Optimizing Windows XP tips

Operating system Microsoft Windows XP already left behind a generation, nearly two generations, if at the end of this year's Windows 7 so outstanding. However, from the number of users, the operating system is still the majority. Compared to the Windows operating system in 2000, 98, or 95, the Windows XP operating system is also the most long age. Microsoft has also promised to continue to provide support for XP until April 2014.

If your computer operating system but this still reside more performance to decline, there are some steps you can do without the need to format the hard disk and re-install. Following tips so that we make easy to do without you need to work especial registry. Pcplus also does not use any software-only pure update and change the settings on the options available. First, let's do the update.

Windows Update
Windows Update is a collection of patches that can prevent malicious programs to destroy or slow system performance. If the computer is connected to the internet and said that there is a Windows update, instalasikan it all, not only a critical status.

If the update is generally more critical function for slit penambalan security, non-critical updates are important to increase work performance, compatibility, and features a more updated and of course safe to install. Windows update process may take some time. Continue to do just mentioned that there are no more updates available.

Windows Update requires the following services enabled in Windows XP:
- Automatic Updates set to Automatic.
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service set to Manual or Automatic.
If you are still using Service Pack 2, Service Pack 1, or Windows XP without service packs, instalasikanlah Service Pack 3. Service Pack 3 is a collection of updates that include all the improvements and updates to the previous service packs. Highly recommended for you to optimize your Windows.

Update DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a set of application programming interface (API) for the tasks related to multimedia, especially video and games on Microsoft platforms. Should, make sure your operating system already use the latest version of DirectX.

To find out which version you have, please type "dxdiag" in the menu Start> Run and note on the System tab in the DirectX Version. Once known, please direct your browser to the Microsoft Download Center at www.microsoft.com / downloads.

Just enough information, since October 2004 to August 2007, the Microsoft DirectX updates once in two months. After the update is available per quarter. The latest version of DirectX 9 for Windows XP is a version in March 2009.

Update Driver
Update of the drivers used by the hardware can improve system performance and application compatibility. In addition, the latest driver also generally present a number of solutions to overcome the problems and optimizing the system.

Should, use the official version of the driver is released, not beta or pre-release. The beta drivers are generally still not perfect. To update the driver, please take advantage of the features of the Windows Driver Guide. For you who use a notebook, we recommend using the latest drivers available on the website of the notebook manufacturer.

After all the drivers and operating system components using the latest update, the time we do tweaking.

Tweaking Windows XP Tips

Visual Effects
Default view of Windows XP is pretty visible, but the view is actually drain system resources and decrease the responsiveness computer. Here are the options that Windows XP still beautiful, but the computer still spry.

Click Start> Settings> Control Panel> System> Advanced. On the Performance, select Settings. Nah, get rid of the check, except in the following options:
- Show Shadows under menus.
- Show Shadows under the mouse pointer.
- Show translucent selection rectangle.
- Smooth edges of screen fonts.
- Use the drop Shadows for icons labels on the desktop.
- Use visual styles on windows and buttons.
Then select Apply, then click OK. If still not, get rid of all except the check in the "Use visual styles on windows and buttons". But if you do not need a beautiful and just want a nimble, just select the option Adjust for best performance or remove all the check.

ClearType
If you use the LCD screen either LCD or notebook monitor, or plasma, you can get the text to increase the sharpness enable ClearType than using the usual method penajaman font or anti-aliasing.
Instructions is via the Start menu> Settings> Control Panel> Display> Appearance Effects ago. Check the "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts" and select ClearType.

Page File
Windows XP uses the paging file is set by the system. Page file is a backup of RAM memory where the operating system stores data temporarily. At the present time the operating system, including Windows, the application process and system using virtual memory which is considered as a RAM. Only the core of the operating system kernel that uses the physical memory directly. That is, virtual memory or page file is always used, even if the memory needed by the whole process that is running far smaller than the main memory (RAM) is embedded in the motherboard.

By default, Windows XP will automatically set the amount of page file size to the following based on the amount of RAM that is connected to the system:

Less than 1GB of RAM
- Initial size (MB): 1.5 x the amount of RAM in the system.
- Maximum (MB): 3x the amount of RAM installed. Operating system 32-bit page file has a maximum limit of 4GB.
1GB of RAM or more
- Initial size (MB): 1x the amount of RAM in the system.
- Maximum (MB): 3x the amount of RAM installed. Operating system 32-bit page file has a maximum limit of 4GB.
Page file will not grow large if you set its initial size to a sufficient size. Using the automatic option for page file will also avoid or minimize the emergence of an error message "Out of Memory" when running many applications or opening a lot of data.

Provide initial size is too large does not also give a negative impact on the system unless the waste hard disk space if not used, and no relation to the performance. Then, how to know whether the RAM is enough or not?

