After time and regular use, a Windows XP computer can begin to slow down. This often has to do with the programs installed on the machine and amount of data that is stored on the computer's hard drive. There are a number of ways that you can help clean up the hard drive and speed up your Windows XP computer, most for no cost other than your time.
Scan for Malware Regularly
Viruses and spyware install on your computer without your knowledge and run processes in the background. These processes take away from your computer's resources and start to bog down the responses that legitimate programs attempt to make. Keep your virus scanner up to date and scan your machine regularly to remove malware and speed up your computer.
Use Disc Cleanup
You can use the Windows Disc Cleanup tool to free up extra space on your hard drive by deleting old and unneeded files on your system. You can access this tool through the Start Menu by going to "System Tools" under the "Accessories" folder.
Use the Defragmenter
The defragmenter is another built-in Windows tool that can organize fragmented files on your system to help your hard drive read data faster. Depending on how often you use this tool, it may take a while to defragment your computer. You can find this tool on the Start Menu by going to "System Tools" under the "Accessories" folder.
Shut Down Programs on Startup
Often, there are a number of programs that you don't know about that start up each time you start your computer. These programs take up computer resources and may slow your computer down. You can run the "msconfig" command from the Start Menu and use the "Start Up" tab to choose which programs can turn on when you first start your computer.
Clean the Registry
As you install and uninstall programs on your computer, these programs leave data and information in your computer's registry. You can download registry cleaning programs that can help remove unused registry keys and leftover program data to help speed up the response of your computer.
Uninstall Unnecessary Programs
If you are not using a program that you have installed on your computer and do not think you'll need it anytime in the future, it's better to uninstall that program and free up space on your hard drive. You also never know when a program that you don't use often might be running functions in the background that can slow your computer down.
Turn Off Active Desktop
The Active Desktop feature allows you to use a variety of file types as the background image of your computer's desktop. However, sometimes this can use up processing resources and slow down a computer. You can disable the Active Desktop by going to the "Display" settings on your computer's Control Panel.
Install Windows Updates
Windows offers free updates that you can download to your computer. Keeping your computer updated allows you to have the newest security patches and driver updates for devices on your machine. Updates can also fix issues in programs and the operating system that may help speed up your computer.
Upgrade the RAM
You should have at least 512 MB of RAM memory installed on your computer to run Windows XP well. However, if you can install more than that, your computer will respond faster. You will need to know what kind of RAM your computer uses and you will need to purchase RAM from a computer retailer or online source. You will also need to be comfortable in opening up your computer and installing the RAM in your machine.
Re-install Windows XP
If nothing else seems to speed up your computer, it may be time to re-install a clean version of Windows XP. Make sure you back up all of your files before you attempt to re-install your operating system. You will also need to have your Windows XP disc and the Microsoft Product Key for your Windows installation.
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