So we heard about one way to get a slow computer up and running but it involved making the jump to Linux. Now lets say for arguments sake you can’t go the way of el di pablo and Push Ubuntu on your Woman?
This will create a decent machine for you or your significant other to browse the web and work on office documents. Who would have thought Windows XP was so bloated!
Step One Install Windows Xp on your machine as a CLEAN install. Don’t install OFFICE!
Step two Goto my computer properties, Advanced >>> Performance >>> Visual effects and turn off effects
Step Three Open up services and run through them disabling the ones on the following list
- Alerter
- Application Layer Gateway Service
(Internet Connection Sharing and the Internet Connection Firewall) - Automatic Updates
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Uses idle network bandwidth to transfer data. (For windows updates) - ClipBook
- Computer Browser If you are on a network with other computers, and need to see them, this may be a useful tool. Otherwise, disable it.
- Cryptographic Services
- Distributed Transaction Coordinator
- Error Reporting Service
- Help and Support
- Human Interface Device Access
- Indexing Service
- Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion prevention services for a home or small office network. We do all of this via our router. - Messenger
- Net Logon (only used in a domain)
- NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
- Remote Registry
- System Restore Service (This one i will leave up to you)
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
- Telephony (If you use a modem to connect to the internet, leave it enabled.)
- Telnet
- Terminal Services (unless you will need to remotely connect to this machine – doubtful)
- Themes
- Uninterruptible Power Supply
- Upload Manager
- Windows Time
- Workstation
Download OpenOffice or any other variation just because MS Office is a memory hog! Use FoxIt instead of Adobe PDF reader… Thats it you should have a tight little system now. If you can bump the memory up – Do it! Old memory is cheap on eBay or you might be able to find it on Crucial.com!
After turning off the suggested services you will not be able to use Windows Updates unless you turn back on on:
- Automatic Updates
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service
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Touche!
That is a great article! My only concern would be security. Of course, security isn’t a concern of my wife’s nor that of average users…
Bauer-Power
security? not a concern in this scenario – its a coffee shop machine period. it doesn’t log into my secure home network and I tell her don’t do secure transactions over it and if necessary terminal into the house using a vpn.
i wouldn’t even install av. just dont make her an admin and make the admin password a really long phrase.
and fyi i got a 600mhz 128mb laptop running a ok with this method. i couldnt give up my ol dell latitude ls!
I had to repost this one brutha!
I had to repost this one brutha!
Nice windows Snell logo
Nice windows Snell logo
Note: If a service is "started" & you're not too sure, set it to Manual first. Then check back in a few days. If it has not started in that time, then it is not being used & you can confidently (please note I didn't say safely) set it to Disabled.
Great one Rodney any other tips you want to share with our readers? We are all ears for original tips and tricks!
I usually do not comment on blog posts but I found this quite interesting, so here goes. Thanks! Regards, P.
It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place
Thank you for your help!
Hey very nice blog!! Will add to feed reader :-)
Care to exchange link with me? hit me back if you’re interested, thanks.
Great Site.Thank for suggesion.
You you should edit the page title How can i get windows xp to run on an older computer – smoothly | Ask The Admin to more better for your blog post you write. I enjoyed the the writing withal.