In order to gain more hosting credits since I will be away for a few days to study for my tests, I have decided to come up with this topic.

Optimize XP is just all about increasing performance, including the most basic things.

Step One
Viruses and trojans(spyware, etc.) makes your computer more vulnerable to crashes, slows down your computer performance and have the potential to destroy your data or even use it as a staging area for more attacks.

The solution? Get an antivirus, firewall and antispywares.I would recommend paid subscriptions(McAfee SecurityCenter and PC-cillin Internet Security) but if you're a broke student like me, go for freewares that are as good as them.

AntiVir Personal Edition 6 - The interface might not look very friendly but it is resource-light, using even less resources than AVG Free Edition 7 or NOD32 Antivirus.It does not come with an email scanning module but it will detect a virus before you even open a mail message with attachment.

Sygate Personal Firewall 5.6- A reliable firewall that uses only 8MB of memory, I still don't understand why CNet gave ZoneAlarm a higher rating since it's bloated and somewhat a resource hog.

Microsoft Antispyware Beta 1 - Perhaps the first decent software released by Microsoft since Windows XP, this antispyware does produce good results but it'll be better if you disable real-time scanning.(Note: They just bought GIANT Antispyware, gave it a new look and called it Microsoft Antispyware)

Other useful security programs that are optional.
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition - Reliable but Microsoft Antispyware fins more threats than this.
Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3 - A Swiss Army knife software program.
SpywareBlaster 3.2 - Spyware prevention tool.Works fine.

Step Two
Windows released updates for their Windows XP OS since it was released infested with bugs and some of these updates can actually increase your performance like DirectX(depends if your graphics card can work with it).If you are installing SP2, scan your computer for all sorts of viruses to ensure that it doesn't interrupt with the installation of SP2.To save on resources, disable Automatic Updates via Running services.msc

Other services include Print Spooler if you don't have a printer, Server, if you are not running a server, Wireless Zero Configuration or whatever it's called if you are not using a wireless network, Error Reporting Service, Messenger Service(not Windows Messenger), Fast User Switching if you are only using a single user, Help & Support if you are Pro, Themes if you bother to cope with the Windows 2000 looks, Indexing Service(choose to uninstall it as well) and SecurityCenter(Service Pack 2) since it seems useless to me.

Also, do make sure that your processes are to a bare minimual unless you need it.Windows XP has a built-in startup manager and you can access it by Running msconfig

Step Three
Other programs that will help like...
CCleaner - This little program not only clean up your internet tracks but it can scan your registry for invalid registry keys as well.Well recommended.
TweakUI - One of Microsoft's useful PowerToys that enable you to control XP in a better way.
Cacheman 5.50 - Memory optimization program that have some wizards to optimize your computer.
PageDefrag - "Defragment the Page File and the Registry. "One of the limitations of the Windows 2000/XP defragmentation interface is that it is not possible to defragment files that are open for exclusive access. Thus, standard defragmentation programs can neither show you how fragmented your paging files or Registry hives are, nor defragment them. Paging and Registry file fragmentation can be one of the leading causes of performance degradation related to file fragmentation in a system.""
RegSeeker - This registry optimization program can delete vital keys that make you software unusable so always create a backup before deleting.Produces alot of results.TCP/IP Optimizer - Optimizes your internet connection speed.
Mozilla - a safer and faster browsing experience.
Diskeeper Lite - A better program to defrag your hard drive better.

Final Step
Do remember to update, upgrade, defrag, Run Disk Cleanup, scan and defrag your registry, scan for threats, etc every now and then and I can assure you that you will see significant increase in performance of your computer

I will update this again when I have the time...maybe three days later.Do correct me if I am wrong with anything stated above!

Tests, the wonderful years of school.
Good luck on the test.
My daughter was reading for one of her tests yesterday on the way to school...

I have to test the M$ Anti spyware beta now. I downloaded it and have to give it a try before they mess it up.

Nils

I have not tried most of the software u mentioned but for me, tweaking involved not running unneeded processes.
Run msconfig and under services and startup are a bunch of processes that are not needed.

If you, like me a few months ago, simply find your computer too slow and bloated, you might want to consider taking the drastic step of reformatting your hard disk and starting everything afresh.

All the spyware and whatever unnecessary software will be deleted and your computer will be as good as new.

Be sure to backup your important data though.

This is really quite a drastic step!
I wouldn't do that just to make my computer faster mainly because:
1) backing up and restoring data and programs is a tedious process
2) In another few days it will accumulate with 'unnecessary' softwares again... and then I will need to do another reformat...

Learning how to tweak your system seems to be a better solution, for me at least.

I know that tweaking involves not running processes that you don't need but they can be disabled via services.msc, which has more options and give you a brief explanation of what the process is for.Like I also said, msconfig is something like a built-in startup manager for the XP OS.

And when you are reformatting your hard disk, do consider slipstreaming SP2 into the Windows XP installation CD.

I would recommend this registry tweak database to everyone since it really does have alot compared to some like TweakXP.com.The database is located here.

For users who wants really freewares not bundled with software, here are alternatives.
Download Accelerator Plus 7.2 - Free Download Manager
P2P Clients - Ares Galaxy 1.8.1(unless you are stupid enough to leave the boxs check)

If you want other alternatives for other software under different categories, please inform me.

As for CD-Burning, I would greatly recommend Nero 6 Ultra Edition but you can download Windows's HightMAT extension so you can actually burn the CD by dragging and dropping the files into the CD drive folder.

it really function?

If you think quoting someone with a long post like that will give you credits your wrong.

Now what do you mean by it really function?

The best way to optimize and keep your computer running smoothly:

Install only the programs you use on a daily basis.
Remove programs if your not going to use them again, or if your not going to use them in a timely fashion
Understand what your downloading, and understand what your installing.
If your wanting to test software, I would suggest you make a "test" box. Download all the software you want to test and see how it works, or how it slows your computer down, or even see how much spyware/adware it installs.

Most things can be avoided with common sense.

That was very informative. I dont think I know enough about computers right now to do tweaking but I will be getting better anti-virus protection and defragment tools and the firewall. I thought I knew more than I do, but this site is a great eye opener. This is the second time I've heard AntiVir mentioned and I will definatly be getting that one. Thanks for the tips.

You needn't know much about computers to do the things listed here really, they are mostly jst picking the right tool and clicking next alot, but they do serve a useful purpose as they all do keep XP running good (well... "good")

Personally I've never noticed a noticeable performance drop when I have programs installed (excluding if my harddrive is literally running out of space so it has to work hard to swap files) but having useless **** start on bootup can be evil. Msconfig is my best friend in the windows world as too many programs think they are important enough to always be running.

Overall good guide. A nice concise summary of the basics of beating windows into submission and keeping it running as you want it to