Two Computer Tweaks for Faster Speed
Using computer tweaks can help you work much more productively. Changing a few settings may help your computer get closer to its' maximum speed. Since there is a vast array of PC configurations, these tweaks and tips may not work with your particular computer setup.
PC tweaking requires a bit of caution. You should ALWAYS take note of your existing settings BEFORE you make any changes. We are NOT responsible for any problems you may encounter by using the information on this page - you will be changing the settings on your computer at your own risk. The tweaks and information provided are for your consideration only and is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please read our disclaimer before proceeding.
1 - Disable Windows XP Indexing Service
How often do you search for files on your hard drive? Most PC users could care less that Windows can find files faster with their indexing service. This content indexing puts a dramatic drag on your hard drive access, fills up RAM memory, and can simply slow overall PC performance significantly. Of course, if you are a data researcher with thousands of files on your PC that you search for frequently, by all means keep the indexing service on.
There are two methods to stop the indexing service. To turn off Windows indexing, you can simply right-click on the hard drive you wish to adjust and select properties. Next, uncheck the box that is beside "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching". Click Apply and then select "Apply changes to C:\, subfolders and files". Note: C is the default drive letter. then click "OK". A box will appear that states "Applying Attributes..." and will quickly scan your drive to remove the indexing from every file.
The other option shuts down the service completely. Go to Start and select Run. Type in services.msc, then click OK. Look for "Indexing Service" and double-click it. Then click "Stop". From the "Startup type:" menu - select "Disabled". Then click OK.
2 - Adjust Windows XP Virtual Memory Settings
To change your Virtual Memory Settings, open System in the Control Panel, select Advanced then under Performance, and click settings, then Advanced, then Change - Phew! Is that setting buried! Click the white circle beside - Custom Size.
Confirm the proper drive is selected and set the Minimum to - this is a topic for debate. Some believe if you have a small amount of RAM (512 MB and under) you should double your physical RAM and add 10%. For 750 MB to 2 GB, you can try a range of 1024-2048. If you already have 2-4 GB of RAM, the Window's default settings should be fine.
If you find your machine gives you a warning that memory is low, you may want to increase the virtual memory settings. This can happen if you are running memory intensive apps such as photo-editing software.