The Windows XP Optimization Guide by crestind
The Complete Guide to Optimizing Windows XP. This guide will keep your computer responsive and snappy.
 
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Step 1: Procedure

There are several options with which to begin optimization. Before beginning, it is suggested that you back up all your files.

If your computer has 2+ user accounts, and it has not been reformatted for an extended period of time, you are probably better off reformatting the computer and starting fresh. Most computers have a built-in destructive recovery. If you choose to start by reformatting, backup all your files and reformat the computer, preferably with the built in recovery tool.

Alternatively, you can create another user account with administrative abilities. Then login with your new account and delete the old account. This essentially gives you a fresh computer because most slowdowns are caused by a bogged down registry from extended periods of use. The new account has a fresh registry and is like new.
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naka says: Jul 18, 2008. 12:24 PM
Don't get Norton, don't get norton, don't get norton, don't get norton, don't get norton! If this is an optimization guide, I'm baffled by your advice to get Norton :(
crestind (author) says: Jul 19, 2008. 9:46 AM
Norton is the best security software out there, and the extra security is worth a slightly slower computer to me. I'm assuming that the computers being optimized have 512 MB or RAM or so, so Norton won't slow things down too much.
crestind (author) says: Nov 11, 2012. 8:22 AM
Disregard my ignorant comment above lol "best security software out there".
naka says: Nov 11, 2012. 9:12 AM
It's been a while, welcome back to 2008.
latemtech says: Jan 24, 2010. 9:13 PM
 I use spyware doctor with antivirus protection program. It is far better than norton, avg, or any other antivirus program.  I have used it for 3 years and I CANNOT complain about it. you can find it at www.pctools.com
z-man6233 says: Jul 9, 2009. 5:38 AM
norton really isn't that great almost everything that gets through the firewall will disable norton
ultrauber says: Dec 22, 2008. 7:42 AM
I prefer McAfee, just cause it's less annoying, easy to update, and cause McAfee SafeSearch exists.
rocketman221 says: Sep 27, 2008. 7:58 PM
norton misses so much crap. there are many better programs out there.
tealpsyclone says: Dec 27, 2008. 11:35 PM
one that I have had a lot of luck with is avast home edition. its free and works great the database of viruses gets updated and almost everyday and catches a lot more than macafee and norton in my opinion.
rocketman221 says: Dec 28, 2008. 10:41 AM
I have been using avg free for a while now and haven't had any problems yet.
tealpsyclone says: Dec 29, 2008. 9:21 PM
all of my friends use avg and swear by it but the one that has caught the most stuff for me is avast. it is all just experience and preference.
crestind (author) says: Sep 29, 2008. 5:25 PM
(removed by author or community request)
gamerguy13 says: Jul 25, 2009. 8:19 PM
I agree. Norton is highly rated by Consumer Reports, and myself. Little gets by it. I have used it for years and have had minimal problems. It is a fine piece of programming.
naka says: Jul 23, 2008. 4:27 PM
For all the times I have fixed computers, I can't count how many times uninstalling Norton solved a problem you can spend hours trying to fix. I actually had a laptop myself where the wireless was suddenly not working for no reason at all, I had tried everything and Norton had been disabled since I bought it, I actually had to go in and uninstall under add and remove programs and my wireless started working again. Besides the random problems it seems to cause for a lot of people, it has it's fingers in EVERYTHING and uses system resources it just doesn't need to be using, I want to know how you formed the opinion that Norton is good because I have never seen any sort of anti-virus site showing off good stats for Norton anyways. Do a search for Top Antivirus, I didn't find anything in the 5 top results saying anything about Norton. I did a search for Top Antivirus + Norton and the only thing that showed besides download sites and Nortons website was this "Reviews agree that Kaspersky is better than the bestseller Norton AntiVirus 2008 in all aspects."
Muscelz says: Nov 5, 2008. 4:51 AM
If this waz my windowz optimization guide i wud write in big fat letters "REFORMAT"
and install linux, xp isnt worth your trouble
TheShawMaestro says: Feb 16, 2009. 3:59 PM
Linux loser...
Muscelz says: Feb 18, 2009. 1:32 AM
don't get involved with stuff you don't know about, obviously you know nothing, otherwise you wouldn't be mocking linux. linux is a very powerful tool, alot more open than windows, alot more editable, rules don't apply for linux. linux can cause alot more damage, but ofcource it has its program compatibility issues but that doesn't matter, its what it can do. look matey windows is good, but linux is better. I run Win Xp 64 Pro KDE 4.25 and then Win Xp 64 Pro Sandboxed Under KDE
TheShawMaestro says: Feb 18, 2009. 4:07 AM
I know it is a lot more open than Windows. Windows is by far the worst operating system I have ever come across. I run Mac OS X. And have have used more than my fair share of Linux distributions. I might have been a little too judgmental.

