Be Your Own XP Mechanic

Support for the most widely used operating system in the world will still be available for some time to come but there are signs that the Redmond-based, software giant is forging ahead deeper into an all .Net model, while scrapping the Win32 code altogether 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 today. The effect has turned many users into becoming their own tech supporters. The new XP mechanic must be crafty and resourceful to solve performance problems, security flaws, unstable environment and countless others.

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 none or little technical understanding of XP.

Like adjusting a carburetor to produce the right purr, XP requires up-front adjustments to get the OS to behave at optimal conditions. But before opening the hood, there are some basics steps that you must take.

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Follow these steps before tweaking the OS:

* Backup all your critical data into an external storage device.

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

* Make sure to have administrative access.

Optimizing storage and memory:

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

* 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. We recommend giving applications priority over system cache.

* 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 " and#91;HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorerand#93;. Lower the value of the Max Cached Icons.

* 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.

* Only have a single primary disk partition for XP. Creating a single hard drive partition for XP has been proven to be the fastest way to setup system storage.

Cleaning and avoiding corrupting the Registry:

* Take advantage of tools like RegCleaner and RegSupreme. These tools are fully functional during trial periods.

* Backup the Registry by simply saving copies every time software is installed. Start the RegEdit program from the Run command, open File, and export a copy of the entire registry. Make sure to keep the .REG file extension.

Knowing if you've been hacked:

* Never depend on antivirus software and personal firewalls to automatically protect an XP computer. Of course, most OS forensic tools are complex and require users to know some of the inner workings of OS system files. But not all is lost. If a user knows what to look for, even sophisticated Windows forensic tools can work quite well.

* For years now we have been using Process Explorer and highly recommend it. Process Explorer provides a listing of all processes running within an XP system, including showing all interdependencies for the processes. If a process is running, it doesn't escape Process Explorer.

* TPCView and FPort are simple tools to use that provide real time 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. If a process switches to another process, users will be able to see that something is wrong and is happening at the TCP/IP layer.

Becoming an XP mechanic doesn't require to get your hands dipped in grease all the time. 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 the tools and techniques aforementioned can help even the most non-technical user figure out tough problems in minutes. The trick is to learn what tools to use.