1) Add more RAM. Use CPU-Z to determine the type of RAM you are using.

2) Find out your motherboard's model to determine the maximum amount of RAM you can add. Buy and slot in.

If you don't wish to add more RAM, cut down on the graphics.

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To browse files faster, do the following:

Eliminate extra softwares to free up more disk space.

Go to your Control Panel and select “Add or Remove Programs.”

A list of your installed software will appear. Scroll through it and remove anything you don’t use anymore. (Some programs might have been preinstalled on your computer when you bought it.)

Next, click the big button on the left labeled “Add/Remove Windows Components.” This lists XP components that were automatically installed with Windows. Remove whatever components you don’t need.
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Eliminate extra fonts. Those that aren't readable at when the font size is set to 16, or those that have weird symbols replacing the normal letters and numbers can be removed.
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Clean up your disk. Go to Start, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. Check these boxes: Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin, Temporary Files, Web Client/Publisher Temporary Files and Temporary Offline Files.

For more advanced users:

1) Open up notepad and type this in:

c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sageset: 1
c:
cd \
cd c:\windows\prefetch
del *.* /q

2) Save the file, changing the extension from .txt to .bat
For this tip's purpose, we will call it clean.bat

3) Execute the file. This will run the Disk Cleanup program in a special mode which asks what items you will want cleaned when Disk Cleanup performs an unattended cleanup. Check the items you wish to have cleaned up, then click OK.

4) Right-click on the clean.bat file and click edit. Change the first line to read:

c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe /dc /sagerun: 1

5) Save the file. You can execute this file in place of running Disk Cleanup, or, to have this program run unattended, run the Add Scheduled Task Wizard in the Control Panel and create a scheduled task using the clean.bat file you just created.

Edit:

GUI interface for the lazy.

ATF Cleaner by Atribune.

CCleaner (This comes with Yahoo! toolbar)

CCleaner Basic Edition (Basic edition, has no toolbar)

CCleaner Slim Edition (Slim edition, no toolbar, in English only)

Clean the registry.

If unsure, please ask someone or don't clear it.

Defrag it.

Note: Any programs that are running must be closed and no screensaver. This will disrupt defragmentation and data may be lost as a result.

Use DMA (Direct Memory Access).

DMA is a technology that lets you transfer data efficiently.

anything that shows you all running process and applications except task manager?

Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

anything that shows you all running process and applications except task manager?

Got.

Go to Start, Run and type in services.msc

For advanced users:

Open registry editor.

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Improve the swapfile performance.

you are talking about stuff that applies generally to XP

XP = extra problem

not bad ...

why not change back to windows 2000 ?

oh ya ...

did you mentioned stop automatic windows update? i too lazy to read all your reccomendations.

do you know some updates are crap and actually ... confilcts with existing softwares?

Put your computer in the fridge... read somewhere that computers run faster when its cool

Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

Improve the swapfile performance.

[*]Click Start, then Run.
[*]Enter msconfig in the box.
[*]Click on the System.ini tab.
[*]Click the plus sign next to 386enh.
[*]Click New, then type “ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1″ in the box that appears.
[*]Click OK.

Good tweaks..bt this part 'ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1″' u sure is correct?

Disable Unnecessary Services

Because Windows XP has to be all things to all people it has many services running that take up system resources that you will never need. Below is a list of services that can be disabled on most machines:

* Alerter
* Clipbook
* Computer Browser
* Distributed Link Tracking Client
* Fast User Switching
* Help and Support - (If you use Windows Help and Support leave this enabled)
* Human Interface Access Devices
* Indexing Service
* IPSEC Services
* Messenger
* Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
* Portable Media Serial Number
* Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
* Remote Procedure Call Locator
* Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
* Remote Registry Service
* Secondary Logon
* Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
* Server
* SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n' Pray will disable this)
* Telnet
* TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
* Upload Manager
* Universal Plug and Play Device Host
* Windows Time
* Wireless Zero Configuration (Do not disable if you use a wireless network)
* Workstation

To disable these services:

1. Go to Start and then Run and type "services.msc"
2. Doubleclick on the service you want to change
3. Change the startup type to 'Disable"

Speedup Folder Access - Disable Last Access Update

If you have a lot of folders and subdirectories on your computer, when you access a directory XP wastes a lot of time updating the time stamp showing the last access time for that directory and for ALL sub directories. To stop XP doing this you need to edit the registry. If you are uncomfortable doing this then please do not attempt.

1. Go to Start and then Run and type "regedit"
2. Click through the file system until you get to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem"
3. Right-click in a blank area of the window on the right and select 'DWORD Value'
4. Create a new DWORD Value called 'NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate'
5. Then Right click on the new value and select 'Modify'
6. Change the Value Data to '1'
7. Click 'OK'

Improve Boot Times

A great new feature in Microsoft Windows XP is the ability to do a boot defragment. This places all boot files next to each other on the disk to allow for faster booting. By default this option in enables but on some builds it is not so below is how to turn it on.

