XP Tune Up

[Mike]

My buddy has a Dell 4500 256MB RAM w/ XP HOme installed. He uses the PC for
email and browsing the web.
Last night I installed SP1a and some MS sewcurity updates on it. After
defragging it I'm going back to the MS site and install the rest of of the
patches and security updates. What else should I do to improve performace
and stability of this OS?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Daniel Roth]

Remove tmp. Internetfiles, do a scan with both Ad-Aware and Spybot Search &
Destroy.
After that, do a defrag and all should be just fine

/Daniel Roth

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Utilize the following Windows XP utility programs, at least monthly, in this order:

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310312&Product=winxp

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315265&Product=winxp

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305781&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| My buddy has a Dell 4500 256MB RAM w/ XP HOme installed. He uses the PC for
| email and browsing the web.
| Last night I installed SP1a and some MS sewcurity updates on it. After
| defragging it I'm going back to the MS site and install the rest of of the
| patches and security updates. What else should I do to improve performace
| and stability of this OS?
|
| Thanks,
|
| Mike
|
|

 

[Kristi]

My buddy has a Dell 4500 256MB RAM w/ XP HOme installed. He uses the PC for
email and browsing the web.
Last night I installed SP1a and some MS sewcurity updates on it. After
defragging it I'm going back to the MS site and install the rest of of the
patches and security updates. What else should I do to improve performace
and stability of this OS?

Thanks,

Mike

If stability is a prob for it, a clean install may be in order.

Putting SP1 and all the available updates from Windows Update is a very
good step.

Making sure you have a good firewall like Kerio or ZoneAlarm is important.

Having a top quality dynamic antivirus like Avast! or Eset Nod32 is a must.

I use AdSubtract Pro for cookie and ad control.

I use popup killer to kill popups.

This should help XP to remain rock solid!
Kristi

 

[Mike]

Having some trouble getting around in XP. I've got W2K Pro on my PC.
LAst night, I was looking for the recyle bin but couldn't find it. Will
empty recycle bin
when I find it and delete .temp files. Will install Ad-Ware and Spybot.

Mike

 

[Mike]

PC is stable right now just a little sluggish.
Using only the XP firewall and Norton AV & Norton Internet AV. Will
encourage
user to look at other av programs. Will use AdSubtract Pro for cookie and
ad control and popup killer to kill popups.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Huck]

Mike -
I install no more than 1 update, and then wait two or
three days. Some (several) of then seem to make things
worse, rather than better.
Huck -------------------------------------------------

 

[Alex Nichol]

My buddy has a Dell 4500 256MB RAM w/ XP HOme installed. He uses the PC for
email and browsing the web.
Last night I installed SP1a and some MS sewcurity updates on it. After
defragging it I'm going back to the MS site and install the rest of of the
patches and security updates. What else should I do to improve performace
and stability of this OS?

Not really very much.

I would go to Internet Options - Temporary Internet files section, click
Settings and reduce the space allowed - 50MB is generous, and by default
there may be more allowed than is good for it. Similarly in Control
Panel - System - System restore highlight the drive, click Settings and
again reduce space allowed - 12 % of a modern large disk is too much,
and something more like 500MB (the minimum is 200) is more sensible.

Then in Outlook Express Tools - Options I would make sure that the
Security page has it in Restricted Zone (I think SP1 may do that but be
sure) and that read is set to read all messages in plain text - that
stops a mere preview running an embedded nasty in an email, of which
there are far too many around. Also check 'warn if other programs try
to send mail as me' (not that it does much good), and note that SP1 will
set the 'do not allow attachments to be saved or opened if they might
contain a virus'. That is probably best left on unless the user is very
disciplined to save and check with a AV program before trying to open
*any* attachment. And warn him that mail from Microsoft, a Bank, eBay,
PayPal etc asking him to run an attachment will be a spurious one with
virus in the attachment; trying to get him to install it voluntarily -
such messages should be deleted immediately

 

[Quaoar]

Having some trouble getting around in XP. I've got W2K Pro on my PC.
LAst night, I was looking for the recyle bin but couldn't find it.
Will empty recycle bin
when I find it and delete .temp files. Will install Ad-Ware and
Spybot.

Mike

Run Disk Cleanup to remove temp and temp internet files and empty
recycle bin.