How to Clean up WinXP

software like

Ccleaner

cleans out hard drive and registry


spybot search and destroy.

remove spywares adwares etc


both are free and very effective

google them

Dont forget to defrag one in a while
 
Get yourself a copy of Acronis True Image and do a clean install including the major programs you need. Then save the image - you can restore this image later in 15 minutes.

Why? Because windows XP SP3 RC is out and your system will run faster with it! So its worth doing a clean install of SP2+ your software and saving the image and then adding SP3. In a few months the final SP3 will be available and you can save the SP3 version.
 
Quote from TSSOX:

Other than formating HDD's and reinstalling Win, what's the next best way to clean the pc?
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You can run "cleanup" and "repair" programs.. and they are usually effective to a degree.

However, XP still needs a fresh install periodically to clean up additional schmutz and to eliminate errors which Windows has accumulated.
 
Quote from kiwi_trader:

Get yourself a copy of Acronis True Image and do a clean install including the major programs you need. Then save the image - you can restore this image later in 15 minutes.

Why? Because windows XP SP3 RC is out and your system will run faster with it! So its worth doing a clean install of SP2+ your software and saving the image and then adding SP3. In a few months the final SP3 will be available and you can save the SP3 version.
More...

Ditto on Acronis.

If you can wait for SP3, it might be advisable to postpone doing a fresh OS install. I have a hunch that the "recommended" installation of SP3 will be "immediately after a fresh install of XP and before installing programs".

This may not be correct, but I'm going wait.
 
Linux Boot cd Formatting HD procedures:

* dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/hda

* dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda

* dd if=/dev/random of=/dev/hda && dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda (random takes longer than urandom)

For the paranoid idiot inside you..Execute all minimum 7x :)
 
Quote from gnome:

You can run "cleanup" and "repair" programs.. and they are usually effective to a degree.

However, XP still needs a fresh install periodically to clean up additional schmutz and to eliminate errors which Windows has accumulated.
More...

Did you say "schmutz"?

Ha! I love it.

Oh, and I agree that nothing beats an occasional clean install.
 
Quote from jhithers:

When you do a fresh install of XP, do you have to re-install all of your drivers?
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Of course.
And if you do a fresh install, I strongly recommend this software:
http://www.nliteos.com/
It lets you configure the install process in many ways.
 
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