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Windows XP Tweaks to Speed UP a Slow Computer |
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Want to Speed up Your Slow Computer? Improve overall performance with simple to follow expert tweaks for Windows XP!
Now that Vista has arrived with more of a thud than thunder, people are
asking the question, “What can I do to speed up my slow computer?” A
good answer is to customize your existing operating system for speed an
performance. So, why not keep XP. It is Microsoft most stable operating
system. Vista will not be stable until the first major service pack
update is released. Until then, Vista is about as stable as a house of
cards in a tornado. Also XP to Vista migration causes slow computer
performance. If you are one of these people who rather kick XP up a
notch than pay for a system that meets Vista outrageous specs for
optimum performance, read on for some expert tips to speed up a slow
computer using XP tweaks.
Windows XP’s stability makes it the most “tweakable”. There are more
than a few areas that are specifically ripe with opportunities to
improve slow computer performance and remedy a slow computer. Let’s
start with getting your hard drive running smoothly.
XP Tweaks for Slow Computer Tip #1—Turn Off Windows Indexing Service
If you have ever wondered why your hard drive makes so much noise when
idle, this is due to your files being indexed in order to help your CPU
find these files easier. However, even the most insignificant files are
indexed. This service puts a huge strain on your hard drive which
ironically makes things easier for Windows. Because of this conundrum,
most techs have deemed this Indexing Service insignificant and the
cause of slow computer hard drive access. You can turn off service with
the following steps.
1. Double-click My Computer, point to Explorer Bar on the View menu, and click Search.
2. Click Change preferences, and then click Without Indexing Service.
3. Click No, do not enable Indexing Service, and then click OK.
XP Tweaks for Slow Computer Tip #2— Speed Up Your Hard with NTFS.
Windows XP offers NTFS hard drive configuration. This offers better
compression, security and encryption. However, this conversion from FAT
to NTFS standard requires a bit more space on your hard drive
nevertheless you will be reward with a faster drive. You can easily
switch to this system by following directions below:<br>
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type cmd press Enter.
4. At the command prompt
Type convert X:/FS:NTFS(X is your hard drive letter)
5. Hit Enter
XP Tweaks for Slow Computer Tip #3—Disable Unnecessary Startups
Now let’s tweak Windows to run faster. A slow computer can be
attributed to how well your monitor and manage your programs and
processes. Windows XP gives you complete control over what programs and
processes are loaded into your configuration. There are only six vital
programs needed to run your computer. However, there are probably
dozens running as soon as you startup your PC. No wonder you have a
slow computer. You can manage your startup configuration by following
these instructions.
1. Open your Start menu.
2. Click Run
3. In the command screen type: msconfig.exe
4. In the "system configuration utility",
click either "service" or "startup" tab
5. Uncheck all programs that you don't want to use.
6. Click OK
XP Tweak for Slow Computer Tip #4—Increase Virtual Memory<br><br>
Your computer uses physical memory, RAM, and virtual memory. Virtual
memory is used to simulate more RAM when your computer is reaching its
maximum CPU and RAM usage. It is very similar to a bucket filling up
with water, in this analogy your RAM is the bucket and water being
computer processes and programs. However, your bucket size is limited
by your amount of RAM. The more programs and processes you use cause
the bucket to become full. However, you can use a spare bucket to
quickly help meet the demand; Virtual memory is that spare bucket.
You can change your virtual memory by altering amount of resources for
reserved for it, in a sense making the spare bucket bigger. Virtual
memory uses free space as a resource. So you can change the amount free
space reserved for the Virtual memory Check out "How to clean up a slow computer" for
efficient ways to clean up your drive.
Increasing your Virtual Memory is easy. There are some important facts
to remember. When you get to the Virtual Memory menu select the Custom
Size check box, then choose the initial size and the max size.
Depending on how much free space you have you can choose what amount of
free space you want reserved for the paging file. Its better to keep
the initial and maximum size the same to cut down on your CPU access.
This will stop your CPU from constantly changing your Virtual memory
paging file size. Also set the size at least 1.5 times higher than
your physical memory. If you are still confused this link below for a
visual step by step instructions.
1.Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.
3.On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.
4.Under Virtual memory, click Change.
5.Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging
file that you want to change. In most computers its C:
6.Under Paging file size for selected drive, click to Custom size check
box. You can enter the amount of memory you would like to reserve for
Virtual memory by entering the initial and maximum size.
7.Click Set
In addition to these tweaks. You can take it one step further in you quest to make your slow computer a distant memory. This requires you to perform some registry editing. I suggest you clean your registry before attempt any editing. After your registry is clean, you can perform several tweaks to speed up your slow computer. The site below provides more tips and tutorials to increase PC performance.
http://www.delete-computer-history.com/how-to-speed-up-my-computer.html
There is no doubt that many of the program and services names are foreign to most. Check out www.delete-computer-history.com for a list of unnecessary programs that can cause a slow computer syndrome.
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