Get Windows Defender in XP

One of the new features of Windows Vista is the inclusion of Windows Defender, Microsoft’s anti-spyware security application that monitors files in realtime.  While not automatically included, Microsoft has made Windows Defender available to Windows XP users, as well.  The program’s abilities are limited to spyware/malware detection only, but offer an increased security shield when run alongside a full antivirus application like AVG Free (most anti-virus applications have lackluster spyware detection).

Download Windows Defender for Windows XP

Speed Up Windows XP

Windows Vista gets all the press for being a resource hog, but good old Windows XP has some excess bloat, too.  Here are a few tips for streamlining your Windows XP installation.

1.  Install Service Pack 3

Microsoft recently released Windows XP Service Pack 3, a roll-up of all their Windows updates since Service Pack 2 was released (mid-2004).  This updates brings  Windows XP fully up to date, and many users have claimed that it brought them up to a 15% increase in performance.  The amount of performance increase may vary from PC to PC, but at the very least your system will become less vulnerable to system errors and malicious attacks.

Download Windows XP Service Pack 3

2.  Turn off desktop effects

While not as flashy as Vista’s, Windows XP’s more subtle desktop effects and animations can cause a computer to run slower.  Here’s how to turn these effects off:

1. Right-click on an open area of the desktop and select Properties.
2. Under the Appearance tab, click the Effects button.
3. Uncheck the first four options.
4. Click OK.

3.  Schedule an automatic defrag

Over time, a fragmented file structure can slow Windows to a crawl.  Regularly defragmenting your Windows installation keeps it running smoothly.  You can use Windows’ built-in Task Scheduler to make Windows clean itself up.

1. In the Start menu, browse to Accessories>System Tools, and select Scheduled Tasks.
2. Double-click Add Scheduled Task.
3. At the first screen, click Next.
4. The Scheduled Task Wizard will display a list of applications.  Windows’ Disk Defragmenter is not on the list by default, so select Browse.
5. Browse to Windows>System32.
6. Select the “dfrg” file (do NOT select the “Defrag” file, it will not work), and click Open.
7. You can now set up a name for the task and set it to run on a schedule that will work for you.  I recommend setting it to run at least once a month.

4.  Reduce the number of programs that auto-start

Many programs will automatically start services in the background during Windows’ startup.  This can make your computer slow to boot-up, and reduce performance if those services continue running in the background.  Tidying up Windows’ start-up services is easy.

1. Click the Start menu and select Run.
2. Type in msconfig and click OK.
3. Select the Startup tab.
4. Look at the list of selected startup programs, and uncheck any unnecessary ones.  If you are unsure about any of them, leave them checked (you wouldn’t want to accidentally prevent your antivirus from starting).  Here are some examples of common startup items that can be safely deselected:

• Adobe Reader Speed-Launch
• Quicktime Task (QTTask)
• Microsoft Office (does not effect the program)
• DLA
• TKBell
• Jusched.exe
  

Processes you want to leave checked:

• ccapp (Norton/Symantec products)
• AVG
• Anything that starts with the letters MK (McAfee products)
• Acrotray (associated with the full version of Adobe Acrobat)
• Adobe Gamma (Photoshop)