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Windows XP Speed Tips
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AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
Here are a few simple things that you can do to speed up your Windows XP operating system. It's pretty easy to do, and you should notice a difference in the speed of such things like how fast menus open and close, select options within menus, etc. If anyone else would like to add something that they know, please feel free to share it. One of the things that make your XP work a lot slower is the amount of visual effects that are enabled by default. You can reduce the amount of visual effects in the My Computer area. In the Start Menu, select My Computer, and at the top left part of the screen, select View system information. You'll see the System Properties box. From there, click Advanced, Settings, Visual Effects. There you'll see all of the various visual effects that cause the system to slow down. You can just select the Adjust for best performance option, but try the custom option instead. Uncheck all the boxes except Show window contents while dragging, Smooth edges of screen fonts, Smooth-scroll list boxes, and Use common tasks in folders. Done! Another thing that slows down Windows XP a little is the standard XP theme. Try using the Windows Classic theme instead. Go to Control Panel, Appearance and Themes, and select Display. Click Appearance, and select Windows Classic style under Windows and buttons, and then select Windows Classic under Color scheme. After you do all this, you can reduce the brightness of the Classic blue Desktop color by selecting Desktop, Color, Other, and just use the slider to reduce the the brightness at the left part of the Color box . Damn, I hope this wasn't too long. |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
I just posted this! |
RDC Send message Joined: 17 May 99 Posts: 544 Credit: 1,215,728 RAC: 0 |
> > Another thing that slows down Windows XP a little is the standard XP theme. > Try using the Windows Classic theme instead. Go to Control Panel, Appearance > and Themes, and select Display. Click Appearance, and select Windows Classic > style under Windows and buttons, and then select Windows Classic under Color > scheme. After you do all this, you can reduce the brightness of the Classic > blue Desktop color by selecting Desktop, Color, Other, and just use the slider > to reduce the the brightness at the left part of the Color box . Damn, I hope > this wasn't too long. > > Long? It's about 10 pages shorter than I would have made it. LOL. I guess my XP is about as fast as it will get as I had done pretty much everything you suggested. In short, it looks like a Win98 desktop now with no special effects. To truly explore, one must keep an open mind... |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
> > Damn, I hope this wasn't too long. > > > > Long? It's about 10 pages shorter than I would have made it. LOL. > > I guess my XP is about as fast as it will get as I had done pretty much > everything you suggested. In short, it looks like a Win98 desktop now with no > special effects. > Good going man. XP is NT anyways. |
Vladimir Zarkov Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 35 Credit: 32,451 RAC: 0 |
Thanks! Translations and book-scouting dot't leave me much time to fight with XP. I just followed your advice. A quick test - Norton System Works and Logo Creator opened twice as fast. Ha! Have a nice day! Vladimir |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
> Thanks! Translations and book-scouting dot't leave me much time to fight with > XP. I just followed your advice. A quick test - Norton System Works and Logo > Creator opened twice as fast. Ha! > Have a nice day! > Vladimir > Well done Vladimir. |
Darth Dogbytes™ Send message Joined: 30 Jul 03 Posts: 7512 Credit: 2,021,148 RAC: 0 |
[url=http://www.blackviper.com/]This is a very good site for tweaking your XP.<a> Account frozen... |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
> [url=http://www.blackviper.com/]This is a very good site for tweaking > your XP.<a> > > That link ends in HTTP 406 Not Acceptable. |
*Ugly American* Send message Joined: 3 Jun 99 Posts: 55 Credit: 314,164 RAC: 0 |
