How to make Windows XP run more efficiently

We can greatly improve the operating efficiency of WIndows XP

Once the Microsoft Windows XP operating system is launched, it will impress the majority of computer users with a beautiful interactive interface. Excellent overall performance (including a significant reduction in the time to start and continue to use, and the application's rapid response), so that many users have upgraded their operating system to Windows XP, and have had a personal experience of addiction. However, in the process of using, people realized that the interface is really beautiful, and the performance is not so satisfactory. What is the reason?

In fact, Microsoft has stated before Windows XP that Windows XP does not require the use of the most advanced processor, but at least 300 MHz, Pentium II level or higher processor can have better performance. Performance; in terms of memory, 64MB is the minimum memory requirement for Windows XP, and 128MB is the minimum operating environment recommended by Windows XP. Of course, if there is more than 128MB of memory, it is definitely a good thing, but by contrast, increasing the memory from 64MB to 128M, and adding memory on the basis of 128MB, the performance gap can be seen is relatively small. And much more largely depends on the workload – this is like looking for the “turning point of the curve”, and the gain from adding extra memory capacity after the inflection point is relatively low – for most working loads, the inflection point Located between 64MB and 128MB. (Editor's note: Tests in the "Personal Computer" lab show that for most commercial applications, upgrading memory from 128MB to 256MB will bring significant performance improvements to Windows XP, but after more than 512MB, unless image processing is performed, Performance improvement is not obvious.) So users should first understand whether the hardware meets the above requirements before upgrading the operating system to Windows XP. Do not blindly start, otherwise the expected effect will not be achieved.

Under the premise that the hardware meets the basic conditions, you can also improve the operating efficiency of Windows XP from the following aspects.

Prioritize new installations

New installations of Windows XP will generally result in better performance than upgraded installations, as this installation provides greater control over file and file metadata on disk. s position. That is to say, during the process of installing Windows XP, the code and data required for startup can be dynamically determined according to the configuration of the computer, and the storage location of these files on the disk can be optimized. When the computer boots, Windows XP can issue a large number of I/O requests that can be processed efficiently with higher throughput, and can find the best time to make these requests, and interleave these requests in the device detection and initialization phase. This is done by not increasing the overall startup time, which significantly reduces the time required for system startup. During a fresh installation, it usually takes three starts to complete the observation and optimization of this quick start.

Increase system partition capacity and switch to high-speed hard disk

According to Microsoft, the hard disk space required for Windows XP itself is 1.5GB, plus the capacity of Office and other application software, the system The total capacity on the partition should be 4GB to 8GB (depending on the application software). Windows XP uses the same virtual memory technology as the previous version of Windows (see Figure 1). This technique refers to the division of a space on the system partition to compensate for the lack of physical memory when the computer is working. . This space is usually tens to hundreds of megabytes, users can also set the virtual memory file to other partitions (but it is recommended to use the system partition) or adjust the size of the disk space it occupies, but How it takes up a portion of the hard disk storage space, especially when using large application software and the physical memory capacity is relatively small, the virtual memory file capacity will be larger. Therefore, the system partition should be left with enough free space, which requires users to increase the capacity of the system partition when upgrading the operating system to Windows XP.

Although Microsoft has improved the "boot loader" in the Windows XP operating system, the pre-fetching technology is used during the computer startup process so that the code to be executed and the data that must be read can be performed during the initialization of the disk. , thereby speeding up the startup of the computer. But a lot of data has to be read from the hard disk, plus the hard disk is really a very slow device relative to the CPU and memory, and the I/O access of the hard disk is very frequent, so you can use the high speed hard disk. Significantly speeding up the transfer of data, which in turn shortens the boot time of the operating system and applications, is obvious.
Make Hardware Settings

