Windows XP 100 tips tricks (13)

Modify Settings to Improve Performance
Windows XP uses processor time to handle system performance according to default settings, which can be adjusted for your computing needs. Also, settings that govern visual effects enhance the appearance of the Windows XP interface, but can slow down performance. You can fine-tune settings in Windows XP Professional to improve performance:
· Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
· Click the Advanced tab, and in the Performance area, click Settings.
· On the Visual Effects tab, click the Custom radio button, and then select which UI features to disable to improve performance.
· Click the Advanced tab, and in the Processor scheduling area, click the Background services radio button. Selecting this option means that background tasks that you want to run while you work, such as backup utilities or print jobs, will share processor time equally with programs.
You may need to be logged on as an Administrator to make these changes. Note that applying these settings may change your current desktop theme.

Roll Back to the Previous Version of a Driver
Have you ever installed a device driver that makes your system unstable? Well, in Windows XP you can roll back such a change if it causes you problems! To go back to the previous driver for a device:
· Click Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > Administrative Tools.
· Double-click Computer Management, and then click Device Manager in the left pane.
· Right-click the device for which you'd like to roll back the drivers, and then click Properties.
· On Driver tab of the Properties dialog box, click Roll Back Driver, and follow the wizard's instructions.
It's that simple, although you need to be an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure.

Create a Personal Screen Saver
For a great way to put your digital photos to work, try creating a slide show presentation for use as a screen saver.
· Right-click an empty spot on your desktop, and then click Properties.
· Click the Screen Saver tab.
· In the Screen saver list, click My Pictures Slideshow.
· Click Settings to make any adjustments, such as how often the pictures should change, what size they should be, and whether you'll use transition effects between pictures, and then click OK.
Now your screen saver is a random display of the pictures taken from your My Pictures
folder.

Disable Automatic Windows Update
Windows XP is configured out of the box to routinely scan for and download updates to Windows XP automatically. While this can be somewhat convenient for those with very fast Internet connections and those who would otherwise forget to check for updates, it can be a nuisance for the rest of us, who are still using 56k or, even worse 33k modem connections.
· Open the System icon in Control Panel (or right-click My Computer and select Properties), and choose the Automatic Updating tab.
· To check for updates manually, open Internet Explorer and select Windows Update from the Tools menu.

How to Perform Disk Error Checking in Windows XP
This article describes how to check the integrity of the hard disk drive in Windows XP. After you install Windows XP, the Scandisk command is not available.
· Double-click My Computer, and then right-click the hard disk drive that you want to check.
· Click Properties, and then click Tools.
· Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
· Click Start.

source:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/191328/Windows-Xp-100-Tips-Tricks