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Need Help Optimizing Outdated XP Machine!

Forum Windows XP : Configuration & Customize - Need Help Optimizing Outdated XP Machine!

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lauxenburg   09-10-2009 at 04:55:29 AM

Well, my mom uses a really old Dell Optiplex machine, fixed with one of the later Pentium IIIs, clocked at about 850MHz I believe. It's got 512MB of RAM which is a plus, and about the only thing that keeps this thing alive.

 

Truth be told, it is not that slow, for what it is used for. Word processing and email and some basic stuff. Multitasking is a joke, but that's obvious.

 

Even though I would love for that computer to be replaced, it won't happen too soon. I would physically have to go and buy a Dell or build something for that computer to get switched out.

 

So..................

 

The question is:

 

What is really the best ideas for optimizing XP Home Edition. I've done a good amount of things, but its true, I may be missing some things. Here is what I have done. Any other suggestions would be nice.

 

- Removed all of the unneeded services and startup applications from MSCONFIG.

 

- Disabled GUI Boot

 

- Deframented the HDD

 

- Reverted the appearance to Windows Classic

 


Any other things? Greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Message edited by lauxenburg on 09-10-2009 at 04:56:19 AM
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MrLinux   09-10-2009 at 09:11:09 AM

Have a read through this: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/s [...] t=17180569 the thread might be a little dated but most of it is still valid.

Reply to MrLinux
lauxenburg   09-11-2009 at 01:39:56 AM

Oh yes. Thank you very much. Good registry tweaking info. =)

Reply to lauxenburg
Bronze Win XP badge aford10   09-11-2009 at 02:57:22 AM

In the task manager-->processes tab-->you can assign a higher cpu priority to the processes that you are using.

You can replace any large files on the desktop with shortcuts and move the files to your my documents folder. That will speed up the boot process because there is less to load when it loads the desktop.

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foxy_roxy   09-11-2009 at 11:23:38 AM

Would it be possible to increase the memory to 1 Gig? You can find the right type of memory that fits into your mom's computer at www.crucial.com

Hope this helps

Reply to foxy_roxy
lauxenburg   09-12-2009 at 05:14:14 PM

Well...problem is. this computer is about 7 years old, on a platform that belongs in the 20th century. And, it is maxed out in RAM. Yep 512MB means maxed out. It came equipped with 64MB I believe. So, this is why I am trying to see if I can do anything else with software.

Thanks though. ;)

Reply to lauxenburg
blackhawk1928   09-12-2009 at 06:54:30 PM

Well I would just reformat the computer so it works like brand new :) and then after that do some OS tweaks to make it more speedy. This ensures no viruses or extra processes are hogging the PC.

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