TWEAKS

1. Disable Indexing Service
The Indexing Service in Windows XP indexes your files presumably to shorten the time needed to search your hard drive if you are looking for a specific file or part of a phrase inside a file.

Tweak - To disable the Indexing Service go into "My Computer", right click on all your hard drive partitions one at a time, left click "Properties". Uncheck "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching". Select "Apply changes to subfolders and files". If any files can not be updated select "Ignore All".

2. Disable Windows XP Sounds
Having sound effects set for common Windows XP tasks slows your system down.

Tweak - To disable all Windows XP task sounds go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, click on the "Sounds" Tab, under "Sound Scheme" select "No Sounds".

3. Reduce Recycling Bin Drive Space Usage
In Windows XP the Recycle Bin is set at default to reserve 10% of your hard drive, this can be a big waste of drive space.

Tweak - To change the Recycling Bin Size, right-click on the "Recycle Bin", left-click on "Properties", click on the "Global" Tab, select "Use one setting for all drives". Move the slider to "3%".

4. Set A Static Virtual Page File Size
Virtual Memory acts like a second source of RAM. When you run low on Physical RAM your PC uses an allocated space on your hard drive to increase memory. Virtual Memory is much slower than Physical RAM. Windows XP is set to use a dynamic Page File that will resize during system operation consuming resources. A good rule of thumb is to set the minimum and maximum to 1.5 times the amount of Physical RAM you have. This works well as long as the 1.5 total is not greater than 256MBs. Any larger and it might even slow your system down. If you have over 256MB of RAM set the page file to 256MB.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" Tab, in the "Performance" section click the "Settings" button, "Advanced" Tab, in the "Virtual Memory" section click the "Change" button, change the "Initial Size" and "Maximum Size" to the same size then click the "Set" button and "OK".

5. Improve Windows XP Performance
Default Windows XP visual settings may look nice but they slow down system responsiveness. Here is how to keep the "look" of Windows XP while losing the sluggish feel.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" tab, in the "Performance" section click the "Settings" button. Leave only the following checked:
[*] Show shadows under menus
[*] Show shadows under mouse pointer
[*] Show translucent selection rectangle
[*] Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
[*] Use visual styles on windows and buttons
Then click "Apply" and "OK"

6. Uninstall Useless Windows Components
Windows XP installs some components by default that are not needed.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "Add or Remove Programs", click on "Add/Remove Windows Components", uncheck:
_ Indexing Service
_ MSN Explorer
Then click "Next" and "Finished".

Note - If you use MSN as your ISP leave "MSN Explorer" checked.

7. Reduce System Restore Drive Space Usage
System Restore creates periodic snapshots of your critical system files (like the registry files, COM+ database, user profiles, and such) and stores them as a "restore point." In case something goes wrong with your system you can revert back to a previous working state. The default size that System Restore can take up can be quite large.

Tweak - Go to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "System Restore" Tab, for each drive partition highlight it then click the "Settings" button, under "Drive Space Usage" adjust the slider so System Restore is only using roughly 500MB of disk space per partition and click "OK".