System Speedups

1.1 Managing Your Memory
Optimize your system's memory with little-known trick that can make your computer run faster and you will feel relax.

Note: To find out how much memory, also known as Random Access Memory (or RAM), your computer has, right-click My Computer and choose Properties.
A Windows XP system needs at least 256 MB of RAM to work properly. Better yet, get 512 MB, or more, if you can afford it.

1.1.1 DOS Swap
You can speed up your system simply by replacing old DOS programs with more recent versions, if they're available. DOS applications, like old versions of WordPerfect, don't allow XP to manage memory properly, and they hoard memory by not sharing it with other programs.

1.1.2 Eliminating Needless Visual Effects
Windows XP: fading and sliding menu actions, folders that let you slap pictures on them, and icons that come with drop shadows. But all these effects can take their toll on system performance, especially if you have an older computer

Logically speaking, fewer effects you use and the faster your computer runs. Here's how to choose:
1. Right-click My Computer and choose Properties =>Advanced.
The Advanced tab on the System Properties dialog box appears. You can also summon System Properties from the Run box or the command line; enter sysdm.cpl and then press Enter. (To get to the Run box, choose Start =>Run. To get to the command prompt, choose Start =>Run, type command, and press Enter.)
2. Under the Performance section, click Settings, and then select the Visual Effects tab.
The Performance Options dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 11-1.
3. Choose the visual effects you want.
"Adjust for best performance" turns off all the visual effects listed. "Adjust for best appearance" has the opposite effect: it turns everything on. Selecting "Let Windows choose what's best for my computer" triggers, as you might guess, different choices on different computers. And to pick and choose individual effects yourself, choose "Custom," then decide which ones you want.