How to speed up your computer and make it run better (Windows XP)

I found a quotation on the net that I have been using
"The default settings and configuration for your computer are not necessarily the most efficient for your particular usage. Here are some tips and tweaks to speed up your computer and improve performance."
Before undertaking any system changes, be sure that the basic maintenance chores are done. Also be sure that you know how to get back where you started in case changes don't work out. As a reminder here are the things that need to be done regularly
Do a regular maintenance :

1. Run an up-to-date AntiVirus
2. Run an up-to-date AntiSpyware
3. Empty your "Recycle Bin"
4. Run chkdsk and disk defragmenter
5. BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM

Make your computer start faster

Here are some basic tips that you can use to help out your computer to boot up a little bit faster

1. Right click on My Computer
2. Click Properties
3. Choose Advance Tab
4. Click on Settings for the Performance Option
5. Choose Adjust for best performace
6. Click Ok

"If you dont like the results you can always go back and choose the original settings. Just repeat the steps above."

What you can also do is adjust some confirgurations

1. Click on Start - Run - type MSCONFIG (it will open the System Configuration Utility)
2. You'll see Services and Startup
3. Remove the Services that you dont need. If you dont know what are those services, you better search for the on the internet or ask someone that know what they do. You might accidentally disable a service that are important to your computer. So be carefull!
4. Remove that Start up items that you dont need. And again before you remove anything, be sure that you know what you are removing. Try searching about it on the internet or ask someone that know what is it for.

Other things you can do to help your computer

• Look under the "BOOT.INI" tab. You will see a box labeled "Timeout:", and a numerical value. By default, it's 30, which means 30 seconds of wait time before boot. This can be changed, using 3 seconds. (Note: if you have more than one operating system, this means the wait time to startup to the highlighted OS. you might want a bit more than 3 seconds)
• Delete the temporary files periodically from your computer to make the applications run faster. Type %Temp% in the run dialog box by clicking on Start -> Run, and click on "OK". You will see an open folder with many files. Click on the Edit menu and click on Select all and then click on the File menu and select Delete. Note: Always confirm that the folder which is opened has a temp on the top of menu bar and the folder indicates that it is a temporary folder.
• Always perform a disk defragmentation at least once in a month. start the disk defragmentation from the system tools available in the accessories from the start menu. it takes a longer time and it is advised not to run any applications in the computer including the screen savers, while running disk defragmentation.
• Perform a scandisk to see that your computer hard drive is in healthy condition and it helps your computer run faster.

Hibernation

After you have done all this, another method you can do is to allow the computer to hibernate. Hibernation closes and opens Windows faster than normally.

1. Go to Start - Control Panel - Power Options. Click on the Hibernate tab.
2. Click on the box that says "Enable hibernation" to check it.
3. Click on the Advanced tab and change the Power buttons options if you want to hibernate by pressing the sleep button or the power button. Otherwise, holding the Shift key while in the Turn Off Computer menu will give you the option to hibernate.
4. Restart your computer every week or so to clear your computer.

The power can then be completely turned off, even at the socket so that no power is wasted.

TIPS

• When installing new software choose not to add the program to the startup folder.
• Regularly check to see what programs are running from your startup folder as malicious programs such as spyware may have installed itself without your knowledge.
• If you accidentally uncheck a program, just retrace the steps above and recheck the program and restart your computer.
• Adding more RAM to a Windows XP computer helps it boot faster, and since RAM prices are very low these days, it's an easy way to boot faster.
• uncheck system startup unneccessary startup programs*

Warnings

• Save any open work before making changes.
• Shut down all applications before making changes.
• Don't uncheck anything from Symantec or any other anti-virus or anti-malware software. Doing so may disable or hinder the protection of your PC.

HAVE A MICROSOFT CHRISTMAS (by Chet Raymo)

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, except father's mouse.

The computer was humming, the icons were hopping,

As father did last-minute Internet shopping.

The stockings were hung next the modem with care

In the hope that Santa would bring new software.

The children were nestled all snug in theid beds,

With visions of computer games filling their heads.

Dark Forces for Billy, Doom II is for Dan,

Carmen Sandiego for Pamela Ann.

The letters to Santa had been sent out by mom,

To santa@toyshop.northpole.com -

Which now had been re-routed to Washington State

Where Santa's workshop had been moved by Bill Gates.

All the elves and the reindeer had to skedaddle

To flashy new quarters in suburban Seattle.

After living a life that was simple and spare,

Santa now find that he's a new billionaire,

With a shiny red Porche in place of his sleigh,

And a house on Lake Washington just down the way

From where Bill has his mansion, and the old fellow presns

In black Gucci boots and red Calvin Klein Jeans.

The elves have stock options and desks with a view,

Where they write computer code for Johnny and Sue.

No more dolls or tin soldiers or little toy drums

Will be under the tree, only compact disk roms

With the Microsoft label. So spin up your drive,

From now on Christmas runs only on Win95.

More rapid than eagles the competitors came,

And Bill whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

"Now, ADOBE! now, CLARIS! now, INTUIT! too,

Now, APPLE! and NETSCPAE! you're all of you through,

It's Microsoft's SANTA that the kinds can't resist,

It's the ultimate software with a traditional twist -

Recommended by no less than the jolly old elf,

And on the package, a picture of Santa himself.

Get 'em young, keep 'em long, is Microsoft's theme,

And a merger with Santa is a marketer's dream.

To the top of the NASDAQ! To the top of the Dow!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away! - wow!"

And mum in her 'kerchief and me in my cap,

Had just setteld down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

The whir and the hum of our satellite platter,

As it turned toward the new Christmas start inthe sky,

The SANTALITE owned by the Microsoft guy.

As I sprang from my bed and was turning around,

My computer turned on with a Jingle-Bells sound.

And there on the screen was smiling Bill Gates

Next to jolly old Santa, two arm-in-arm mates.

And I heard them exclaim in voices to bright,

HAVE A MICROSOFT CHRISTMAS,

and TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.