How To : improve windows xp performance
So you want to run your pc faster? You don’t need to disbale the visual effects in order to improve the performance,no doubt you will benefit from it.If we have to compromise with the visual effects of winodws xp then what’s the point in using it? Anyway,here i would like to point out the services and tools that you can use to improve the system performance.
Services
There are few services that you can disable to improve your system performance. Note:Read the description of each sercvice and its dependencies before you can turn off any one of them.
NetMeeting
Human Interface Devices
Web Client
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Application Management
Routing & Remote Access
Clipbook
SSDP Discovery Service
Alerter
QOS RSVP
Fast UserSwitching
Remote Registry
Indexing Service
Net Logon
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Messenger
Clear page file
Page file is temporary file that is used as an extemsion to your physical memory.Even when there isn’t any shortage of memory, the page file still exists and swapping of disk still takes place.You can clear the pagefile on shutdown.
Click on the Start
Go to the Control Panel
Administrative Tools >Local Security Policy >Local Policies
Click on Security Options
Right side menu - right click on “Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile”
Select “Enable”
Restart
Prefetch
To speed up the frequently used programs,windows keeps a shortcut to recently used programs.However it can fill up with old and obsolete programs.The cache is in the C:\Windows\Prefetch folder.There is lot of debate on whether to clear prefetch or not,but Microsoft resolved this problem by pathcing it up in service pack 2.
Start > Run >Type Prefetch
Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the shortcuts
Delete
Performance counters
There are some tools in windows to keep eye on the performance.These stats tool are used by system administrators or overclockers etc.As this tool also needs memory like any other service so disbaling it will increase the system performance.
To turn this service off, go to the command prompt and type ‘diskperf -N’. You don’t need to restart your system after this.
Windows indexing service
To find files and folder faster windows enables this services by default.This service is much slower and less effective.You can try third party applications like Google desktop,copernic etc.
To disable Indexing :Go to the Control Panel,>Add/Remove Programs> Windows Components and then uncheck ‘Indexing Service’.
System restore
This service is rarely used by users,it keeps log of changed system files and settings.So using system restore may turn on your old problemetic settings back and may restore any files that may have been updated.
To turn it off,Go to My computer >Properties > System restore. Check “Turn off System Restore”.Now you can see that there is file size decrease in each of your drive.
Startup programs
You can improve the startup time by controlling the number of applications that starts with windows.You can see the startup programs by start>Run>type msconfig.The Startup tab lists the programs that starts with the windows.You can enable/disable from there but changing it from there makes your computer boot with selective startup.There are utilities that lets you edit the startup entries manually.My favourite is Mlin’s startup control panel,you can downlaod it from
http://www.mlin.net/
If you work arround with these,then definitely you will find boost in your system performance.If you are serious in tweaking then you can try something like what mark is doing in his blog:
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/07/case-of-periodic-system-hangs.html
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3 Responses to “How To : improve windows xp performance”
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very good
I’d say that suggesting to turn off ’system restore’ is a pretty bad idea as it is a wonderful safety net to return your system back to a functional state after serious problem.
Some good advice but some bad.
Clear page file:
Doing this will not improve performance in any way. It is a security measure but quite useless except as part of an overall security policy. It will also lengthen shutdown times considerably.
Prefetch:
The author clearly does not understand how profetch works. Do not do this, it will impair performance. Prefetch worked well from the very beginning, there was nothing for SP2 to fix.
System Restore:
It is true, this feature is rarely used. But so is a smoke alarm. If a serious problem occurs System Restore may be invaluable in restoring operation. You may only need it once, but then you will be very thankful it is there. Use it carefully. The disk space used can be reduced if this is an issue.
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA