10 Simple Ways To Speed Up Windows XP
Everton | Dec 03, 2005 | Comments 163
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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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I’ve been banging my head against Vista for months. I’m probably the only person in the world who likes it over Xp, although XP was always faster.
Alot of your tips work well for Windows Vista (but needed some tweaking), and Ive managed to speed my Vista laptop up considerably.
Thanks!
Thanks for that – I still use XP in preference to Vista as it’s a lot faster, but even so it does slow down a lot over time compared to when I first installed it so any tips to crank the speed back up are much appreciated!
Vista aint slower then XP…
If you configure it correctly, its faster.
Also disabling the Wallpaper is bullshit…
No one runs an XP System with less then 256MB of ram, and then the Wallpaper doesnt even affect the spead if you measure it…
i run XP at 128MB of ram,an so do others.so it’s not true when you say that no one runs XP with less than 256MB of ram.
there are things you can get rid of in the registry to speed up your machine and turn off services that are not needed, for example you can make help and support manual and stop the service meaning it want start but is available if needed, to change the registry is easy to follow the steps
start
run
type in regedit
expand HKEY_local_machine
expand Software
expand microsoft
expand windows
expand current version
click run
in here is evrything that starts on start up you should be able to tell what you can delete things like quicktime itunes real player just be careful if you can tell what it is dont do it. this will also work with vista
I have also set up a blog which shows you how to tweak your Windows XP and which software to run to speed it up.
Check it out
http://debianguru.blogspot.com.
Thanks, this stuff actually works!
defragmentation also increases speed of a PC by using software tuneup utility
Thanks. I noticed significant improvement in my PC’s speed after following some of your tips.
yeah, worked for me as well
tony´s last blog ..View Comics On Your iPhone
I’ve optimized! My computer runs smother now. Thanks for the advice on the matter. It took me no time.
WOW thx it really helped my gateway become faster