7 Easy Ways to Speed Up Windows XP

1. Start-Up applications

Start-Up applications are applications which load when you start your operating system. These applications are shortcuts to your favorite programs such as instant messengers. Start-Up applications can contain anti virus programs or other important programs which should be started but some of the start-up programs most of the time are unnecessary and are not required. These programs can slow down your system as well as slow down the system starting and shutting down process. You can selectively disable the unwanted or less used applications safely to experience more speedy system.
To disable start-up applications – click on start menu, type msconfig and press enter, in the msconfig utility, click the start-up tab and uncheck unwanted start-up applications.

2. Reduce visual effects

It is definitely nice to see all the slide and fade effects, but they only hog your RAM, you can disable every visual effect or some of them and you will experience a quicker responding system.
To remove visual effects - right click on my computer icon on your desktop, click the advanced tab and under performance click settings.

3. System restore

System restore is an inbuilt XP utility, that helps you restore your system to a previous good state in case of problems. The problem is that system restore becomes responsible for continuous disk writing activity after the system gets heavy with applications. System restore not only slows down your system but is also responsible for a lot of disk usage. There are alternatives to system restore like Ghost which you can use for system back up purpose.
To disable system restore - right click on my computer, click properties, click the system restore tab and click turn off system restore on all drives.

4. System Sounds

When you use Windows XP, you might have heard the windows startup and shutdown sound and the clicking and double clicking sound, now these sounds make things stop even if it is for less than a second until the sound is being played. Disabling these sounds, would certainly make your system more crisp and speedy.
To disable system sounds - goto start menu, click control panel, double click the sounds and audio devices icon, click the sounds tab and set the sounds scheme to none.

5. Remove that wallpaper

No matter how gorgeous that wallpaper of yours look like, it is responsible for RAM consumption. Avoid using it for good. To set your wallpaper to none – right click on your desktop, click properties, click the desktop tab and in the background list, select (none).

6. Disk Defragmentation

Disk Defragmentation is a process by which data on the disk is arranged in a proper manner. Data is moved and laid out on the disk more contiguously and free space is arranged to be used effectively by the operating system. Disk Defragmentation is a process of re-organizing your data and it should definitely be used at least once a week or as per the usage and you can see your system performing speedily and steadily.
To defrag your hard disk – click on the start menu, click all programs, click accessories, click system tools and click disk defragmenter.

7. Spywares

Spyware are computer programs which can collect and send your personal information to third-party companies or interfere in your working. Some spyware programs get downloaded and installed automatically from the internet and could be responsible for continuous background processing activity. Spywares are one of the biggest reasons for operating system slow downs. It is very essential that you download a good spyware tool from a legitimate source and scan your system once a while to eradicate this menace.