Boot Loader Time Out

This will speed up your boot sequence

Click Start > Run > in the Run Box type msconfig Click OK when System Configuration Utility window opens at the top Click Boot INI tab and you will see on the right Timeout 30 sec 30 is default set to 5 see how it goes, Click Apply then OK you will get a notice to reboot so reboot then you will get another notice telling you you have used msconfig Click/tick "don't show this message again and Click OK.

System Restore

Remove all but last Restore Points

Restore points uses disk space so its an idea just to keep your last restore point that is if you have System Restore enabled
To remove all but last System Restore points go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup > select the drive XP is installed on and click OK > click the More Options tab > in the System Restore section, click the Clean up… button and Yes in the resulting screen, wait 5 seconds and exit via cancel within the windows.

OR - Click Start > Run > type cleanmgr.exe > OK - takes you to Disk Cleanup

Disable System Restore

To turn off System Restore - Note If you do not use a backup program, DO NOT use this tweak!!! System Restore while using resources is a useful feature

Click Start> Control Panel > System > click the System Restore tab and tick the box "Turn off System Restore on all Drives" click apply > OK.

Optimise Display Settings

Windows XP can look sexy but displaying all the visual items can waste system resources. To optimise >

Go Start > Click Settings > Click Control Panel > Click System > Click Advanced tab > In the Performance tab click Settings > Leave only the following ticked >

- 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.

heh, actually you'd just apply "adjust for best performance" - or mu personal favourite is just go back to classic tbh, you gamers and home users may turn system restore off if you like but I WOULD NOT ADVISE THAT! if xp goes tits up after you install something then it's the easiest "get out"

ATI 11 can replace the complete OS in a few minuets whatever the damage to the original OS partition, as sometimes if the damage is severe system restore may not work, after spending £4000 + on my Gamer i don't take risks

still, a backup is a backup - a system restore point is a system restore point, still wouldn't advise disabling it - it's a useful tool.

As i said >

Note If you do not use a backup program, DO NOT use this tweak

Back to Topic >

Speedup Folder Browsing

You may have noticed that every time you open my computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers every time you open Windows Explorer. To fix this and to increase browsing significantly >

Open My Computer > Click on Tools menu > Click on Folder Options > Click on the View tab > Uncheck the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box > Click Apply > Click OK > Reboot your computer.

i know what you said, i'm just saying a backup and a restore point are two TOTALLY different things, used in two TOTALLY different ways - just my personal opinion as a Microsoft Professional (just getting in practice for when i pass my exam )

"You may have noticed that every time you open my computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. This is because Windows XP automatically searches for network files and printers every time you open Windows Explorer."

also be wary of fragmentation is this delay is still lurking around

Most people defrag there HDD / HDDs