The term 'linux loser' applies to someone who ran Windows, then switched to Linux, thinking they were great, but knowing little about the operating system. They also see themselves as 'non-conformists' or 'hax0rs'. From your style of writing, and the whole 'big fat letters' thing, you seemed to fall under the catergory of 'Linux loser'. Sorry for upsetting you.
Muscelz says: Feb 21, 2009. 9:04 AM
its weird ino this stuff lol, it wud be funny if u met me in person im not the sorta type of guy who would look like he's knew this stuff lol freaks most people out
Muscelz says: Feb 21, 2009. 8:59 AM
I didn't switch to linux, i used both OS's (mainly Windows)
actually my friend introduced me to it and i thought oooo this can come in handy, anyway he is a magor linux geek, he mainly uses it because he has his computer going 24/7 and needs a stable platform to run his server. hosting world of warcraft servers, his webpage "chrisand.no-ip.info" a simple webpage used to upload files etc, and other things.

linux can pretty much do everything windows can't, (that dusnt mean bypass other OS's) its simply more manipulative, thers commands off commands, sub commands off sub commands and etc, pretty much anything is possible in linux except the obvious which i don't need to get into

some of the most powerfullest computer in the world "Super Computers" as they call them run a linux based OS because of its versatility and how open source it is and etc

it takes time to learn linux, once learnt it is a VERY powerful tool, and see how i use the world tool, i would so much class it as a program platform just yet intill they can intertwine it with windows a little more and get directx operational and integrated to there is a seamless difference between the both, which is quite complicated because directx was built around windows, so linux's directx would have to be build around linux, what a task
crestind (author) says: Feb 16, 2010. 12:27 PM
I can see Linux being useful for a home server, but what's the point of having it on your main PC?
crestind (author) says: Nov 5, 2008. 1:45 PM
If this was your optimization guide, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to understand your English either.
Muscelz says: Feb 2, 2009. 8:57 AM
1 last thing, why would you get at sum1 for their writing? like this is about computers, dnt change the subject. people can read my writing, YOU CAN. anyone with half a brain can
crestind (author) says: Feb 2, 2009. 7:48 PM
I wasn't getting back at you. If you feel that way, then you obviously realize that your writing quality isn't great. This is about computers. This is about optimizing Windows XP, as the title clearly states. This is not about converting to Linux, which is why that was not included.
Muscelz says: Nov 30, 2008. 10:08 PM
LoL what evarrrr
Tom1795xx says: Jul 1, 2011. 3:19 AM
Norton was so bad it should take itself as a virus! XD I have Malwarebytes+AVG=Platinum Shield! =D
jordx607 says: Jun 16, 2010. 4:36 PM
do you use xp? if so how did you get it to look like that
AmbientTech7 says: May 15, 2011. 6:12 PM
just download the Royale theme from some website online
EnigmaMax says: Aug 16, 2010. 9:16 PM
lol, not to be confused with Windows Optimizer.
Grumpy old man says: Feb 15, 2010. 12:50 PM
 Naka, I'm with you. I'm old and far from computer savvy, so when 'experts' tell me I listen. That's how I got Norton, what a bloody disaster. I find the average 'how to' here far better.
King825 says: Jan 1, 2010. 3:32 PM
Kapersky is better than norton, hands down.
shoyru_master_11 says: Oct 14, 2009. 12:06 AM
Cosmo key play secretly at school
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slowblinker says: Dec 26, 2008. 5:41 PM
Half of these suggestions don't even come with a tutorial. Why?
Hycro says: Jan 15, 2009. 11:46 AM
I've noticed that too...but I know that things like the disc cleanup and defragmenter usually tell you how to use them
rocketman221 says: Sep 27, 2008. 8:04 PM
for your browser I would recommend opera. for your image editor i would recommend imp. and don't get vlc unless you want those annoying orange traffic cones on the icons for all of your media files. get the k-lite codec pack instead it will let windows media player play every thing vlc does.
naka says: Dec 1, 2008. 12:54 PM
Get VLC, you won't look stupid then.
rocketman221 says: Sep 27, 2008. 8:05 PM
oops i ment gimp
laznz1 says: Nov 18, 2008. 3:23 PM
for the record Norton Antivirus IS NOT a top of the line Virus protection
brandegor says: Oct 11, 2008. 4:31 PM
3B Software Windows Registry Repair Pro rules. Now somebody tell me how to get Firefox to open faster and life will be, well, easier.
bcnr33skyline187 says: Oct 11, 2008. 5:50 PM
to make it start quicker remove old add-ons
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