The Windows XP Optimization Guide

Step 6: Recommended Applications

Internet Explorer 8 It looks and works better, has tabs and is more secure.

Windows Media Player 11 It looks good and works great. (However, I suggest killing its memory-hogging "wmpnetwk" sharing service which consumes up to 8000K. To do this, go to start> Run > services.msc' and look down the list for WMPNetworkSvc. Right click for properties to open and stop the service from running and then in the Startup Type dropdown list choose Disabled and then Apply.)

Avast A solid and free security suite.

Process Explorer An upgraded version of the basic process explorer.

Mozilla Firefox Faster, more secure and more stable than Internet Explorer.

Paint.NET Free, open source image editor.

Foxit PDF Reader A lightweight alternative to the bloated Adobe Reader.

VLC Media Player A lightweight media player that supports many formats.

NetStumbler A superior alternative to the Windows wireless network detector.

WinRAR Free Zip file extractor.

MediaCoder The ultimate video and audio format converter.

For Java, go to 'start > Control Panel > Java' and disable automatic updates.

Comments

[naka]

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]

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]

Disregard my ignorant comment above lol "best security software out there".

[naka]

It's been a while, welcome back to 2008.

[latemtech]

 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]

norton really isn't that great almost everything that gets through the firewall will disable norton

[ultrauber]

I prefer McAfee, just cause it's less annoying, easy to update, and cause McAfee SafeSearch exists.

[rocketman221]

norton misses so much crap. there are many better programs out there.

[tealpsyclone]

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]

I have been using avg free for a while now and haven't had any problems yet.

[tealpsyclone]

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]

(removed by author or community request)

[gamerguy13]

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]

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]

If this waz my windowz optimization guide i wud write in big fat letters "REFORMAT"
and install linux, xp isnt worth your trouble

[TheShawMaestro]

Linux loser...

[Muscelz]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I can see Linux being useful for a home server, but what's the point of having it on your main PC?

[crestind]

If this was your optimization guide, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to understand your English either.

[Muscelz]

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]

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]

LoL what evarrrr