1. The first thing you need to do is pay attention to the programs that run at Windows startup. The computer run sluggishly when too many programs run at one time. At the Windows startup program disable the programs which are not legitimate or do not need to be run at the time of startup. To access System Configuration Utility, go to Run, type “msconfig” and press “Enter”.

2. Temporary files are automatically stored on the computer, which always ending with a.TMP extension. Tons of these files will constitute to slow down your PC speed. Regularly clear them by using the Disk Cleanup utility to get good XP performance.

3. A large amount of disk space is occupied by useless programs and folders on the hard drive which will result in Windows XP slow boot problem. To regain more disk space delete the useless files/ folders from the computer.

4. Sometimes there are still some registry entries left down albeit, it is hoped to be removed both from the application folder and the registry. To boost PC speed & performance cleaning registry is always the first and most important part.

5. A computer may need time in retrieving files clusters from all over the disc when the empty space increases or the hard disk is not defrag from a long time, This causes programs to run slowly. To boost PC speed & performance a disk defrag is needed. To defrag your hard disk select “Disk Defragmenter” from “Start”, “Accessories”, “System Tools”. It is better to do a disk defragment once a month.

Shutting down your computer : Let Windows completes the shut down process correctly, do not try to turn off the computer immediately. Try to avoid this habit as it can lead to data damage which is stored on the hard disk. Rebooting becomes essential, when the Windows or any program freezes.

System Checkup : It is important to scan the hard disk and check for malfunctioning related issues when your computer hang up frequently. Try to find out if there is any invalid registry and if present try to remove it. Relocation of all the files that are stored on the hard drive is done through defragmentation.

Data Maintenance: It becomes essential to uninstall programs that are not required. Delete temporary files, which can be done from program tools in the control panel in your system. It is adviced to have frequent backups of the important files and folders.

Security from Malware : For every computer, virus programs are the worst enemies. It eats up the system resources and slows it down too. Opening emails from unknown senders is not adviced. Download files only after prior virus scan. It is good to have a weekly or monthly virus detection scan and virus definition update. Those who are Internet savvy. it is important to install a firewall program.

Updating System Applications : Better performance and data security can be achieved by updating applications regularly. Periodic computer maintenance, security review and assessment would keep your computer functioning better.

There are six simple steps to clearing up your hard drive:

Many times a new program will come but after a week or two you simply stop using it. These programs occupies your drive and take up valuable space.

Delete the temporary files safely by using the Disk Cleanup option in your System Tools.

Clearing out your cache is quick and easy. Just follow the instructions in the Help files located within those programs.

It’s easy to browse through your email and leave old messages there, promising yourself you’ll sort them out later. Delete all the unwanted mails.

Scandisk is generally performed to check your drive for lost file fragments and to fix any errors it finds, then Defrag to pack all of the program files together at the beginning of your drive.