_____ _             _                                  _
 |_   _(_)_ __  ___  | |_ ___    ___ _ __   ___  ___  __| |_   _ _ __
   | | | | '_ \/ __| | __/ _ \  / __| '_ \ / _ \/ _ \/ _` | | | | '_ \
   | | | | |_) \__ \ | || (_) | \__ \ |_) |  __/  __/ (_| | |_| | |_) |
   |_| |_| .__/|___/  \__\___/  |___/ .__/ \___|\___|\__,_|\__,_| .__/
 __      |_|__           _          |_|       __  ______        |_|
 \ \      / (_)_ __   __| | _____      _____  \ \/ /  _ \
  \ \ /\ / /| | '_ \ / _` |/ _ \ \ /\ / / __|  \  /| |_) |
   \ V  V / | | | | | (_| | (_) \ V  V /\__ \  /  \|  __/
    \_/\_/  |_|_| |_|\__,_|\___/ \_/\_/ |___/ /_/\_\_|

   (Some of these steps may also apply to earlier versions as well)
   
   Last updated: 2022/05/18


Use the following to help speedup your old Windows XP machine; however,
some of these steps assume that you have all of the proper drivers
installed.

1. Defrag your computer once a week or every time you add/delete a bunch
   of files...

    Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Defrag
    
2. Remove software you never use

    Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs
    
3. Optimize your appearance settings

    Right-click desktop --> Properties --> Appearance
    
        Windows and Buttons: Windows Classic style
        
        Color Scheme: High Contrast Black, but only if you want a cheap
                      dark theme.
        
        Font Size: Normal
        
    Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> System
    
        Advanced Tab --> Performance Options
        
            Adjust for best performance
            
4. Speedup Windows Explorer (the file manager)

    My Computer --> Tools --> Folder Options...
    
        View Tab
        
            Uncheck "Automatically search for network folders and 
            printers"
            
            Click "Apply" and then "Ok"

5. Disable Indexing

    Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs
    
        Add/Remove Windows Components
        
            Uncheck "Indexing Services" and anything else you don't use
            
                Next --> Finish

6. Enable hardware acceleration

    Right-click desktop --> Properties
    
        Settings Tab --> Advanced
        
            Troubleshoot Tab --> slide "Hardware acceleration" to full
            
7. Consider lowering your display resolution

    Right-click desktop --> Properties
    
        Settings Tab --> move the Screen Resolution slider down and
                         lower the Color Quality to 16-bit; for older
                         W95 games and such, you can right-click an
                         EXE, go to Properties, and use the 
                         Compatibility Tab to have the system 
                         automatically adjust things for you.