When using Windows XP system for a period of time, you may find it is rather slow. Have you ever wonder that is the hardware configuration too low or the compatibility too bad? Well, such reason is not so common. As a matter of fact, this operating system is seized too many functions by Microsoft that the users seldom use them. There are many useless functions in the background.
Although Windows XP has stable and perfect interface and multifunctional operating system, it has also certain shortages. Since upgrading hardware is a complex task, you can do some optimization to improve Windows XP speed. Here are some methods to do that.

You can start up the function of ending task automatically as shutting down computer. When closing down computer, it may pop up a dialog box that reminds you certain program is running and whether to end task. It is really disturbing. In fact you just need to alter a little in the registry that the computer can end tasks automatically as shutting down computer. In the “Registry Editor”, find HKEY-CURRENT-USER/Control Panel/Desktop directory, change the key value of “Auto End Tasks” as “1”. In this way, computer will end task voluntarily and can

Close down the function of “Use Fast User Switching”.
In this system, such function should come to front because it enables many users to use computer at the same time. But it also consumes certain memory. If the memory is 64MB, the system will turn it off automatically when installing; if it is 128MB, it is better for you to close it down manually. In the “Control Panel”—“User Accounts”—“Change the way users log on or off”, cross out “Use Fast User Switching” and then click “Apply”. You may find computer speed is quite faster than before.

You can turn off Dr. Watson. This is the maintenance tool of Windows. It can display when loading programs is failed or computer goes crash. As running this, you can cross out all except dumping the entire thread context. Otherwise once there is something wrong in the computer, hard disk has to respond for a long time and it can take up a lot of disk space as well. If you have encountered such problem before, you can look up and delete the user.dmp file. By doing this, it can save scores of space for you and improve Windows speed a lot.

In conclusion, though it is quite useful system, it is inevitable to come up with certain shortages. What you need to do is to learn more so as to improve Windows speed.