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Speed Up The Start Menu In XP
Windows XP default speed of the Start Menu is very slow. You can fix
that by editing a Registry Key.
Here's how:
· Go to Start> Run, then type in: regedit Press [Enter] on your
keyboard.
· Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Control Panel \
Desktop \ MenuShowDelay
· By default, the value is 400. Change this to a smaller value (like 0)
to speed it up.
Note: If your still experiencing a slow speed of the Start Menu, even
after using the above tip, then you might try the following:
· Navigate to Display Properties> Appearance> Advanced
· Turn off the option titled Show menu shadow . You will get much better
overall performance.
Note:
Editing the registry is risky. Before making any registry edits, be sure
to back up the registry so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Top!
Display Your Own Message At Startup In XP
If you would like to display any message in a popup window when Windows
is started, here's how:
1. Go to Start> Run, then type in: regedit
2. Hit [Enter] on your keyboard
3. Follow this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogo
4. Modify the key LegalNoticeCaption with your text of choice.
5. Modify the key LegalNoticeText with your text of choice.
6. Restart Windows for this to take affect.
Note:
Editing the registry is risky. Before making any registry edits, be sure
to back up the registry so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Top!
Disabling Hibernation In XP
The Hibernation feature can be somewhat of a resource hog in XP. If you
don't plan to use it, you may as well disable it.
Here's how:
1. Go to Start> Settings> Control Panel.
2. Select the Power Options Icon
3. Click on the Hibernation icon
4. Uncheck Enable Hibernation
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Optimize System Performance In Windows XP
If you have 512 megs or more of memory, you can increase system
performance by having the core system kept in memory.
Go to Start>Run, type in: regedit
Follow this string to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Memory Management\DisablePagingExecutive
Double click DisablePagingExecutive
Set the value to be 1
Restart your computer for this to take affect
Note:
Editing the registry is risky. Before making any registry edits, be sure
to back up the registry so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Top!
Want To Enable Boot Defragment?
Windows XP includes an option to perform a boot defragment, which places
all files required for booting next to each other on disk to provide a
faster boot time. The OS enables this option by default, but you can
check the status and enable this option by performing the following
steps:
Start the registry editor (regedit.exe).
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction.
If Enable isn't set to Y, double-click Enable and set the value to Y.
Click OK.
Close the registry editor.
Reboot the machine.
Note: If you want to disable boot defragment, set Enable to N.
Note:
Editing the registry is risky. Before making any registry edits, be sure
to back up the registry so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Top!
Balance System Performance and Visual Effects
Using Windows XP's visual effects such as fading and sliding menus, and
drop shadows for icon labels makes your system look pretty cool.
However, they can take a big toll on system performance.
You can balance these visual effects against system performance by
turning off all visual effects, letting your system decide which to use,
or picking and choosing which effects to turn on and off.
1. Right-click on My Computer, choose Properties, and then click on the
Advanced tab. The System Properties dialog box appears.
2. Click on Settings under the Performance section. The Performance
Options dialog box appears.
3. The default to let Windows determine which visual effects to turn on
and off. To turn off all effects, choose Adjust for best performance. To
use all visual effects, choose Adjust for best appearance. To turn on
and off individual effects, choose Custom, then check the effects you
want to use, and uncheck the ones you don't.
Top!
Customize the CPU Cycles Given to Programs and Processes
XP assigns every program and process running on your PC a priority which
determines the relative amount of CPU power that it gets compared to
other programs. The priorities that XP assigns are: Low, BelowNormal,
Normal, AboveNormal, High and Realtime. Most programs are assigned the
Normal priority, but using the Task Manager, you can change the
priorities assigned to any process or program. If you've got a lot of
applications running, but want one - like a 3D shooter -- to get most of
the processor's attention, this can really speed it up. To change the
priority of a running program or process:
1. Run the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete.
2. Click on the Processes tab.
3. Right-click on the program or process whose priority you want to
change, highlight Set Priority and choose the priority for the program.
When you assign a new priority to a process or program, that new
priority sticks only as long as the program or process is running. Once
the program or process ends, and you restart it, it defaults to the
priority assigned to it by XP.
Top!
Turn Off Multimedia and Graphics on Web Pages
If you want to browse the Internet fast, without being bogged down by
animations, sounds, images or other multimedia content, you can turn
them all off. This is very helpful on a dial-up or fading 802.11b
connection. To do it:
1. From Internet Explorer, choose Internet Options from the Tools menu.
2. Click on the Advanced tab.
3. Scroll down to the Multimedia section. It has a list of multimedia
and graphics content, with checkboxes next to each.
4. Put a check next to each type of content you want displayed, and
uncheck each type of content you don't want displayed.
Top!
Note:
Editing the registry is risky. Before making any registry edits, be sure
to back up the registry so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Top!
Internet Fixes Disclaimer:
This information
is being provided to you as a service from the Technical Support
Department of Internet Fixes. It is intended to assist you in the
resolution of your technical problems or questions. If you feel
uncomfortable implementing any of the information or suggestions
contained herein then you should e-mail the Internet Fixes Technical
Support Department. Internet Fixes will not be held responsible for any
loss of information, data or programming as a result of the use of this
Information.
    
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