"Windows XP (as well as Vista and Windows 7) is set by default to run a number of ""services"" - background processes that perform some function. On a standalone machine (i.e. one NOT connected to a business or corporate network) many of these are not needed. It's best NOT to run services that you don't need because:
It improves security (less running software = less potential vectors for attack) It reduces CPU use (all those programs running in the background DO use a fairly significant amount of CPU) It reduces memory usage (again, services are still sitting there taking up memory).
Disabling services that you don't need will free up CPU and memory which will enable you to squeeze every last drop of performance from your machine.
There is an excellent web site made by a gamer ""BlackViper"" that tells you how to optimize Windows XP performance by disabling unneeded services. It lists all the services as well as indicating which ones are safe to disable."
"If you bring up Task Manager, on the ""Processes"" tab, select columns, and show the ""Page Fault Delta"" column (might show as ""PF Delta"" on XP, I forget, and only have Vista and Win7 to hand). If you sort descending by this column, you can see what applications are hammering your virtual memory, which is a common performance bottleneck.
If it's background applications with ""high"" figures, then you may benefit from removing them (As I write, Cyberlink MediaLibrary Service is causing a bottleneck for me); If it is foreground applications, then it may be worth investing in some more physical RAM, or, if that's not an option, a faster hard disk can help." "If you bring up Task Manager, on the ""Processes"" tab, select columns, and show the ""Page Fault Delta"" column (might show as ""PF Delta"" on XP, I forget, and only have Vista and Win7 to hand). If you sort descending by this column, you can see what applications are hammering your virtual memory, which is a common performance bottleneck.
If it's background applications with ""high"" figures, then you may benefit from removing them (As I write, Cyberlink MediaLibrary Service is causing a bottleneck for me); If it is foreground applications, then it may be worth investing in some more physical RAM, or, if that's not an option, a faster hard disk can help."
"A clean installation of Windows without the default Hardware vendor applications is always a good move. If you are a techie... you could consider using nLite to make a compact Windows installation.
If you don't have much free disk space, chances are that a defragmentation could help a bit.
Also... Anti Virus programs are very hard on performance. I don't recommend it, but personally I don't have Anti Virus installed on any machine... never had. I know a lot of people would kill me for saying it but, it will make your computer faster."
"No matter how many anti-malware tools you have used, once your computer is infected, there is almost ZERO chance of removing all of the viruses, trojans, and spyware. Once malware infects your computer, there could be any number of backdoors and/or bots that will not be detected by anti-malware no matter how current. These backdoors/bots will allow a hacker to quickly reinfect your computer.
The only solution is to back up your licenses (for any downloaded files), email if you keep it offline, DATA files, NO EXECUTABLES, and reinstall the OS from scratch disconnected from the network. Install a reputable anti-virus and make sure the firewall is enabled BEFORE connecting to the Internet. Install all Windows updates and fixpacks. Then start reinstalling your software - from a Vendor CD whenever possible. For downloaded software, make sure you download directly from the Vendor site.
Finally, follow some of the other tips in this thread about minimizing services and optimizing performance. Or, if you aren't tied to any specific Windows applications, ditch it all together for some Linux Distribution or another :D
