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Beginners Guides: 99 Performance Tips for Windows
Beginners Guides: 99 Performance Tips for Windows - PCSTATS
Newest Update! PCSTATS covers all the TechTips you need to push a Windows XP PC from sluggish to quick. This Guide deals with quicker boot times, making your current hardware work faster, and 99 other Tips from PCSTATS that will help you make your computer run better, quicker, and more efficiently!
Filed under: Beginners Guides Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: PCSTATS Feb 25 2014   M. Dowler  
Home > Reviews > Beginners Guides > PCSTATS

WinXP Interface Tweaks and Shortcuts: Tips 74 - 77

74. Increase desktop graphic performance

If you have an older computer and are unhappy with the sluggishness of the new XP interface, or if you simply want XP to be as zippy as possible, you can increase the responsiveness of the desktop by disabling some of the graphical 'frills' that are packaged with the default XP settings.

To do this, right click on 'my computer' and select 'properties.'

Choose the 'advanced' tab and under the 'performance' heading, hit 'settings.'

From here you can adjust the graphical settings of the XP interface. Choose 'adjust for best performance' to turn all the non-essential features off, or you can cherry-pick from the window below.

75. Make 'my computer' open faster

The Windows XP operating system automatically searches for attached and network printers and remote drives and folders each time you open 'my computer.' This can cause a considerable delay before you can actually see the icons.

If you find yourself using 'my computer' often and gritting your teeth at the delay, there is an easy way to speed things up.

Open 'My Computer.' Go to 'Tools\Folder Options...'Select the view tab and uncheck the 'Automatically search for network folders and printers' box. Click OK.

'My computer' will now open much faster.


76. Remove the need to enter a password to login to XP (be careful!)

If you are exasperated by the welcome screen and the need to enter a password for your user account, you can disable this fairly easily, but be careful. If your computer is connected directly to the Internet by a cable or DSL modem, do not do this. It's just not worth the risk.

In fact if you are at all concerned about the privacy of your data, keep a strong password enabled for your XP user account. If you are sure you want the password gone, and the welcome screen with it, here's what to do:

To get rid of the welcome screen, you need to have only a single main user account and have the Guest account deactivated.

Go to 'start\run' and type 'control userpasswords2'

Remove any other user accounts that appear on the welcome screen by highlighting them and using the 'remove' button.

Now go to 'start\control panel\user accounts' and select your user account.

Choose 'remove password' and enter your password to strip it from your account. Note the warning.

Windows XP should now boot straight up without the welcome screen or a password prompt.

77. Sort out spam

Wading through acres of spam in order to retrieve the few valid emails from your inbox each day can really slow things down. It would be ideal if you could automatically sort out all the junk so you could quickly read your email.

The good news is, with a couple of quick adjustments to Outlook Express or your mail client of choice, and a freeware program called POPFile, you can!

See PCstats Guide right here for details on this procedure. You'll be glad you did.

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Contents of Article: PCSTATS
 Pg 1.  Beginners Guides: 99 Performance Tips for Windows
 Pg 2.  Preparing your system: Tips 1 - 3
 Pg 3.  Preparing your system: Tips 4 - 5
 Pg 4.  Preparing your system: Tips 6 - 8
 Pg 5.  BIOS Tweaks: Tips 9 - 11
 Pg 6.  BIOS Tweaks: Tips 12 - 14
 Pg 7.  Overclocking Memory / CPU: Tips 15 -16
 Pg 8.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 17 - 20
 Pg 9.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 21 - 22
 Pg 10.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 23 - 25
 Pg 11.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 26 - 28
 Pg 12.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 29 - 31
 Pg 13.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 32 - 35
 Pg 14.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 36 - 40
 Pg 15.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 41 - 43
 Pg 16.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 44 - 45
 Pg 17.  WinXP Software and Registry Tweaks: Tips 46 - 48
 Pg 18.  Video and Graphics Tweaks: Tips 49 - 52
 Pg 19.  Video and Graphics Tweaks: Tips 53 - 54
 Pg 20.  Video and Graphics Tweaks: Tips 55 - 57
 Pg 21.  Network and Internet Speed Tweaks: Tips 58 - 61
 Pg 22.  Network and Internet Speed Tweaks: Tips 62 - 63
 Pg 23.  Network and Internet Speed Tweaks: Tips 64 - 66
 Pg 24.  WinXP Interface Tweaks and Shortcuts: Tips 67 - 69
 Pg 25.  WinXP Interface Tweaks and Shortcuts: Tips 70 - 73
 Pg 26.  — WinXP Interface Tweaks and Shortcuts: Tips 74 - 77
 Pg 27.  WinXP Interface Tweaks and Shortcuts: Tips 78 - 81
 Pg 28.  Improving Windows XP boot speed: Tips 82 - 84
 Pg 29.  Improving Windows XP boot speed: Tips 85 - 88
 Pg 30.  Improving Windows XP boot speed: Tips 89 - 91
 Pg 31.  Improving Windows XP boot speed: Tips 92 - 94
 Pg 32.  Increasing XP shutdown speed: Tips 95 - 99

 
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