As your computer slows down over time, it is possible to make Windows XP faster by following the following tips in this article. These tips are not difficult, but they can help to dramatically increase your computer's performance and blow a fresh breath of air into your computer.

1. Be sure to apply all the Windows updates. Windows updates not only fix problems, they also help to increase the performance of Windows XP. If you haven't done so, be sure to use the Windows Automatic Updater tool to perform this task.

2. Clear up some hard disk space. If there is insufficient hard disk space, Windows will slow down a lot. Many people forget to keep track of their disk usage. If you can, transfer some of your files like music and photos onto an external hard disk. Also, uninstall any applications which you have installed previously but no longer need.

3. As a continuation of the second tip, be sure to also clear your internet browser's cache. When you surf the net, the browser stores files like images so that the next time you visit the web pages again, the loading speed is faster. But this often uses up a lot of disk space, so be sure to clear the cache from your internet browser from time to time.

4. Be sure to check your system for viruses and spyware. Install a good anti-virus software to scan and protect your system from viruses, and also an anti-spyware application to remove any spyware. Viruses and spyware take up valuable system resources and cause the computer to slow down.

5. Remove unnecessary startup programs. For some reason, many software like to place themselves into Windows startup list so they get started when Windows starts, and keeps running in the background as you use the computer, even though you're not using them. You can stop these programs from starting up when Windows does by clicking on the Start button, then on "Run", and entering "msconfig". Choose the Startup tab and uncheck those items that you don't require, and then restart the computer.

6. Check your registry. The Windows registry is at the core of Windows and any problems with the registry can cause errors or system performance issues. An optimized registry will allow Windows to run better and faster. You can optimize the registry by using a good registry cleaner software. A registry cleaner will optimize the registry and fix any errors found in the registry. Because the registry is a very crucial part of Windows, it is important to choose a good registry cleaner to help you with this task.