive) is much more worthwhile.

STEP 9:

Next is to set the set priorities.
-Press Control+Alt+Delete at the same time or right click your task-bar and select Task Manager.
-Once Task Manager opens, click the Processes tab.
-Now, find "explorer.exe", right click it, and set the priority to real-time.
-This makes your computer focus on explorer.exe, which is Windows Explorer (the program you view files on your computer in and your task-bar and Start menu).
-This method greatly increases speed of Windows Explorer and if other programs you use are slow, you can also set their priority.

-Upgrade your RAM. More RAM allows programs to start and run faster.
-Upgrade your CPU. Doing so increases program performance.
-Upgrade your graphics. Video editors, gaming, photo editors, etc will benefit from this.
-Upgrade your HDD/SSD. A larger HDD/SSD and a faster one will speed up your computer.
-If you're considering a new computer, do your research before deciding what to buy. A wrong choice may cost you more money or get you a worse computer.

STEP 10
 
Next is to physically upgrade your computer or get a new one.
It should be noted that as a computer gets older, it becomes slow and tweaking the Windows itself may only help to a certain extent.

However, it may be advisable to get an upgrade or betterstill to get a completely new computer. To upgrade your computer will require some technical experience in technology, in which case you have to get the services of a professional.