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How to Make Windows XP


Startup Faster
Do you get frustrated while you wait around for your slow Windows XP computer to
startup? Windows XP will automatically load and startup any program that is in the
startup folder whether you intend to use it or not. This article will show you how to
speed up the bootup process of your PC by removing the programs that bog it
down.

Steps [edit]

1. Save any open work.

2. Shut down all applications.

3. Click Start->Run.

4. In the text box labeled "Open", enter msconfig and click "OK".
This will start the system configuration utility. (Remember: If you disable the
necessary applications from the msconfig, the computer may not start properly.
Hence, while using msconfig, keep a note of the applications which you want to
uncheck to start while computer starts.)

5. Click on the "Startup" tab. You will see a list of all the startup programs that get
loaded automatically when you startup your computer. The more items you have
checked to startup, the longer it takes for your computer to startup.

6. Uncheck the programs that you don’t want to start up and click "Ok".

7. Restart your computer and you should notice that it starts up quicker.

Other Things You Can Do [edit]

1. Look under the "BOOT.INI" tab. You will see a box labeled "Timeout:", and a
numerical value. By default, it's 30, which means 30 seconds of wait time before
boot. This can be changed, using 3 seconds. (Note: if you have more than one
operating system, this means the wait time to startup to the highlighted OS. you
might want a bit more than 3 seconds)

1. Delete the temporary files periodically from your computer to make the
applications run faster. Type %Temp% in the run dialog box by clicking on Start -
> Run, and click on "OK". You will see an open folder with many files. Click on the
Edit menu and click on Select all and then click on the File menu and select
Delete. Note: Always confirm that the folder which is opened has a temp on the
top of menu bar and the folder indicates that it is a temporary folder.

1. Always perform a disk defragmentation at least once in a month. start the disk
defragmentation from the system tools available in the accessories from the Generated
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menu. it takes a longer time and it is advised not to run any applications in the
computer including the screen savers, while running disk defragmentation.

1. Perform a scandisk to see that your computer hard drive is in healthy condition
and it helps your computer run faster.

Hibernation [edit]

After you have done all this, another method you can do is to allow the computer to
hibernate. Hibernation closes and opens Windows faster than normally.

1. Go to Start->Control Panel->Power Options. Click on the Hibernate tab.


2. Click on the box that says "Enable hibernation" to check it.
3. Click on the Advanced tab and change the Power buttons options if you want to
hibernate by pressing the sleep button or the power button. Otherwise, holding
the Shift key while in the Turn Off Computer menu will give you the option to
hibernate.
4. Restart your computer every week or so to clear your computer.

The power can then be completely turned off, even at the socket so that no power is
wasted.

Prefetch [edit]

Simply browse to the windows folder (Ex: C:\Windows) and under there you should
see the prefetch folder. Go into the prefetch folder and delete all the files (Careful! It
should look like this c:\windows\prefetch). We need to edit a registry key to tweak it.
Open regedit and browse to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters

Under this key you should see a value named: EnablePrefetcher

It has 4 possible values:

0 - Disabled : The prefetch system is turned off.

1 - Application : The prefetch only caches applications.

2 - Boot : The prefetch only caches boot system files.

3 - All : The prefetch caches boot, and application files.

We don't want to disable it entirely. This would actually make boot times *longer*.
This is because this feature is also used to speed up the loading of boot files. That
is why we are going to pick the number 2 option. It allows us to keep the advantage
of caching system files, without continually clogging the system up with applications.

Set the value to 2 and reboot.

The 2nd time you boot it should boot much faster. Remember that the side effect is
that launching individual applications once windows has loaded will now be slightly
slower.

Tips [edit]

● When installing new software choose not to add the program to the startup
folder.
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● Regularly check to see what programs are running from your startup folder as
malicious programs such as spyware may have installed itself without your
knowledge.

● If you accidentally uncheck a program, just retrace the steps above and recheck
the program and restart your computer.

● Adding more RAM to a Windows XP computer helps it boot faster, and since RAM
prices are very low these days, it's an easy way to boot faster.

● Visit http://www.Sysinfo.org and look up the program and its details you don't
know what one of the listed programs do.

Warnings [edit]

● Save any open work before making changes.

● Shut down all applications before making changes.

● Don't uncheck anything from Symantec or any other anti-virus or anti-malware


software. Doing so may disable or hinder the protection of your PC.

Sources and Citations [edit]

● SlowComputer.com - more tips, hints, tweaks, and information on making your


slow computer faster.
● Sysinfo.org

Related wikiHows [edit]

● How to Use Windows Xp


● How to Tune up Your Windows XP PC
● How to Do a Windows XP "Repair Install"
● How to Alter Startup Programs in Windows XP
● How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry That Prevents Windows Xp from
Starting

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Related
wikiHows
● Use Windows Xp
● Tune up Your Windows
XP PC
● Do a Windows XP
"Repair Install"
● Alter Startup Programs
in Windows XP

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