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!
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 : Not sure how to install Ram, or even what kind you need or where to get it from?
Check out Blifaloo's article on how to Add Ram to your PC.
4. Remove Programs & files you no longer need or use IPB Image
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.
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.
6. Remove unused Fonts
Having too many fonts can realllllllly slow down how fast programs start up. Some people say
have no more than 500 fonts installed on WinXP, but I personally try to keep the number of fonts below 200. The less you have the faster your programs that use them (office software, graphic programs etc..) will load.
How to : From the Control Panel, click on the "Fonts" icon. You can delete the fonts you don't use here. Remember: to keep the basics: Verdana, Arial, Times, Trebuchet, Courier, serif, sans-serif,
Georgia, etc... Along with any fonts related to your business.
7. Get a Virus, Spyware and Malware Clean System
Chances are you have some sort of virus, spyware or malware on your computer.
How to : Get Adware and Spybot S&D in addition to a Firewall and Antivirus program.
Remember: Keep your anti-virus programs up-to-date. And always research any software you plan on downloading to "help" your PC. Some anti-virus / anti-spyware software actually have spyware.
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!
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 : Not sure how to install Ram, or even what kind you need or where to get it from?
Check out Blifaloo's article on how to Add Ram to your PC.
4. Remove Programs & files you no longer need or use IPB Image
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.
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.
6. Remove unused Fonts
Having too many fonts can realllllllly slow down how fast programs start up. Some people say
have no more than 500 fonts installed on WinXP, but I personally try to keep the number of fonts below 200. The less you have the faster your programs that use them (office software, graphic programs etc..) will load.
How to : From the Control Panel, click on the "Fonts" icon. You can delete the fonts you don't use here. Remember: to keep the basics: Verdana, Arial, Times, Trebuchet, Courier, serif, sans-serif,
Georgia, etc... Along with any fonts related to your business.
7. Get a Virus, Spyware and Malware Clean System
Chances are you have some sort of virus, spyware or malware on your computer.
How to : Get Adware and Spybot S&D in addition to a Firewall and Antivirus program.
Remember: Keep your anti-virus programs up-to-date. And always research any software you plan on downloading to "help" your PC. Some anti-virus / anti-spyware software actually have spyware.
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