Startup Speed Boost

Fix A Windows XP Slow Startup

Windows XP computers can be particularly prone to a slow startup. The startup process that used to take under a minute, may now be slow, sluggish, and frustrating. Most users don’t really care why their startup is slow, they just want it fixed. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to improve your startup time, and get on with using your computer.

1. Consider a memory upgrade. Check how much RAM you have in your system. Typically with XP, 1-1.5 gigs is enough for a snappy startup, and efficient PC performance. If you are well under that, you may want to purchase more RAM.




2. Disable the Recent Documents feature. Windows XP automatically logs and displays your most often used documents. Each time you start-up Windows, this information must be found and presented. Disabling it may shave off some time. To do so, right click anywhere in your taskbar, and click Properties. Then Click the Start Menu tab. Next to the Start Menu button (the first of two options) click the Customize button. Under the Advanced tab, simply remove the check mark next to “List my most recently opened documents.” Click OK, and then Apply.




3. CHKDSK and defrag. These two system utilities are built into Windows XP, and should be run regularly. CHKDSK can be accessed by clicking Start>Run and then typing CHKDSK. This will open a new Window, and will begin scanning automatically. Give the program a little time, and it will check your hard disk for any errors or problems.  Defrag, or disk defragmentation can be accessed by clicking Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Disk Defragmenter. This tool will allow you to compress and rearrange information on your hard drive, so as to save space and improve speeds.




4. Clean your system’s registry. This is a complex database that controls all of Windows’ settings and preferences. Errors and cluttered entries here can lead to slowdowns and error messages. You can edit this manually, if you are fairly experienced. Otherwise, SpeedyPC provides and easy way to clean the registry and fix your slow startup.




5. Control which items load at startup. Removing items from the start up schedule will free up memory and lead to a faster system. For more info, read this post on how to improve startup speed.

You can fix your Windows XP startup speed!

That’s it! These five tips should put you well on your way to starting your computer likety-split!