Fix and Optimize slow Windows XP

Remember when your new PC with Windows XP ran fast and snappy?  Now its slow and sluggish, programs take ages to open and it's just not fun any more.  Do you need to buy a new PC?  Upgrade to Vista?  NO!!!  You can fix all this for FREE in 5 easy steps!!!  This web page is a community service to help you make your PC run "as new" with practical and easy-to-follow advice.

 PC Problems?  BEST Free Error Scan - Repair      Viruses?  We recommend AntiVirus Pro

   Read XP Guides, Books & Manuals    Vista running slow? Windows Vista Speed-up Guide

FAST-TRACK:  Remove the speed-zapping Malware and Registry "gunk" quickly and easily from your PC

Get an official copy of Windows XP Professional before it becomes unavailable - Best prices here!

Step 1: Remove all Viruses and other Malware from your PC: Run two free Anti-Virus/Spyware programs

Step 2: Remove any "Garbage" on your computer: Run two free Windows Clean-up programs ...

Step  3: Do maintenance to fix "wear & tear" on your computer: Run three free programs ...

Step 4: Optimise Windows XP settings for faster operation

Unnecessary programs running on your PC can very much decrease performance.  You can see some of these programs as small icons in the  System Tray next to the clock, the volume control and - for laptops - the battery meter.  These additional and mostly unneeded  programs use up your memory and processing power.  You don't need CD burning, video settings, printer management, instant messaging and similar programs to run continuously.  Rather than these program starting automatically when you boot up your PC, start the programs when you need them - your PC will run faster and respond more “snappily”!  To stop unnecessary programs from starting at boot-up: Go to Start -> Run..., then type in "msconfig", click "GO" then go to the "Startup" tab.  All the programs you see listed are not part of standard Windows XP.  Your goal is to remove as many of the programs as possible.  Un-check any program listed that you don't need and re-boot.  If you are missing an add-on function that is important to you, just go back and re-enable the program...  After you reboot, you will see a message saying the configuration utility was edited - mark the check box at the bottom and continue.
- Choose simpler and faster display style: Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings -> Visual Effects -> Adjust for best performance
- Fix page-file size:  Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings -> Advanced -> Virtual Memory -> Change -> Custom Size and set the Initial Size and Maximum size to 1500.
- Prefetch ???
- Disable check-points
Why?  For best performance, PCs need tuning like any other equipment, eg car, etc.

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Step 5: Set up an automatic maintenance schedule

- Update Virus and Malware checkers as described in Step 1
- Delete unnecessary files as described in Step 2  (You can also check if some unwanted programs have been installed...)
- Defrag Registry and hard disk as described in Step 3
- Check defragmentation - Systernals.com
Why?  Windows XP performance continually deteriorates with use and time, so the above must be run regularly = weekly!