How, use computer to beraktivitas for several hours without a restart. After that see in the Task Manager, particularly in the Performance tab. If the Commit Charge - Peak larger than Physical Memory - Total, the system you need additional RAM. But if you use the option besarannya the page file is created automatically by the system, and Windows XP will automatically enlarge the page file for you.

The problem is that appears next, the maximum size of page file on the operating system 32-bit is 4GB. What if still not as well? If you have more than one hard disk or partition on the computer, just a second page file on the hard disk is. Windows uses internal algorithm to determine where the page file is used to set the virtual memory optimally.

According to Microsoft, the solution is to create an optimal page file that is stored in the main system partition and create a page file at the partitions in the hard disk or partition that is rarely used.

Disable Indexing Service
Indexing Service in Windows XP to index files on you to shorten the time when you do a search on the hard disk. For example, when you want to open a file or search for a particular sentence is in a document file. However, indexing is constantly on file in the hard disk will be lower because the system's performance using the page file space in a number of large and also consume processor resources.

To men-disable Indexing Service, open My Computer, then right-click on the entire hard disk or partition that you do not want to index more. Next, click Properties ago removed the check on "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching" and click Apply. Then select "Apply changes to the sub folders and files." If there are files that can not be in the update, just select "Ignore All".

Raising the Mouse Pointer Speed
By default, the Windows mouse pointer speed set at the average speed. Although adequate, this can sometimes slow the time when we need to move the cursor to different areas of the screen. Increasing the pointer speed will make you more quickly klak-click on the computer more efficiently without the need many hands.

The way to do this, click Start> Settings> Control Panel> Mouse. On the Pointer Options tab, in the Motion, move the slider 1 to 5 steps to the option "Fast". Then check on the "Enhance pointer Precision" and click OK. Should, now you can move the mouse pointer without having to physically move the mouse a lot of you.

There is no certainty that the settings for this option. Because the use of your computer, the speed of movement of the mouse pointer will not necessarily match the settings used by other people. A clear, common mouse that are cheap or worn-out mouse that has already a limited level of responsiveness. If the mouse pointer speed is not much effect, it means it's time to change the mouse.

Startup Menu
Options in the Startup menu (Start> Run> msconfig) is an application that will run every time you turn on the computer and into the operating system. The more a check in there, the more your computer is slow work because of all the program is run, either directly or running in the background.

Should remove all the check, unless the security software such as antivirus, antispyware, firewall, and others as well as applications that you use very often, such as instant messenger software or printer driver.
In addition to increasing the speed boot, clean check in the Startup menu will also improve the performance of the system is quite significant. Yet if there are deleted centangnya and turns you need, you can check back on the option you want.

If your computer is available on more than one user account, you can also set what applications run at startup the user is different. Do is to select the Users account and you want to edit. But of course you need administrator rights to be able to do this.

Disk Defragmenter
After so long and used to create or move the data to the computer, the management of data on the hard disk in your system will fall apart. As a result, the hard disk will work harder to read and write data to the system. To merapikannya, Windows Disk Defragmenter have enough to do the task.

How to use a double-click on My Computer, then right-click the drive or partition you want to defrag. For example, after the right-click on drive C:, click Properties> Tools, and select Defragement and Defragment Now. Another way is from the Start menu> Run, type "dfrg.msc", and press Enter. Select the drive you want to defrag, then click Defragment.

Because the Disk Defragmenter is very thirsty akan operating on the input-output system, then most likely you will do if busy work while defragmenting. Should do the defrag when the computer will leave you in a long time, such as the night before you go to bed.

Well, if this way was also still slow, try to see more specs on your computer. Have you meet the needs of the operating system Windows XP? Perhaps not. If it is sufficient and meets the above steps do not help much, please use other means. For example, using the software and tweaking the format and re-install.

Specifications Windows XP
Minimum
- 233MHz Processor
- Memory (RAM) 64MB (with the performance and limited features)
- 1.5 GB hard disk space
- Monitor with SVGA resolution (800 x 600)
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Keyboard and mouse

Recommendations
- 300MHz Processor
- Memory (RAM) 128MB
- 1.5 GB hard disk space
- Monitor 800 x 600 SVGA and VGA card with 8MB memory
- CD-ROM or DVD
- Keyboard and mouse
- Network card, sound card, speakers and

Maximum
- 1 unit processor (or multi-core and Hyper Threading support)
- Memory (RAM) 4GB, and a maximum of 4GB virtual memory
- The maximum FAT16 partition with 4GB maximum file size of 2GB
- 2TB partition with FAT32 the maximum file size maskimum 4GB
- A maximum of 2TB NTFS partition with the maximum file size 2TB
- Harddisk 137GB require up to Service Pack 1 and the BIOS support

Source: PC Plus