How do I get optimum performance

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What can I do to my system to confirgure it for maximum performance? Are
there any handy tricks/tips that can be used to make it all a bit better?

I'm currently using a seemingly very resource intensive program and when
that's running everything else slows to a snails pace. Is there any options
or setting etc that I can fiddle with to help?
 
To get optimum performance: Read, read and read more. The more you learn
about how hardware and software works, the better you'll know how to get the
most from your computer. That's what works for me.

Of course, that's not as glamorous an approach as installing the latest
hyped up 'optimization' program or following misguided advice to hack into
your computer. On the other hand, I haven't seen a BSOD on any of my
computers since Windows 95. And both of the computers I currently own are
problem-free and fas ast as the old Mustang CobraJet.

Ted Zieglar
 
Cheers for the advice. Any good places to start this quest for knowledge??

I would like to avoid putting unneccsary things onto my PC too, just
wondered if there were any options within Windows or something that are not
that obvious to a novice that could give the system a bit of extra pep?
 
cdb said:
Cheers for the advice. Any good places to start this quest for
knowledge??

I would like to avoid putting unneccsary things onto my PC too, just
wondered if there were any options within Windows or something that
are not that obvious to a novice that could give the system a bit of
extra pep?
Click to expand...

Go to the local bookstore and get the latest edition of WindowsXP Inside
Out.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
 
There are lots of good resources that a novice can use, so you'll hopefully
get lots of good responses. Unfortunately, there are also lots of bad
resources and you're not yet in a position to distinguish what is good from
what is bad. In general, avoid any source of information that seems to have
an 'attitude'. You want information, not bluster.

Microsoft's web site is a good place to start. It can be intimidating,
though, because there's so much information. Start here:

"Windows XP Setup and Maintenance"
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/default.mspx

And don't miss this:

"Protect Your PC"
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Of course, you'll be getting Microsoft's view of the world, which is not
exactly terrible, but if you want some independent advice, you might start
here:

"PC Pitstop"
http://www.pcpitstop.com/

And you'll find lots of solid, authoritative advice from the venerable Fred
Langa:

"Langa.com - The LangaList Newsletter Home Page"
http://www.langa.com/
 
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I'm too lazy to go to the bookstore, and
Ted Zieglar has posted some websites I can look at instead. At least now I
have a backup option.

Cheers.
 
Thanks again Ted. I'll try and look through some of these over the weekend
and hopefully not get to bogged down in it all!
 
This helps.. go to the Performance settings in Control Panel and set XP to
dump all of the eye candy.. is the first thing that I do..
 
cdb said:
What can I do to my system to confirgure it for maximum performance? Are
there any handy tricks/tips that can be used to make it all a bit better?

I'm currently using a seemingly very resource intensive program and when
that's running everything else slows to a snails pace. Is there any options
or setting etc that I can fiddle with to help?
Click to expand...

Some of what you can do will depend on what your preferences are:

1. Buy more RAM - 256 MB is usually ok, but if your app requires a lot
of RAM, go with 512 or more.

2. Buy a newer PC. Get a faster CPU, and a faster Front-side Bus. Also,
a faster hard drive.

3. If you want to give other apps more cpu time, go into task manager >
processes > right-click the process that you want to get more cpu time
and increase its priority.

4. If you want the Windows Kernel to be loaded into RAM so the OS has
quicker access to its functions, and you have at least 256 MB of RAM
installed, backup the Registry and go into the Registry and go to

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Memory Management

LargeSystemCache - Double click it and change the decimal value to 1.

Reboot.

5. If you want Windows to keep data in RAM rather than paging it to
virtual memory, and you have at least 256 MB of RAM installed, backup
the Registry, open the Registry and go to

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Memory Management

DisablePagingExecutive - Double click it and in the decimal value field,
put a 1.

Reboot.

Hope some of this helps.


--
The reader should exercise normal caution and backup the Registry and
data files regularly, and especially before making any changes to their
PC, as well as performing regular virus and spyware scans. I am not
liable for problems or mishaps that occur from the reader using advice
posted here. No warranty, express or implied, is given with the posting
of this message.
 
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