10 Intermediate Ways To Speed Up Windows
Update: If you are using Windows Vista then check out 10 Simple Ways To SpeedUp Windows Vista.
Given how successful my Simple Guide to Tweaking Windows XP has been I’ve decided to post some more complex tweaks. The effectiveness of each of these tweaks will vary from machine to machine.
I’ve tried to focus on tweaks that I’m confident can be made on any XP machine regardless of the individual setup. Please do not make any of these changes if you are not sure what you are doing, and remember to make backups first and good luck!
1. Disable Unnecessary Services
Because Windows XP has to be all things to all people it has many services running that take up system resources that you will never need. Below is a list of services that can be disabled on most machines:
- Alerter
- Clipbook
- Computer Browser
- Distributed Link Tracking Client
- Fast User Switching
- Help and Support - (If you use Windows Help and Support leave this enabled)
- Human Interface Access Devices
- Indexing Service
- IPSEC Services
- Messenger
- Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
- Portable Media Serial Number
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
- Remote Procedure Call Locator
- Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
- Remote Registry Service
- Secondary Logon
- Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
- Server
- SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n’ Pray will disable this)
- Telnet
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
- Upload Manager
- Universal Plug and Play Device Host
- Windows Time
- Wireless Zero Configuration (Do not disable if you use a wireless network)
- Workstation
To disable these services:
- Go to Start and then Run and type “services.msc”
- Doubleclick on the service you want to change
- Change the startup type to ‘Disable”
2. Turn Off System Restore
System Restore can be a useful if your computer is having problems, however storing all the restore points can literally take up Gigabytes of space on your hard drive. To turn off System Restore:
1. Open Control Panel
2. Click on Performance and Maintenance
3. Click on System
4. Click on the System Restore tab
5. Tick ‘Turn off System Restore on All Drives’
6. Click ‘Ok’
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Comment by 3G iPhone on 13 August 2008:
Thanks for the tips.
Comment by Larry on 17 July 2008:
Turning off System Restore is not a wise move, I suggest reducing the size of disk space it holds in reserve from 12% to 6%.
Pingback by Ways to Speed Up Windows XP | Melikbilge on 22 June 2008:
[...] Computer Browser [...]
Comment by Billy bob on 7 June 2008:
Number nine (9) does not work it will say that itbis invalid
Comment by Brian Skidmore on 1 June 2008:
I have followed all Steps bar the Restore section.
Immediate improvement occurred with the “pageDefrag”
section.
No problems were experienced with your instructions.
I will give it another day and if all remains well I’ll
finish off with the Restore section
many thanks for a great article
Pingback by Four Simple Ways to Speed up Windows XP « Your Tech Today on 2 April 2008:
[...] Computer Browser [...]
Comment by tdh on 29 March 2008:
Only disable a service when you know exactly what its function is. Instead of listing all the services to disable, why don’t you tell some words about each service?
For example, if you disable Computer Browser, you cannot access to any shared folder in other computers in LAN, right? So what? IMHO, listing the unnecessary services without function description is fool!
Comment by Darrenb on 23 February 2008:
HELP…
I did these tweaks now when i click on my computer or my documents or any folder nothing happens!!!!