A good percentage of Windows XP PC owners have experienced a significant decrease in speed and performance in their PCs over the years.  This “lag” is caused by several factors and can be fixed with a few simple steps. In this article, you will learn how to fix speed and performance problems with Windows XP.

What causes computer lag?

When you have a PC for a few years that you use on a regular basis, it’s going to accumulate quite a few unneeded files as you add and delete programs from your PC.  This regular PC use has a significant effect on your hard drive, which needs regular cleaning and attention to keep your PC running smoothly.

Fragmentation of files in your hard drive, bloat caused by too many unneeded and useless files, and overall disorganization of files and keys in your hard drive slows your PC down and decreases performance significantly.

Quick tips to improve speed and performance:

Perform a Windows cleanup to increase speed and improve performance on your XP PC.  To do this, follow these simple steps:

1.    Disk Cleanup

•    Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that scans your hard drive for unneeded files.  It  allows you to review the categories of files that can be deleted or compressed and gives you the options (under the More Options tab) to remove unneeded programs and Windows components and to delete all but the most recent successful restore points.

2.    Disk Check/SFC Scan

•    Start > Run > “CHKDSK” &  Start > Run > “SFC /SCANNOW”

Disk Check is a Windows scan that runs through your hard drive and detects any errors, repairing those that it can.  SFC (System File Checking) is an XP scan that does the same to your system files.

3.    Disk Defragment

•    Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragment

Disk Defragment is a utility that defragments files on your hard drive, organizes files according to type and size, and compresses contiguous files together to remove spaces and gaps.  It’s highly suggested that you defragment your hard drive monthly to keep up on computer health.

Many people are opting for advanced software technology to fix problems with Windows.  It is always best to research your options first.  Many times, you can fix these problems on your own, but it is no guarantee that you will prevent future ones.

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