| Windows XP is currently the most popular | | | | that siphon of your WinXP machine's |
| operating system for personal computers and | | | | performance. |
| comes in two broad categories--XP Home and XP | | | | |
| Pro. XP home is designed for home users who | | | | Once you have implemented the above vital |
| do not need the more heavyweight corporate | | | | Windows XP tweaks, it is time to look at |
| applications such as a web server but still | | | | other performance based steps that you can |
| require a scalable and reliable operating | | | | use. The WinXP registry is a centralized data |
| system. While Windows XP runs well out of the | | | | structure that WinXP programs, including |
| box, there are tricks that can be used to | | | | WinXP itself, use to store configuration |
| optimize your installation. There are great | | | | data. The registry can quickly become crowded |
| Windows XP tweaks that involve broadband | | | | and hence more slow to search. Particularly |
| settings, registry entries, and other under | | | | if you remove unused programs that do not |
| utilized components of WinXP. | | | | uninstall properly, they may leave behind |
| | | | garbage in the registry that can cause |
| While this first group of tips can not | | | | registry searches to slow. Since registry |
| properly be considered Windows XP tweaks, | | | | searches can occur at any time during program |
| they are so important that they should be | | | | execution (particularly during start up), a |
| included in any guide that discusses WinXP | | | | clogged WinXP registry can cause the entire |
| performance and efficiency. The single most | | | | system to slow. There are numerous free and |
| important thing you can do to ensure to WinXP | | | | share ware programs out there that can help |
| performance is to make sure that your | | | | you clean your WinXP registry. It is not |
| computer is free from viruses, trojans, | | | | advisable to muck around the registry |
| spyware, and other pieces of software that | | | | yourself, and always be sure to back up your |
| could serve to slow down or otherwise | | | | registry before making any changes. |
| compromise the functioning of your WinXP | | | | |
| computer. The first thing that you should do, | | | | Another important class of Windows XP tweaks |
| particularly if you have an always on | | | | is to keep your hard drive defragmented. Hard |
| broadband connection, is to install a | | | | drives become fragmented when application |
| firewall. A firewall locks down the software | | | | programs save different parts of files in |
| entry points (called ports) that applications | | | | different places on your hard drive. For |
| use interact with your computer. Ports are | | | | example, in order to maximize available |
| simply numbers that, when combined with your | | | | space, WinXP may decide to save part of your |
| internet protocol (IP) address, specify a | | | | file in different places on the hard drive. |
| single channel of network communication. Some | | | | This means that access time for that file |
| ports should usually be open, such as port 80 | | | | will become slow. Over time, your hard drive |
| which allows web HTTP communication to occur, | | | | can accumulate many such fragmented files and |
| but others should be locked unless they are | | | | generally become a mess. This can slow your |
| needed by a legitimate program. By default, | | | | computer down a great deal. Fortunately, it |
| the entire range of ports is open to the | | | | is easy to de-fragment your hard drive using |
| world on a WinXP machine. A firewall blocks | | | | built in WinXP utilities. The process can |
| all unused ports and lets the WinXP user | | | | take a number of hours to complete, so many |
| decide which ports to open. WinXP service | | | | people choose to de-fragment their hard drive |
| pack 2 contains a firewall that is on by | | | | overnight. |
| default. Another member of this class of | | | | |
| Windows XP tweaks is to install anti virus | | | | Optimize, secure, and maintain your computer |
| and anti spyware software. These programs can | | | | absolutely FREE with these explosive Windows |
| clear up the malicious pieces of software | | | | XP Tweaks! |