1. Go to Start Menu and Click Run
2. Type in "Regedit" then click ok
3. Find "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOpt imizeFunction"
4. Select "Enable" from the list on the right
5. Right on it and select "Modify"
6. Change the value to "Y to enable"
7. Reboot
(This one i dont dare to try )

Improve Swapfile Performance

If you have more than 256MB of RAM this tweak will considerably improve your performance. It basically makes sure that your PC uses every last drop of memory (faster than swap file) before it starts using the swap file.

1. Go to Start then Run
2. Type "msconfig.exe" then ok
3. Click on the System.ini tab
4. Expand the 386enh tab by clicking on the plus sign
5. Click on new then in the blank box type"ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1"
6. Click OK
7. Restart PC
(Eh mayi the command is only "ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1" without the quotations btw )

Make Your Menus Load Faster

What this tweak does is remove the slight delay between clicking on a menu and XP displaying the menu.

1. Go to Start then Run
2. Type 'Regedit' then click 'Ok'
3. Find "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\"
4. Select "MenuShowDelay"
5. Right click and select "Modify'
6. Reduce the number to around "100"

This is the delay time before a menu is opened. You can set it to "0" but it can make windows really hard to use as menus will open if you just look at them - well move your mouse over them anyway.

Improve XP Shutdown Speed

This tweak reduces the time XP waits before automatically closing any running programs when you give it the command to shutdown.

1. Go to Start then select Run
2. Type 'Regedit' and click ok
3. Find 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\'
4. Select 'WaitToKillAppTimeout'
5. Right click and select 'Modify'
6. Change the value to '1000'
7. Click 'OK'
8. Now select 'HungAppTimeout'
9. Right click and select 'Modify'
10. Change the value to '1000'
11. Click 'OK'
12. Now find
13. 'HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop'Select 'WaitToKillAppTimeout'
14. Right click and select 'Modify'
15. Change the value to '1000'
16. Click 'OK'
17. Now find
18. 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\'Select 'WaitToKillServiceTimeout'
19. Right click and select 'Modify'
20. Change the value to '1000'
21. Click 'OK'

Originally posted by Redblood:

you are talking about stuff that applies generally to XP

XP = extra problem

not bad ...

why not change back to windows 2000 ?

You can change XP back to anything except Windows 2000 and NT.

Originally posted by lpx88:

Good tweaks..bt this part 'ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1″' u sure is correct?

You have to create a new one, it's not part of system.ini

Originally posted by Redblood:

oh ya ...

did you mentioned stop automatic windows update? i too lazy to read all your reccomendations.

do you know some updates are crap and actually ... confilcts with existing softwares?

I know some updates are crap, but it's better to enable it if some people are going to be forgetful.

It's all up to users. Not all are useful, not all will work for them.

Disable automatic updates:

Control Panel, Automatic Updates, Turn off Automatic Updates.

Originally posted by sand king:

Put your computer in the fridge... read somewhere that computers run faster when its cool

I have one specially for cad work with 6 fans dedicated to cooling its internals with the aircon on, keeps all my hdd at a constant 20 degrees celcius during operation and running windows 2000. Works like a charm.

Turning off system restore will speed up your PC as well, but thats one less solution when you encounter errors and need to ‘turn back time’

2) Find out your motherboard's model to determine the maximum amount of RAM you can add. Buy and slot in.[/b][/quot

How do I find out about the motherboard model and the amount of RAM. Thks

Originally posted by ryangian:
2) Find out your motherboard's model to determine the maximum amount of RAM you can add. Buy and slot in.[/quot

How do I find out about the motherboard model and the amount of RAM. Thks

[/b]

If you bought it from some companies, like Acer, HP, IBM, go straight to their websites, find the model of your computer and it will show you the specs.

If it is a custom built, find back your manual or if you lost it, open up the CPU. Look around the motherboard and you should be able to find.

My cpu has 4 slots but currently is using two 256 RAM to make up 512, would it be better to get two more 256 RAM or replace it with two 512 RAM

Originally posted by ryangian:

My cpu has 4 slots but currently is using two 256 RAM to make up 512, would it be better to get two more 256 RAM or replace it with two 512 RAM

The best answer? Just slot in another two 512MB chips into the other two slots. Voila... you have (256 x 2) + (512 x 2) = 1.5GB of RAM!

I don't see why you would want to replace the 256MB chips with 512MB chips when you still have another two empty slots. Besides, I've checked with a number of shops at Sim Lim, and they don't do trade-ins for RAM chips. Since you can't get rid of those two 256MB chips, might as well let them continue working.

The bottom line is simple: buy as much RAM as you can afford. Up to the limit that the motherboard can handle, of course.