XP Problem Solving 101

The June 30 date came and went, and Microsoft has officially placed Windows XP on the long road to retirement.

Support for the most widely used operating system in the world will still be available for some time, but there are signs that the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant is forging ahead deeper into an all .Net model, while scrapping the Win32 code altogetherand#8212;even in legacy mode. Windows 7 might just be that turning point.

With the fundamental shift in the way its desktop OS functions, Microsoft has placed millions of users in a tough position. The new XP mechanic must be crafty and resourceful to solve performance problems, security flaws, unstable environments and countless other issues.

But not everyone is tech-savvy enough to solve arcane errors that pop up from time to time. With that in mind, the Test Center came up with a simple list of fixes, tools and automated techniques that can satisfy most users with little to no technical understanding of XP.

Prepare Yourself
Similar to adjusting a carburetor to produce the right purr, XP requires up-front adjustments to get the OS to behave at optimal conditions. But before looking under the XP "hood," follow these steps:

1. Back up all your critical data to an external storage device.

2. If working with a laptop, make sure the laptop has constant access to power.

3. Make sure to have administrative access.

Probably the simplest and most reliable way to optimize storage and improve OS performance is to buy Diskeeper 2008 Professional. But for those with tight budgets, free solutions can also go a long way.

Increasing RAM size is the easiest way to manage memory, but if that's too expensive or not an option, we recommend resizing the Windows System Cache and its Registry settings. Here's how:

1. Go to the Control Panel, click on System Properties, Advanced tab, Performance button, and the Advanced tab on the Performance option. In the Performance pane, users can increase the size of the virtual memory, and set up processor and memory usage priorities.

2. Controlling cached icons in memory is simple to change in XP. To change the system cache, go to Start, Run and type and run Regedit. Press F3 to find this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Lower the value of the Max Cached Icons.

3. To optimize memory, we recommend using Process Lasso. The tool is free, reliable and powerful. Process Lasso provides fine control over applications and services by allowing users to change running priorities and restrain memory usage.

4. Have only a single primary disk partition for XP. Creating a single hard drive partition for XP has been proven to be the fastest way to set up system storage.

Know Your System
Here are more tips on how to avoid corrupting the registry:

• * Take advantage of tools like RegCleaner and RegSupreme.
  * Back up the Registry by simply saving copies every time software is installed.

And lastly, here's how to know if you've been hacked:

• * Never depend on antivirus software and personal firewalls to automatically protect an XP computer. If a user knows what to look for, even sophisticated Windows forensic tools can work quite well.
  * For years now the Test Center has been using Process Explorer and we highly recommend it. Process Explorer provides a listing of all processes running within an XP system, including all interdependencies for the processes.
  * TPCView and FPort are simple tools to use that provide realtime information on all ports. If a hacker is attempting to enter through a port, FPort will show the pathway of the port access and map it to services in the OS.

Becoming an XP mechanic doesn't require getting your hands too dirty. Users just need to be proactive and be smart enough to use sophisticated tools without having to learn the complexities of XP. Luckily, most of what we've listed here can help even the most nontechnical user figure out tough problems in minutes.