10 Simple Ways To Speed Up Windows XP

December 3rd, 2005 • Related • Filed Under

Update: If you are using Windows Vista then check out 10 Simple Ways To SpeedUp Windows Vista. If are feeling more adventurous I have also posted 10 Intermediate Ways To Speed Up Windows and also More Ways to Speed Up Windows XP

I’ve just finished setting up a new PC for a friend and I think some of you will be interested in some of the tweaks I make to all of my PCs to make them quicker. I’ve focused here on the ones which are simple to do and won’t cause problems if you get it wrong, rather than listing registry tweaks etc.

1. Disable Indexing Services

Indexing Services is a small little program that uses large amounts of RAM and can often make a computer endlessly loud and noisy. This system process indexes and updates lists of all the files that are on your computer. It does this so that when you do a search for something on your computer, it will search faster by scanning the index lists. If you don’t search your computer often, or even if you do search often, this system service is completely unnecessary. To disable do the following:

  • Go to Start
  • Click Settings
  • Click Control Panel
  • Double-click Add/Remove Programs
  • Click the Add/Remove Window Components
  • Uncheck the Indexing services
  • Click Next

2. Optimise Display Settings

Windows XP can look sexy but displaying all the visual items can waste system resources. To optimise:

  • Go to Start
  • Click Settings
  • Click Control Panel
  • Click System
  • Click Advanced tab
  • In the Performance tab click Settings
  • Leave only the following ticked:
  • Show shadows under menus
  • Show shadows under mouse pointer
  • Show translucent selection rectangle
  • Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
  • Use visual styles on windows and buttons

3. Speedup Folder Browsing

You may have noticed that everytime you open my computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers everytime you open Windows Explorer. To fix this and to increase browsing significantly:

  • Open My Computer
  • Click on Tools menu
  • Click on Folder Options
  • Click on the View tab.
  • Uncheck the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box
  • Click Apply
  • Click Ok
  • Reboot your computer

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About the Author

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Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University, and currently runs the Portal and online operations for one of the largest ISPs in the UK. He also writes for Windows 7 News.

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  1. #50

    Comment by john dewey on 1 May 2007:

    Think the simple way is to use another operating system :)

    make a fresh install - back it up vanilla and work away. when it gets clunky just restore vanilla ( takes 10 mins )

    easy

  2. #49

    Comment by steven on 9 April 2007:

    here is an idea for you?

    4 gb + usb pen drive or memeory card 4gb +

    move the swap file from the winxp hd! to the usb or memeory card slot device.!”"

    watch it move then.,……..SPEED BOOST WINXP…..

  3. #48

    Pingback by Post Level Text Link Ads Coming This Week? | Connected Internet on 8 April 2007:

    [...] new scheme and I have a number of posts that I think will be attractive to advertisers, including 10 Simple Ways To Speedup XP which ranks #1 or #2 for many related terms on Google. However, I think the new system is going to [...]

  4. #47

    Comment by Everton on 7 April 2007:

    ok something on this bugged my laptop up i had hibernation enabled now i have lost the tab for hibernation tab and now i cant use it now

    None of these changes impact hibernation mode. I’d recommend retracing your steps to see if you made any mistakes

  5. #46

    Comment by bigballs on 7 April 2007:

    ok something on this bugged my laptop up i had hibernation enabled now i have lost the tab for hibernation tab and now i cant use it now

  6. #45

    Comment by Rohit on 2 April 2007:

    hi everton,

    Thanks for the prompt reply.
    But could you please do me a favour,
    please send me an email at rohit_malkani@infosys.com saying that you have no objections with me using these tweaks. I can even send you the document for your kind perusal,so that you can approve it.

    Thanks.

  7. #44

    Comment by Everton on 29 March 2007:

    thanks for asking - have no problems with you using as long as you include the accreditation

  8. #43

    Comment by Rohit on 29 March 2007:

    I am writing a document on “Speed up your computer” and planning to post it on our Knowledge Management intranet, so that other employees in my company can also benefit from reading it. I came across an article, available at http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2005/12/05/10-intermediate-ways-to-speed-up-windows/, on the same subject. I would like to include parts of this in my document. I request you to kindly grant me permission to do so. I assure you that I would give appropriate credits and references (in-line citations) to your article in my document.

  9. #42

    Comment by Everton on 6 March 2007:

    why are you shouting?

    This link might help you calm down

  10. #41

    Comment by RAMAKRISHNA on 6 March 2007:

    I THINK THIS IS NOT SO USEFUL FOR ALL BUT IT SHOULD BE IN AN ADVANCED MANNER

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