Improve XP Speed

Tweaks & Tips to speed up XP

★  TCPOptimizer.exe_.zip  ★  PageDefrag.zip ★  bootvis.msi_.zip  ★  OandOdefraglite.exe_.zip  ★  exctrlst_setup.exe_.zip  ★  CachemanXP.exe_.zip  ★  RegCleaner.exe_.zip  ★

Some improvements require installing additional (free) software, the links are provided but you can download them all here as well. If you find that your system is still too slow (don’t forget to reboot for the changes to take effect), consider upgrading the memory (RAM).

OK, let’s get started

  • Remove software you no longer use
    Control Panel -> Add/Remove Software
  • Clean your system
    Delete files and old emails you no longer need
    Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Delete Files (all offline content)
    Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Settings -> View Files -> Delete the cookies you do not need
    Cleanup all other temporary files and the recycle bin: ‘start\programs\accessories\system tools\disk cleanup’
  • Clean your registry
    Download and install the Tweaknow registry cleaner
    Click ‘Scan now’ -> After the scan is completed -> View details -> Delete problems
  • Backup fonts you are not using
    Note: If you feel uncomfortable doing this, skip this step. You could mess up your systems appearance by removing XP fonts.
    Open Explorer and create a new directory ‘backup_fonts’
    Control Panel -> Fonts -> Drag the fonts you want to delete to the new directory ‘backup_fonts’
    Keep the following fonts:
    Arial
    Comic Sans MS
    Courier
    Estrangelo Edessa
    Franklin Gothic
    Gautami
    Georgia
    Impact
    Latha
    Lucida
    Microsoft Sans Serif
    Modern
    MS Sans Serif 8,10,12,14,18,24
    MS Serif 8,10,12,14,18,24
    Mv Boli
    Palatino
    Roman
    Script
    Small Fonts
    Symbol
    Tahoma
    Times New Roman
    Trebuchet MS
    Tunga
    Verdana
    Webdings
    WingDings
    WST_Czech
    WST_Czech.fon
    WST_Engl
    WST_Fren
    WST_Germ
    WST_Ital
    WST_Span
    WST_Swed
  • Defrag your system
    Defragment your drives with the XP tool: ‘start\programs\accessories\system tools\disk defragmenter’
    or
    Use a better defragmenter from O&O: O&O_Defrag_2000_Freeware_Edition_d4545
    Select the drive to defragment -> click the ‘play’ button
  • Improve Memory Usage and tweak registry settings
    Download and install Cacheman XP
    Enable AutoRecover RAM – Enable Cache Cacheman controlled
    Tweaks – Uncheck all except Windows Key, Autoend tasks and Unload DLL’s
    Set Additional critical workers:2 / Hung app timeout: 2 sec / Menu delay: 100ms / kill app timeout: 2 sec / kill service timeout: 2 sec
    Tip: if you click the icon in the systemtray once it will show you the amount of free memory (RAM)
  • Disable the Windows XP theme (back to the ‘old style’ windows)
    Go to Start and then Run and type ‘services.msc’
    Doubleclick on the Themes service and select disable
  • Speedup Folder Browsing
    My Computer -> Tools menu -> Folder Options -> View tab -> Uncheck the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box
  • Turn off system restore
    Right-click My Computer -> Properties -> System Restore tab -> Enable Turn off System restore on all drives
  • Disable Indexing Services
    Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Window Components -> Uncheck the Indexing services
  • Optimise Display Settings
    Control Panel -> System -> Advanced tab -> In the Performance tab click Settings -> Uncheck everything
  • Disable System Sounds
    Control Panel -> Click Sounds and Audio Devices -> Check Place volume icon in taskbar -> Click Sounds Tab -> Choose ‘No Sounds’
  • Remove the background picture
    Right click on an open area of the desktop and select ‘properties.’
    Select the ‘desktop’ tab and in the ‘background’ window, highlight ‘none.’ Press ‘ok.’
  • Disable performance counters
    Download and install the Extensible Performance Counter List
    Select each counter in turn in the ‘Extensible performance counters’ window and uncheck the ‘performance counters enabled’ checkbox
  • Optimise Pagefile size & defrag
    Control Panel -> System -> Advanced tab -> Performance Settings button -> Advanced Tab -> Virtual Memory
    Set the virtual memory to minimum 1.5x the memory size for the lower AND upper limit and click the Set button.
    Download and Install pagedfrg
    Select defrag at next boot
  • Disable unused services
    Go to Start and then Run and type ‘services.msc’ -> Doubleclick on the service you want to change
    Try disabling the following services (unless you think you need them):
    Alerter
    Clipbook
    Error Reporting Service
    Fast User Switching
    Help and Support
    HID Input Service
    Indexing Service
    Infrared Monitor
    IPSEC
    Messenger
    MS Software Shadow Copy
    Network DDE
    Network DDE DSDM
    Network Time Protocol
    Portable Media Serial Number
    Remote Desktop Help
    Remote Registry Service
    Secundary Logon
    Shell Hardware Detection
    SSDP
    TCP/IP Netbios Helper
    Telephony
    Telnet
    Terminal Services
    Themes
    Universal Plug and Play Device Host
    Windows Time
    Depending on the use of your computer you could disable more services.
  • Improve Boot Times
    Download and install BootVis
    Select Trace -> Select Next Boot + Driver Trace -> A Trace Repetitions screen will appear, select OK and Reboot
    Wait until Bootvis has stared again, select menu Trace and select Optimize System
  • Improve Network Interface settings
    Download and install TCP/IP Optimizer
    Click the General Settings tab and select your connection Speed (Kbps)
    Click Network Adapter and choose the interface you use to connect to the Internet
    Check Optimal Settings then Apply

★  TCPOptimizer.exe_.zip  ★  PageDefrag.zip ★  bootvis.msi_.zip  ★  OandOdefraglite.exe_.zip  ★  exctrlst_setup.exe_.zip  ★  CachemanXP.exe_.zip  ★  RegCleaner.exe_.zip  ★