Comments on: Cleaning Out Windows XP

By: It’s a Sony, and It’s a Netbook. How to Turn Your Dead Weight Windows Notebook Into a Speedy Netbook. | CloudAve

Thu, 21 May 2009 07:08:00 +0000

[...] Cleaning Out Windows XP [Mossberg's Mailbox] [...]

By: Cleaning Out Windows XP « Desert Business Exchange

Cleaning Out Windows XP « Desert Business Exchange — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:51:13 +0000

[...] Suzanne 6:50 am on April 4, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply Cleaning Out Windows XP [...]

By: Weekend Update, 02.07.09 | Beth Callaghan | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:25:11 +0000

[...] Cleaning Out Windows XP [...]

By: David Prozzo

David Prozzo — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:35:17 +0000

Vista 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).
There 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.

By: jose narciso

jose narciso — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:19:00 +0000

What 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.

By: david kahanovitch

david kahanovitch — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:15:40 +0000

Slow 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.

By: Albert Koh

Albert Koh — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:03:57 +0000

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.