Are you still running the old Windows XP on your PC? This tutorial will show you how to make it run faster.
Windows XP is five generations behind: it’s been succeeded by Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10. Frankly, it’s not ideal for running standard modern-day functions. And to make matters worse, it’s highly prone to low memory – RAM – space issue, which significantly reduces system’s running speed.
In any case, if you are looking to speed up your old Win XP PC, follow through this tutorial.
How to Make Windows XP Run Faster
Below are some tips that can be employed/adapted to make WinXP run faster.
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Restart computer regularly
This should resolve minor lag issues, as the system is refreshed and all temporary files are cleared.
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Clean up disk storage
To do this:
- Go to Start menu;
- Click on Run and type in “cleanmgr.exe” in the run dialog box;
- Click OK and then finish the cleanup.
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Reduce startup programs
Running multiple startup programs, especially on a low RAM space (typical of WinXP), often results in reduced system performance.
To reduce startup programs, go under “System Configuration” and disable/enable desired startup programs.
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Scan for viruses/malwares/ransomeware/spywares
If your PC is acting funny and the running speed is reduced, there is possibility of a virus attack. Hence, download and install a standard anti-malware program to scan and clear the viruses.
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Clean up system
If your PC becomes cluttered/congested with too many files and/or apps, your system’s performance would reduce. To resolve this, perform a clean up once in a while.
You can remove temporary files and other less relevant files/apps from your system. For better performance, you can employ a third-party clean up program like CCleaner.
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Adjust Visual Effects settings
Go to the “Performance Options” window under “Control Panel” and select the “Adjust for best performance” option. This will reduce the graphics effects of your PC, and your system would run much faster.
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Defragment hard disk
You can use Windows Disk Defragmenter to do this. However, under no circumstance should you apply this on computers with SSDs (solid state drives).
Closing Note
There’s a limit to how fast Windows XP computers can run, irrespective of the tweaks and changes applied to it. Hence, for better performance, you may have to upgrade to a newer version, preferably Windows 7.
Hope you find this post helpful?
Daniel Segun is a technology writer with over 5 years of experience. He loves to teach and inspire others. When he is not writing, he’s probably busy developing websites. You can reach him here.
