Teach you a trick to get your Windows XP accelerated

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system has impressed a large number of computer users with an aesthetically pleasing interface, coupled with excellent overall performance (including significantly reduced startup and continued use, and rapid application response). Many users have upgraded their operating systems to Windows XP, and have had a personal experience of addiction. However, in the process of using, people realized that the interface is really beautiful, and the performance is not so satisfactory. What is the reason?

In fact, Microsoft has stated before Windows XP that Windows XP does not require the use of the most advanced processor, but at least 300 MHz, Pentium II or higher processor can have better performance. Performance; in terms of memory, 64MB is the minimum memory requirement for Windows XP, and 128MB is the minimum operating environment recommended by Windows XP. Of course, if there is more than 128MB of memory, it is definitely a good thing, but by contrast, increasing the memory from 64MB to 128M, and adding memory on the basis of 128MB, the performance gap can be seen is relatively small. And largely depends on the workload [mdash;— this is like looking for the "inflection point of the curve", the gain from the extra memory capacity after the inflection point will be relatively lower —— for most jobs In terms of load, the inflection point is between 64MB and 128MB. (Editor's note: Tests in the "Personal Computer" lab show that for most commercial applications, upgrading memory from 128MB to 256MB will bring significant performance improvements to Windows XP, but after more than 512MB, unless image processing is performed, Performance improvement is not obvious.) So users should first understand whether the hardware meets the above requirements before upgrading the operating system to Windows XP. Do not blindly start, otherwise the expected effect will not be achieved.

Under the premise that the hardware meets the basic conditions, you can also improve the operating efficiency of Windows XP from the following aspects.

New installations of Windows XP generally provide better performance than upgraded installations because they provide greater control over the location of files and file metadata on disk. That is to say, during the process of installing Windows XP, the code and data required for startup can be dynamically determined according to the configuration of the computer, and the storage location of these files on the disk can be optimized. When the computer boots, Windows XP can issue a large number of I/O requests that can be processed efficiently with higher throughput, and can find the best time to make these requests, and interleave these requests in the device detection and initialization phase. This is done by not increasing the overall startup time, which significantly reduces the time required for system startup. During a fresh installation, it usually takes three starts to complete the observation and optimization of this quick start.

Increase system partition capacity and switch to high-speed hard disk

According to Microsoft, Windows XP itself requires 1.5GB of hard disk space, plus the capacity of Office and other application software. The total capacity on the partition should be 4GB to 8GB (depending on the application software). Windows XP uses the same virtual memory technology as the previous version of Windows (see Figure 1). This technique refers to the division of a space on the system partition to compensate for the lack of physical memory when the computer is working. . This space is usually tens to hundreds of megabytes, users can also set the virtual memory file to other partitions (but it is recommended to use the system partition) or adjust the size of the disk space it occupies, but How it takes up a portion of the hard disk storage space, especially when using large application software and the physical memory capacity is relatively small, the virtual memory file capacity will be larger. Therefore, the system partition should be left with enough free space, which requires users to increase the capacity of the system partition when upgrading the operating system to Windows XP.

Make Hardware Settings

This issue includes the BIOS settings usually mentioned. For example, if HDD-0 is used as the first boot device, the DMA mode is enabled, the memory is allowed to self-test, and the floppy drive is not detected, these settings can speed up the startup and running speed of the computer to different extents. It will not be detailed. The special emphasis here is on the jumper selection problem of the optical drive —— this is especially important for computers that use two data transmission lines to connect the hard disk and the optical drive respectively. Today's popular hard disk and motherboard IDE interface support DMA100 transmission mode at the same time, so generally use 80-line data transmission line to connect the hard disk to the motherboard's Primary IDE interface. Most optical drives only support DMA33 or PIO transmission mode, so the optical drive is usually connected to the motherboard's Secondary IDE interface using a 40-wire data transmission line. The default setting of the jumper at the factory is the Slave, so it occupies the Secondary Slave interface, which makes the Secondary Master have no device, so the computer self-test and the operating system start up to take a long time to detect the Secondary Master device. And it doesn't get a response, it wastes a lot of time. Therefore, the jumper of the optical drive should be changed to the Master, so that it occupies the Secondary Master interface, and the Secondary Slave interface is empty, which can effectively shorten the system startup time by 10 to 15 seconds. This method has been tested by the author in all Microsoft operating systems.

Reasonable use of anti-virus software

There is a risk of virus infection on the Internet at any time. For the sake of prevention, many users have installed anti-virus software and enabled real-time virus monitoring program. Any data processed by the computer must be filtered by anti-virus software, which will have a serious impact on the system performance. Therefore, the real-time monitoring program should be turned off when there is no connection to the Internet or to exchange data with the removable disk.

The last thing to add is that after the computer has been running for a long time or a lot of new software has been installed, it is best to defragment the system disk. During the defragmentation process, the defragmenter can reorganize and optimize the location where the boot files are saved on the disk, and store the fragmented files and folders on the disk continuously, which can speed up the startup and read speed and improve the system. Operating efficiency.

Making Software Settings

Windows XP includes many automatic service functions in the operating system for the convenience of users, but these functions will affect other software when the computer speed is limited. The speed of running, the performance will feel that the computer is very slow. These automated service features include system restore, automatic update, time synchronization, and desktop cleanup.

● System Restore

System Restore is an automatic service function that has the greatest impact on system operation efficiency. It was born from Windows Me. It monitors the data changes of each partition on the disk and records them in the whole process of running the computer, so that the disk data can be restored to the previous state in the future, and by default, it takes up 12% of the space on each partition. To record the state of the disk, as long as this feature is turned on, even by adjusting the option, it takes up to 5% of the space of each partition. So if the system has been backed up by other methods (such as using Ghost), you can turn off this feature to improve the speed of the system.

● Automatic Updates

Automatic Update is to download patches and upgrades from the Microsoft website automatically when there is a network connection. It will occupy part of the Internet connection bandwidth (see Figure 2). ).

● Time Synchronization

Time synchronization is a feature that uses a network connection to keep up with the time server on the Internet. It runs every other week (see Figure 3).

● Desktop Cleaner

This program can selectively move some desktop icons that have not been used for a long time to the desktop. A shortcut created by the operating system is called "Unused Desktop Express". Save it in the folder of the way & it runs every 60 days (see Figure 4).

● IP assignment

Another important aspect of software setup is that if a network card is installed and the computer is not in the domain or domain and there is no DHCP server providing DHCP service, Be sure to force an IP address for the network card. Because the default option of TCP/IP is "automatically obtain the IP address", the system must be assigned an IP address by accessing the DHCP server when the system is started. If there is no DHCP server in the domain, the server will not get a response for a long time. Repeated retry, this process will last 5 to 10 seconds. As long as the IP address is forcibly assigned, whether it is right or wrong, the system startup will save this part of the time.