| If you find Windows XP is running slow one of the | | | | The swap file is used to temporarily act as memory |
| biggest problems you will face is trying to find out what | | | | when the computer is very busy and if it is not big |
| is causing it. Some people get so fed up with having to | | | | enough the hard drive will go crazy trying to |
| keep calling out a technician they just go and buy a | | | | compensate for this by swapping data in and out of |
| new computer. This may seem drastic but having to | | | | real memory from the disk drive as fast as it can. |
| pay repair bills every few months can cost more than | | | | Here is how to fix this and stop your Windows XP |
| a new computer and in these difficult financial times | | | | computer slowing down.go to my computer on the |
| you need to save every penny you can. | | | | Windows stat menu then right click on it. The system |
| Here is how you can fix this problem by protecting the | | | | properties box will open. Click on the advanced tab the |
| files on your computer. | | | | go down to where it says performance. click on |
| #1 Backup everything on your computer that is | | | | settings. Then click on the advanced tab. Down the |
| important to you. Sometimes the errors or caused by | | | | bottom you will see something called virtual memory. |
| corrupt programs and files and the only solution is to | | | | This is swap memory. The size of this should be 1.5 |
| remove them. If you do not have a back up then you | | | | times the size of the memory on your computer. If you |
| will hesitate to reinstall anything and will have to live | | | | have 1GB of memory for example this should be |
| with your computer getting slower and slower. You | | | | 1.5GB. Go to the change button and in there you will |
| can simply copy important files, documents and | | | | see your disk drive and the size. Click on the custom |
| pictures to a USB drive, CD, or an external hard drive. | | | | size button and set the minimum and maximum size to |
| #2 If you are writing documents, saving pictures or | | | | 1.5GB and then press the set button. |
| saving other data do not make the mistake of saving it | | | | #4 Look after the Windows registry. People hear this |
| to the same file name. There is a very good reason | | | | so many times they do not pay any notice. The fact is |
| for this. The Windows registry will keep creating | | | | though if the Windows computer has serious errors or |
| entries with the same name but different version | | | | corruption your computer will suffer. Errors do occur |
| numbers and if corruption occurs in the registry the | | | | and Windows can work around minor ones. But as |
| first thing to suffer will be these files. You will start to | | | | more occur they can cause your computer to slow |
| see strange characters appearing in documents and | | | | down again and this is where people waste a lot of |
| files, images will not open or try to open under a | | | | money on technicians bills they can avoid. All you need |
| different name and Windows XP will run slow. | | | | to do is download a free registry scanner which will |
| #3 If you start noticing the disk activity light flashing | | | | find these errors. Usually there are hundreds and if you |
| away on your computer like there is no tomorrow and | | | | do not believe it download one and see. Many are |
| your PC is running slow this indicates a lack of disk | | | | minor some are major and some can stop Windows |
| space and an insufficient swap file size. Fixing this is | | | | working if left unfixed. |
| easy. First of all remove any software you do not | | | | Carrying out these steps can prevent Windows XP |
| need or use to increase disk space then run the disk | | | | from running slow and make it fast and error free |
| defragmenter program to organize all your files and | | | | without wasting all your money on technicians bills or a |
| programs properly. The next thing to do is to increase | | | | new computer. |
| the swap file size. | | | | |