Happy Trails Computer Club |
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| Windows | ||
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Keep it cleanSeems as if everyone wants to get on your desktop -- your computer's desktop that is. Microsoft -- AOL -- MSN -- Dell (or whoever sold you the computer) -- Norton (or McAfee) -- RealPlayer -- the list goes on and on. Sort of like the signs for gas, motels and fast food at an Interstate exit. Except in this case it's shortcuts on the desktop and icons in the system tray (that little place at the right end of the taskbar).Trouble is, it's not so much the clutter, it's what goes on behind the clutter. The shortcuts just take up some memory, which isn't a big deal if you have 512 MB to work with. Those pesky icons in the system tray reveal the real culprits. Each one of them represents a program that is running. They're in competition with each other, and with the legitimate programs you want to run. Your computer will run better if you clean up some of the clutter. Read on.
Windows XP startup programs (see services just below also)Windows XP is much less prone to crashing than Windows 98. It's much better at intercepting program miscues and shutting them down instead of locking itself up. XP does not suffer from the "Resources" bottleneck that 98 has either. You can still speed startup and improve performance by pruning some autostart programs. Supress the ones you don't use by following the guide written for Windows 98 -- it also applies to Windows XP.Windows XP servicesThere are also a bunch of useless "services" that Windows XP usually starts. You'll almost certainly never need some them. The proper tool for managing Windows XP services is located at Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Services. You can also get there this way: Start > Run > enter services.msc > click OK. I've created a simple service settings table showing what I recommend for most users, along with the settings that I use to fit the way I use my Windows XP computer. Black Viper's website (a superb site, don't be put of by the Gothic appearance) has a comprehensive guide for reducing the number of seldom or never used services. If you're going to make changes, do so a few at a time, and keep a record of what you've done. If something quits working after you make changes, you'll never know which one it was if you make them all at once. You can always use the default settings to get back to the original configuration though. Remote Procedure Call will make your system unbootable if you disable it. Do not disable RPC by using the Services method, the hardware profiles method or any other method.Windows shutdown (and restart)Windows often has shutdown (and restart) problems too -- especially on laptops. Windows Shutdown Center (WSC) is an expert site devoted to just these problems. Windows XP upgrade & updates (updates for Windows 98 are below -- updates for IE and OE also)Warning: Before you use Windows Update, it's best to have your system completely backed up. Sometimes updates or upgrades don't work out, and you can be left with a computer that won't start or run. If you're running Windows XP, you'll probably be OK if you have a recent System Restore Point. It's useful to know when updates for Windows
and Internet Explorer are issued. The best
way I know is to sign up for some bulletins: To update Windows manually, click Start > Settings > Windows Update [Windows 98] (There will be something similar in other versions of Windows.) The update site will compare the versions and updates you have on your computer versus the latest versions. Then a list of available updates will be presented for you to choose from. Not every update is essential or even desirable. You need to decide for yourself. I prefer to download and save Windows patches instead of letting Windows Update do it live. That way, if I ever need to restore Windows I wouldn't have to download them again. I'd have them immediately available -- even if Microsoft no longer made them available. Or go directly to the Windows 98 download
site. [Windows 98] For multimedia updates you'll need to visit other download sites (listed below): [Windows Media Player Downloads] For the latest: [Windows Media Player 9.0] If you're quick during a regular download from Windows Update, you can often find and save the update file before it's automatically deleted. It will show up in a directory like C:\Windows Update Setup Files [Windows 98]. Service PacksThere's an important "service pack" for Windows 98 -- it's called SP1. Service packs keep software up to date and plug security holes. Not all service packs work out. This one is a good one.http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/downloads/ http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ There's also one for Internet Explorer 6.0
and another for Outlook Express 6.0 They're
both called SP1. You must install the one
for IE before you install the one for OE. In addition there's SP1 for Outlook Express
(getting tired yet?). Actually, SP1 itself
has been updated -- the link below will take
you to "...the Cumulative Update for
Outlook Express 6.0 SP-1", which includes
SP1 plus additional fixes. You must install SP1 for Internet Explorer 6.0 before
you install this one for Outlook Express.
I don't think it's necessary to install SP1
for Windows 98 though. Windows XP BookIf you want a good book on using Windows XP that you can really learn from, but that isn't too technical, take a look (no pun intended) at "Teach Yourself VISUALLY Windows XP". Quoting from the back cover:"Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer
instructions that show you how to do something—and
skip the long-winded explanations? If so,
then this book is for you. Open it up and
you'll find clear, step-by-step screen shots
that show you how to tackle scores of Windows
XP tasks..." Windows mythsNot all conventional wisdom about tweaking Windows performance is correct. |
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| "Save early, save often." -- ancient computing adage |
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