10 Simple Ways To Speed Up Windows XP


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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: 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 8 News, Windows 8 News and One Tip A Day.

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  1. I think it’s complex for common users, software can help with these tweaks. I recommend to use Boost Windows 2009, the download link is:

    http://www.windowsfaster.com/dlds/bwsetup.exe

  2. judono says:

    hey thanks for the tips now my pc is stupid fast and work really well now when browsin the internet

  3. Now i know why i dumped vista! I followed the instructions from this post and i have quickened up my pc by 20%. nice work! thanks

  4. isa savings says:

    Great tips but don’t ever do that to a brand new pc…

  5. me says:

    I still prefer XP x64 to Vista or Windows 7  any day.

  6. lefty says:

    If you REALLY want to speed up your Windows..get Linux and Fluxbox!!!!!!   : )

  7. coxy says:

    why not do it to a new pc??? mine is new followed these tips and its lightnin fast

  8. Harvey says:

    Nice tips. Bootvis is a brilliant tool, my computer is now running lightning fast! Well sorta

  9. Fetch says:

    This is an exact copy of one of the introduction books on my DNE course, but the question is who copied who?

  10. fikel says:

    Speed up your “Windows and get linux???? Linux is a system built on unix, which does NOT automaticly clean your Windows system… well DUH!

    Linux is a completely different thing to Windows. Windows is made by a community, and Windows isn’t.

    Anyway, if you are gonna change to Linux, i reccomend Ubuntu . It is free and fabulous!

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