Ways to Tweak XP

By Technology Last updated Sunday, May/26/2024

With the right tools, tweaking Windows XP can produce noticeable results.tools image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com

There are many ways you can tweak Windows XP, though some modifications should be attempted only by experienced users, such as modifying the XP registry settings, because there are serious consequences if done improperly. Others have less potential for disaster but can still increase the wow factor of your system.

Reduce Garbage

Garbage is often a forgotten element in the Windows operating system. By default, it's set to occupy up to 10 percent of your hard drive. That may not sound like much, but, on a 1 Terabyte drive, your trash bin can use over 100 Gigabytes of storage space if left at the default setting. In the trash bin properties, one option that can make a big difference is the slider to manually reduce the total percentage of storage space the trash bin can use. The lower the percentage, the less space it uses, and the less files it will keep in the bin. The other option is removing files immediately. This means Windows will automatically empty the trash bin every time you delete a file or folder.

There is no reason to be limited to silver, green, and blue for the Windows themes. Take advantage of programs like WindowBlinds and Aston. They have ready-made packages that can twist and contort your Windows XP into shapes and images that will make your friends stare in awe. These programs make use of the capabilities built into Windows XP to customize screens, screen-savers, fonts and icons. Should the many ready-made templates not be enough, you can use the software to make your own.

As you listen to music on your computer, surf the Internet and allow Windows to get updates, files are being copied, backed up, modified, and moved. The more this happens and the longer it goes on, the slower your computer will perform. To remedy this, Windows includes two tools you should use frequently. Disk Cleanup scans your computer for files that you don't need, such as temporary files, files in your trash bin and your Internet temporary files. It makes these files go away at the click of a button. Disk Defragmenter reorganizes files on your computer to maximize hard drive access times. Both can be found in the System Tools folder under Accessories on the Start menu.