How To Give Windows^® XP Running Shoes:
Customizing For Optimum Performance

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

There really is no greater frustration in the world than waiting for your computer to process a command. The most frustrating part about it is that you can’t do anything to speed it up at that moment. Your computer will not respond to insults, threats, promises, or bribes. But there are a few things you can do to your computer prior to processing large projects that will increase the ease of everyday use. Some of these alterations are standard operating procedure for good computer maintenance and others are a little more involved. Take a look at the small collection below and decide which ones are in your skill range and interest. Even the slightest and simplest changes can add up to make your computing experience more pleasurable.

If for any reason you get stuck or can’t figure out how you changed something and want to change it back, consult Microsoft® Windows XP Help to guide you safely back to computerized bliss.

Go Online
Just by going online, Windows XP will begin the process of improving your computer. Windows is set to check the Microsoft web site for updates to repair various security holes and any other types of errors that made their way into the finished software. By keeping your computer updated with these fixes, some of your computing problems might be solved. Have you ever had an error with your computer and a dialog box prompts you to report the problem? Microsoft collects these error codes and researches them to find out why so many people are reporting the same errors. When they have a solution, this is posted as an update and Windows snags it while you’re online. Your anti-virus software does the same thing as long as you have a current, registered copy. Each time you log on, the program checks to see if there are any virus definitions to update, as a new virus seems to pop up everyday.

CPU Health
Speaking of anti-virus software, is yours running and updating often? There are viruses that do more than just eat files and leave your computer inoperable. Some nestle themselves deep in your operating system or hard drive and send you unwanted pop-ups and junk e-mail all the while robbing your computer’s performance by using up disk space and RAM. By keeping your virus definitions up-to-date and scanning your computer once a week, you can keep your computer running fast and healthy.

Schedule
Under the “Control Panel” on your computer, you’ll find an icon for “Scheduled Tasks.” This is the ultimate tool for the lazy computer user who demands peak performance. This wizard will allow you to schedule maintenance tasks that the computer will automatically execute. For example, you can set your computer to automatically scan once a week for viruses, perform a disk cleanup, or defrag your hard drive. A defragmented hard drive runs a lot faster because all of the stored data is organized and not spread out all over. As long as you’re in the “Control Panel,” click on the “Add/Remove Programs” wizard and remove those programs that you’ll never use again. These programs are more than likely slowing your start up process and stealing valuable RAM that could aid in quickening your computer’s performance.

Start Me Up
When you start your computer, there is a list of programs that you (or the manufacturer) have told the processing unit that it needs to start up or preload. This pr-loading places the programs into the RAM (or short-term memory) of your computer. RAM is used to complete speedy computer operations. The less RAM available to the computer, the slower your operation speed becomes. So, the less RAM you use during start up and preloading programs, the faster your computer should operate. Altering this start-up list is fairly simple, but may be a little technical for some.

Click on the “Start” icon and choose “Run.” In the dialog box, type “msconfig” and press the enter key. Another dialog box with tabs will appear. Select the “Startup” tab. You will see a list of the programs that begin when you turn your computer on. Each item has a box to the left of it that can be checked or unchecked. Programs that are not essential for the computer’s operation can be unchecked to give yourself more RAM during computer operation. These are often those programs that appear as tiny icons on the right side of your toolbar next to the date and time. Try unchecking programs like Instant Messenger®, iTunes®, QuickTime®, Real Player® and Windows Media Player for starters. Like Windows, they often check for constant updates online and may create a bottleneck for your online connection in addition to eating up all of your available RAM at start up. Remember, by unchecking the boxes, you’re not deleting the program in any way. You can always launch these programs later when you need them from the program list.

There are so many more things that you can do to improve your computer’s health and speed, but there’s a reason why they publish books on these topics. You could always upgrade your computer if your applications warrant more speed and memory, or you could add some RAM which will greatly improve the processing speed and allow you to preload a lot more programs. Try the simple stuff and see if it makes a difference in your computing speed. I’m of the mindset that any improvement in overall processing speed is worth a couple of minutes making minor adjustments.

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation registered in the U.S. and other countries. Instant Messenger is a trademark of America Online, Inc. registered in the U.S. and/or other countries. iTunes and QuickTime are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. registered in the U.S. and/or other countries. Real Player is a registered trademark of RealNetworks, Inc.

About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.

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