Cleaning Out Windows XP
February 4, 2009
by Walter S. Mossberg
There’s no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help.
Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability.
In last week’s Mailbox, you said that Windows XP machines can slow down over time unless you do “a lot of techie maintenance.” What did you mean? I regularly defragment the hard disk, tweak the registry, and clean out temporary files, but my PC is still slow.
All of these things are helpful, though I don’t recommend that nontechie users “tweak” the Windows registry, which contains vital program information that can mistakenly be removed or altered if you don’t know what you’re doing. Another speed-enhancing tactic is to use a program like Startup Cop Pro (snipurl.com/b4v91) to prevent unneeded programs from running at startup, and one like PC Decrapifier (pcdecrapifier.com) to clean out craplets — unwanted pre-installed programs.
However, what I had in mind when I wrote that was something more drastic, something a number of techies I know do annually: a complete replacement of Windows. This involves first backing up all your files, and then performing what’s called a “clean install” of Windows XP that wipes out everything on the PC and starts fresh. You then would copy back all your data files and re-install your programs.
This can make the computer feel like new, but the problem is that it can be tricky and tedious for nontechie users. Depending on the source of the copy of Windows XP you are using for the clean install, you may have to locate and re-install drivers for peripheral hardware and for hardware features of your particular make and model of PC. You may run into licensing and activation issues with your re-installed programs. And you may have to download numerous patches and upgrades for Windows itself and for your programs.
I am considering buying one of the new MacBook Pro 15″ laptops. What do you think of the keyboard on this laptop? Is it easy to type on compared to other laptop keyboards? What do you think of the shiny screen?
Because keyboard and screen preferences vary from person to person, I strongly urge all laptop shoppers to try out models they are considering before buying, even if only for a few minutes at a retail store. Having said that, I find the MacBook Pro keyboard to be very comfortable and easy to use, with good key spacing and feel. I personally prefer matte screens to glossy ones, but own laptops with both types and find the glossy ones acceptable, if not optimal.
I use the Windows Mail program that came with Vista on my computer. You say Windows 7 won’t come with that program. Is there something similar that can be installed?
Microsoft will encourage people to download a similar free program called Windows Live Mail, which is closely tied to its Live online service. Or, you could switch to a competing email program, or rely on Web-based email.
You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online free of charge at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.
Comments
I agree, registry tweaking is a losing proposition. Little to be gained if it works, and much (the Windows install!) to be lost if it goes bad.
In the years that I’ve used XP, some basic maintenance has always helped me stave off ‘Winrot’ and keep the system running as good as new:
(1) Regular virus/malware scans with Avast and Malwarebytes to keep the system clean.
(2) Regular defragmentation with Diskeeper to keep the drives performing optimally.
(3) Occasional disk cleanups to avoid wastage of space (no performance gains from this).
(4) Usage of a secure and speedy browser like Opera or Firefox for a better browsing experience.
and importantly,
(5) Avoiding installation of useless/pirated/badly coded programs that mess up Windows.
None of the above is time-consuming or difficult to do.
I’ve never had to mess with the registry or do anything else.
Posted by Albert Koh at February 5th, 2009 at 3:03 amSlow browsing is often due to running 2 anti-virus programs. Norton Anti-virus is often pre-installed, and users choose not to pay the registration fee, and install a free anti-virus program. In this case Norton must be un-installed, since it is useless anyway, as its list of viruses cannot be updated.
Posted by david kahanovitch at February 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pmWhat I have found foolproof is the following:
a. have at least two partitions for your hard disk, one for the windows system, the other for data.
b. do a fresh install and include all your settings on the system partition. then make an image of that partition using norton ghost (buy) or clonezilla (free).
c. keep a copy of that image on a dvd. next time some malware messes up, just restore the system image.
I find this the quickest way to get back in business after a windows meltdown. Alternatively, and this is far better, have a partition where you run linux doing a dual boot.
Posted by jose narciso at February 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pmVista and XP users are currently able to download and install Windows Live Mail. It includes a calender and works better than Outlook Express (XP) and Mail (Vista).
Posted by David Prozzo at February 6th, 2009 at 9:35 pmThere will be other programs besides Live Mail that are to be “left out” of Windows 7 that can be downloaded from Windows Live. The idea, I guess, is to make Windows 7 a bit lighter and allow users to pick and choose to install only what they will use. Not a bad idea.