> Here are a few simple things that you can do to speed up your Windows XP > operating system. You forgot one: Use a Mac instead :0 lol Don't flame me please, I have all three (XP, OS X and Linux)! Seriously, thanks for the tips. <img src="http://boinc.mundayweb.com/seti2/stats.php?userID=1790&trans=off">_<img src="http://seti.mundayweb.com/stats.php?userID=524&trans=off">_<img src="http://www.flagofearth.com/Decal2.jpg" HEIGHT="70"> <BR><B><I>Regards, UA |
Borgholio Send message Joined: 2 Aug 99 Posts: 654 Credit: 18,623,738 RAC: 45 |
> > Here are a few simple things that you can do to speed up your Windows XP > > operating system. > > You forgot one: > > Use a Mac instead :0 lol > > Don't flame me please, I have all three (XP, OS X and Linux)! > > Seriously, thanks for the tips. > > > No flaming here, I feel that each OS has it's benefits and disadvantages. XP is not quite as stable or secure as it could be, but the array of hardware / software availble for it is unmatched. Linux is leaner, more stable, more secure, and far more tweakable than XP...but it has a huge learning curve. Finally, OS X is stable and secure, but hardware / software is more expensive and not as prolific than XP-based PCs. I personally use XP on my main box just because it's convenient. You will be assimilated...bunghole! |
Guido Alexander Waldenmeier Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 587 Credit: 18,397 RAC: 0 |
http://users.accesscomm.ca/gbraun/wxp/ |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
> http://users.accesscomm.ca/gbraun/wxp/ > Well I must say, that is a helpful link you provided. Some of the tips given there can do some harm instead of good. [edited] |
Mac-Nic Send message Joined: 29 Jun 00 Posts: 165 Credit: 551,008 RAC: 0 |
[EDIT] Removed Greetz Screbilde "The FUTURE is only a PARTICLE away from the PRESENT and the PAST." |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
> > [url=http://www.blackviper.com/]This is a very good site for > tweaking > > your XP.<a> > > > > > > That link ends in HTTP 406 Not Acceptable. > Sorry Dogbytes, I finally accessed blackviper. Kept getting HTTP 406 cuz my headers were off. That's a good link. |
grumpy Send message Joined: 2 Jun 99 Posts: 209 Credit: 152,987 RAC: 0 |
well, my favorite tweak for a faster win xp is to dump all the files in the prefecth directory and to rebuilt it. (Using the ProcessIdleTasks to redo the layout.ini file and then using defrag with the -b option to defrag the disk according to the new layout of the boot files, drivers etc.). It's a bit slow the first time after the cleanout is done but it regains after the new layout and prefech file are all recreated. |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
Here's something to do to really increase the speed of internet surfing. It has to do with optimizing internet connection download speed and increasing the number of at-once HTTP connections: First, download the free version of TuneUp Utilities. When installed, go to Optimize and Improve, TuneUp System Optimizer, and select Accelerate downloads and Internet surfing and choose your connection speed. This should optimize surfing performance, especially if you have cable or DSL. I've tried this myself and my download speed is awesome now. To test your connection speed: Bandwidth Test Just choose your connection type for the test (cable, modem, etc). |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
Cool! I'll give it a try. Thanks CR, nice to talk to you again. I forgot to add in the post the part about testing the connection speed first though. |
AC Send message Joined: 22 Jan 05 Posts: 3413 Credit: 119,579 RAC: 0 |
I got that too before when I didn't select my connection right. Remember to click in the 'Other' option for dialup. |
Gary Lantrip Send message Joined: 8 Jul 99 Posts: 43 Credit: 211,954 RAC: 0 |
> > Here are a few simple things that you can do to speed up your Windows XP Now that Macs will be using Intel CPUs, think a Mac will run Win XP? |
N/A Send message Joined: 18 May 01 Posts: 3718 Credit: 93,649 RAC: 0 |
Now that Macs will be using Intel CPUs, think a Mac will run Win XP? [font='courier,courier new']100% sure of it. You'll even be able to run Longhorn on the top-of-the-line, yet-to-be-announced, ever-so-sleek, if-only-it-wasn't-a-PowerPC PowerBooks. Whether or not you'll be able to run OS X.5 (Leopard, the animal that changes it's processors -- I mean, spots) on a Dell, Gateway, or do-it-yourself box is unknown, though. Expect a lot of lawsuits from Apple once people do. (OT: And if Apple succeeds, there's gonna be a lot of fallout - 'specially in Linuxland.)[/font] |
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