This issue includes the BIOS settings usually mentioned. For example, if HDD-0 is used as the first boot device, the DMA mode is enabled, the memory is allowed to self-test, and the floppy drive is not detected, these settings can speed up the startup and running speed of the computer to different extents. It will not be detailed. The special emphasis here is on the jumper selection of the optical drive - this is especially important for computers that use two data transmission lines to connect the hard drive to the optical drive. Today's popular hard disk and motherboard IDE interface support DMA100 transmission mode at the same time, so generally use 80-line data transmission line to connect the hard disk to the motherboard's Primary IDE interface. Most optical drives only support DMA33 or PIO transmission mode, so the optical drive is usually connected to the motherboard's Secondary IDE interface using a 40-wire data transmission line. The default setting of the jumper at the factory is the Slave, so it occupies the Secondary Slave interface, which makes the Secondary Master have no device, so the computer self-test and the operating system start up to take a long time to detect the Secondary Master device. And it doesn't get a response, it wastes a lot of time. Therefore, the jumper of the optical drive should be changed to the Master, so that it occupies the Secondary Master interface, and the Secondary Slave interface is empty, which can effectively shorten the system startup time by 10 to 15 seconds. This method has been tested by the author in all Microsoft operating systems.

Reasonable use of anti-virus software

There are dangers of virus infection on the Internet at any time. For the sake of prevention, many users have installed anti-virus software and enabled real-time virus monitoring program. In this way, any data processed by the computer must be filtered by anti-virus software, which will have a serious impact on the system performance. Therefore, the real-time monitoring program should be turned off when there is no connection to the Internet or to exchange data with the removable disk.

The last thing to add is that after the computer has been running for a long time or a lot of new software has been installed, it is best to defragment the system disk. During the defragmentation process, the defragmenter can reorganize and optimize the location where the boot files are saved on the disk, and store the fragmented files and folders on the disk continuously, which can speed up the startup and read speed and improve the system. Operating efficiency.

Make Software Settings

Windows XP has many automatic service functions in the operating system for the convenience of users, but these functions will affect other software when the computer speed is limited. The speed of running, the performance will feel that the computer is very slow. These automated service features include system restore, automatic update, time synchronization, and desktop cleanup.

● System Restore

System Restore is an automatic service function that has the greatest impact on system operation efficiency. It was born from Windows Me. It monitors the data changes of each partition on the disk and records them in the whole process of running the computer, so that the disk data can be restored to the previous state in the future, and by default, it takes up 12% of the space on each partition. To record the state of the disk, as long as this feature is turned on, even by adjusting the option, it takes up to 5% of the space of each partition. So if the system has been backed up by other methods (such as using Ghost), you can turn off this feature to improve the speed of the system (see Figure 2).

● Automatic Updates

Automatic Update is to download patches and upgrade programs from the Microsoft website automatically when there is a network connection. It will occupy part of the Internet connection bandwidth (see Figure 3). ).

● Time Synchronization

Time synchronization is a feature that uses a network connection to keep up with the time server on the Internet. It runs every other week (see Figure 4).
● Desktop Cleaner

This program can selectively move some desktop icons that have not been used for a long time to a file on the desktop called "Unused Desktop Shortcut" automatically created by the operating system. Saved in the folder, it runs every 60 days (see Figure 5).

● IP designation

Another important aspect of software setting is that if the network card is installed and the computer is not in the domain or domain and there is no DHCP server to provide DHCP service, Be sure to force an IP address for the network card. Because the default option of TCP/IP is "automatically obtain an IP address", the system must be assigned an IP address by accessing the DHCP server when the system is started. If there is no DHCP server in the domain, the server will not receive a response for a long time. Try again, this process lasts 5 to 10 seconds. As long as the IP address is forcibly assigned, whether it is right or wrong, the system startup will save this part of the time.

FIG 2 is a method of reducing the system closed "Control Panel" "System" "Restore System", select "Off System Restore on all drives" a front of the box.

3 turn off the automatic update method is the "Control Panel," "System" "Automatic Updates", clear the "Keep my computer up to date" in front of the box, the user can choose the right time to manually update. FIG 4 is closed

time synchronization method is the "Control Panel" "Date and Time," "Internet Time" remove "Internet time server automatically synchronized with the" front of the box. FIG 5 is closed

old surface cleanup procedure is to "Control Panel" "Show" "Desktop" "custom desktop" remove "one every 60 days preceding Wizard Cleanup Desktop" check box.