Windows XP Professional System Optimization Guide:



When installing, make SURE you install all of the most recent drivers
for your Hardware. This is vital!

A powered USB hub occasionally helps and would be one of the first things to try.


XP optimizations include:
------------------------

A. Disable Automatic Updates

1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Automatic Updates tab.
3. Uncheck Keep my computer updated..
4. Click OK.


B. Disable Remote Assistance

1. Right Click My Computer and select Properties
2. Click Remote tab.
3. Uncheck "Allow Remote Assistance Invitations.".
4. Click OK.


C. Disable Startup Items in Registry

1. Click Start button.
2. Click Run.
3. Type MSCONFIG and press [ENTER].
4. Click Startup tab.
5. Uncheck everything
6. Click OK.
7. Exit MSCONFIG.


D. Disable Startup Program Group Items in Start Menu

1. Right click Start button and choose Open.
2. Double click Programs.
3. Double click Startup.
4. Delete anything you think you don't need.
5. Close window.

 

E. Set Windows Theme to CLASSIC

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on Themes tab
3. Set Themes to Windows Classic
4. Hit OK


F. Disable Indexing on all NTFS drives

1. Double click My Computer.
2. Right click on hard drive and choose Properties.
3. On bottom, uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this file for
faster searching". 4. Hit OK.


G. Run diskperf -n

1. Click the Start Button.
2. Click Run.
3. Type DISKPERF -N and press [ENTER].


 
H. Disable MSN Messenger

1. Double click on the Messenger icon in the system tray to open it.
2. Skip thru the internet and sign up stuff, just cancel it.
3. When Messenger loads go to Tools -> Options then Preferences.
4. Uncheck 'Run this program when windows starts'


I. Disable Power Management/Screen Saver

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on the Screen Saver tab.
3. Set Screensaver to None.
4. Press the Power button near the bottom.
5. Set all options to NEVER shut down automatically!


J. Disable Wallpaper

1. Right-click on your desktop, and then click Properties.
2. Click on the Desktop tab.
3. Where it says Background, scroll all the way up and choose None.
4. Click OK.


K. Disable System Sounds

1. Click Start Button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Control Panel
4. Double click Sounds and Audio Devices.
5. Click Sounds tab.
6. For Sound Scheme, choose "No Sounds".
7. Click OK.