Slow Computer - Tips Hints & Tweaks To Make Your Computer Faster

XP Windows® Operating System Tweaks

Why does the XP Windows® Operating System need to be tweaked?

When you install the Windows® operating system for the first time on your computer, it automatically configures itself with the standard "out of the box default settings". These default settings are considered to be the most common ones that will be required by a typical user. However, there are many different settings that can be manually changed and tweaked to improve the performnce of the Windows® operating system.

You can apply the system tweaks described below to get a quick perfromance improvement from you computer.

Tweak 1: Minimise the Display Settings

You can reduce the screen resolution and the number of colors used with the system to speed up the display operations especially if you don't do any image or video editing. Right click on the desktop and select the "Properties" menu from the list of options. Click on the "Settings" tab and adjust the resolution to 800 by 600 pixels and the color quality to "Medium (16 bit)". Click on the "Apply" button and then the "Ok" button to make the changes take effect.

Tweak 2: Turn Off Automatic Notifications and Downloads

The XP Windows® operating system will automatically check for new system patches, downloads, and updates and prompt you to send Microsoft reports about any problems that are encounted. To turn off these automatic processes, right click on the "My Computer" icon and select the "Properties" menu. Select the "Automatic Updates" tab and check the "Turn Off" or "Notify Me" radio button. Select the "Advanced" tab and click on the "Error Reporting" button. Check the "Disable error reporting" radio button, and check the "Notify me when critical errors occur" box and click all the "Ok" buttons to complete the changes.

Tweak 3: Change the Virtual Memory Settings

The XP Windows® operating system uses a section of the hard disk to act as random access memory dynamically changing its size to accomodate the number of applications running on the computer. It may be possible to improve the performance of your computer by fixing the size of the virtual memory so that computer resource are not consumed in dynamically changing the size of the virtual memory on the hard disk. To change the virtual memory, right click on the "My Computer" icon and select the "Properties" menu. Select the "Advanced" tab and click on the "Settings" button under the "Performance" section. Select the "Advanced" tab and click on the "Change" button. Check the "Custom size" radio button and set the "Initial size" to the same value as the recommended size and the "Maximum size" to the same value. Click all the "Ok" buttons to complete the system tweaks.

Tweak 4: Minimise the Size of the Recycle Bin

The Recycle Bin can use a large amount of hard drive space when it really isn't required. Right click on the "Recycle Bin" icon and select the "Properties" menu. Select the "Global" tab and decide how much space you want the "Recycle Bin" to use. If you have a 20 Gb hard disk then 1% would equate to 200 Mb of space which is adequate for most users.

Tweak 5: Enable the Built-In Firewall

The XP Windows® operating system comes with its own firewall. To turn the firewall on, right click on the "My Network Places" icon and select the "Properties" menu. Right click on the connection that you use to access the internet and select the "Properties" menu and then the "Advanced" tab. Click the "Settings" button and check the "On" radio button and then all the "Ok" buttons to complete the task. The XP Windows® operating system firewall has some limitations and you may want to consider a more comprehensive one such as the ZoneAlarm Free Download.

Click here for more Free Tools for tweaking the XP Windows® operating system.

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