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Computer Speed - Windows XP:
Make Windows XP Run Faster!
By Bob Rankin
A friend told me: "My computer startup seems to be taking a long time. And
when the hard disk finally stops churning, everything just seems slower than
when it was new. Can you suggest any maintenance tips to reduce the startup
time and make Windows run faster?"
I have this theory that sludge builds up inside a computer over time, much
like an automobile engine. After a while, it doesn't start right up like
when it was new, it stalls unexpectedly, and performance is sluggish on the
(information) highway. Is there something like engine cleaner we can pour
into our personal computer to restore that "like new" performance? Actually,
yes!
Registry Cleaner Product
- Check your registry for corruption. Free registry scan.
Anti-Spyware Product
Cyber Sludge Remover
Here's my special recipe to clean that icky goo out of your computer's
pipes, so Windows will start quicker, run more reliably, and go faster on
the info-superhighway.
INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp Windows Updates
2 cups Virus/Malware remover
3 lbs Software Cleanup powder
2 tbsp Hard Disk Scrubber
1 slice Defrag
1 tsp Startup Weeder
1/2 cup Registry Shavings
2 cups Virtual Memory Sanitizer
1 Extraneous Services Remover
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients together in large bowl. Sprinkle over monitor, keyboard
and system unit. Click to restart.
If only it was so easy! But actually, it's not so hard to take action on
those items I listed above. Here's the scoop on how to implement each step.
Apply Windows Updates
If you run Windows and you use the Internet, you simply MUST stay up to date
with the system patches that come out in response to the privacy and
security exploits that are discovered every week. Failure to do so is an
open invitation to hackers and crackers to invade your privacy and enslave
your computer in a spam spewing network. To get the latest fixes and
configure your system for automatic updates, open Internet Explorer, click
on Tools, then Windows Update.
Clean out Viruses and Malware
Are you running a good anti-virus program, with automatic updates? Have you
scanned your system for spyware, adware and other unwanted pests? If not,
see my article "Spy, Counter-Spy" at AskBobRankin.com for details on how to
protect yourself from those risks. Viruses and malware can slow down your
system a LOT, because they use your resources to generate popup ads, send
spam, and often interfere with the operation of good programs.
Remove Unnecessary Software
You may have a bunch of software packages on your hard drive that are no
longer needed, or they were gratuitously installed when you downloaded some
other package. Toolbars, file-sharing programs, free email enhancers, online
shopping "companions" and download managers are notorious for this practice.
These uninvited guests can put a big drag on your startup time, cause web
pages to load slowly, and generally bog down your computer. Go to Control
Panel, then Add/Remove Software to see what packages are installed. Remove
the ones you know you don't need, and do a web search to learn about the
ones you're not sure about.
Scrub That Hard Disk
Both Windows and application programs tend to leave temporary files lying
around on your hard drive, taking up space needlessly. A hard drive that is
close to being full can cause Windows to act strangely, and will slow down
or interfere with efficient disk access and virtual memory operations. And
if you surf the web a lot, your temporary internet files folder can become
quite large, causing Internet Explorer to slow down or malfunction. Cleaning
up unneeded files, scanning for disk errors and defragmenting the hard drive
can help to restore some zip to your system. First, open My Computer,
right-click on the C: Drive icon, select Properties, then click on Disk
Cleanup. (Optional: Select the More Options tab to find and remove even more
unwanted files.) To run a defrag, open My Computer, right-click on the C:
Drive icon, select Properties, then Tools. Click the Check Now button to
scan your disk for errors. When the scan is complete, click the Defragment
Now button to run the defrag, which reorganizes your hard disk so Windows
can find and access files more efficiently. (It's highly recommended that
you close all running programs and disable your screen saver before running
a defrag. Otherwise, updates to your files may trigger defrag to restart
endlessly.)
Okay, Now Take a Breath...
We're more than half-way done with the process of cleaning the junk out of
your computer. The rest of the steps may seem a little more geeky, and you
can skip any or all of them if you don't feel comfortable digging a little
deeper into the workings of the Windows operating system. But there is
definitely bang for the buck here. Some of peskiest Windows performance
problems can be solved by giving attention to these areas.
Slim Your Startup Selections
There are certain programs that Windows will start every time you boot up
your system, and during the startup phase, they're all jockeying for a slice
of your CPU. Extra or unwanted items in the startup list will definitely
increase your startup time, perhaps by several minutes. To manage the list
of startup programs, click on Start / Run, then type MSCONFIG. Press Enter,
then select the Startup tab. If you see items in the list you know you don't
need to run at startup time, UNcheck the box(es) next to them and press
Apply. Some common examples are things related to AOL, RealPlayer, Napster,
instant messengers, and video managers. If you're not sure about an item, no
big deal. You can turn it off, restart your PC, and see if everything seems
to work. If not, you can always go back and re-enable an item in the Startup
list. This helpful list may help you decide what to keep or drop.
Clean Your Registry
The REGCLEAN utility from Microsoft cleans your system registry of
unnecessary entries that are created when you install or remove programs on
your computer. Sometimes an "orphaned" registry entry can confuse Windows
during startup and cause a delay. And in general, slimming down your
registry will make Windows run faster. You can download REGCLEAN here. Note:
This program is no longer officially supported by Microsoft, but many users
report that it works fine on Windows XP systems. You can also try RegSeeker
which is a highly rated registry cleaner.
RAM and Virtual Memory Settings
When you run out of physical (RAM) memory, Windows will use a check of your
hard disk to create virtual memory. This is a nice feature, because it
allows application programs to access huge amounts of memory. The only
problem with virtual memory is that it's a lot slower than real RAM. So
installing extra RAM on the system board is a good idea because it's pretty
cheap and easy to pop in. Find out how much your system will accommodate and
install the maximum amount. Extra RAM will probably do more to boost your
overall system performance than anything else! But getting back to Virtual
Memory, it's wise to let Windows manage the amount, unless you are a Wizard,
with a capital W. Go to Control Panel / System / Advanced, then press the
Settings button under Performance. Click Advanced again, then press the
Change button under Virtual Memory. If System managed size is selected,
you're all set. If you want to fiddle with the Custom Size options, be my
guest!
Turn Off Extraneous System Services
We're heading into geek territory here, so be forewarned. Windows
doesn't know exactly how you're going to use your computer, so it starts a
whole bunch of system services that manage network connections, database
access, error reporting, remote access and other nerdy-sounding things. You
may not need all these services, and disabling some of them can reduce your
startup time and system overhead. But choosing which ones to nuke is a bit
daunting, unless you are an expert on Windows operating system internals.
Here's my advice... disable only the ones that you're sure about. If you
encounter a problem, you can always go back and turn a service back on.
I hope that helps. If you have success with this recipe, let me know,
thanks!
About the Author:
This article has been reprinted from:
http://www.askbobrankin.com/making_windows_xp_start_faster.html
BOB RANKIN ...is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring
the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work
has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of
the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, and author of several computer books. For
more helpful articles and free tech support, visit
http://www.AskBobRankin.com
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