If you think that your computer is not giving that kind of performance that it was giving about 6-months or a year back when it was new, then your system's performance has degraded. This does happens in course of time, with the softwares being installed & un-installed. If you are using Windows XP then this OS does contain some tools that might help you in restoring your computer's performance. Just before trying all, do take Backup of your data. At least for the Root directory.

Remove Unused Programs:
Now this is the most common tip that must be followed to make a good start. As soon as you decide that you wont be using that software anymore, go ahead and uninstall it from Control Panel –> Add/Remove Programs. These softwares when unused remains in your computer and lowers its performance. You might need to restart your computer in some cases, do restart and follow the same if you have any other unused programs.

Run Disk Cleanup:
Removing unused files like Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin and other files with the help of Disk cleanup. You can access it by going into My computer –> Local Drive Properties –> Disk Cleanup. Click this button and it will analyze your computer and show you that which all files can be deleted and how much space can be taken out from it. Click on OK and your files will be removed by the tool. You must run this cleanup at least once in a Month. Also If you are having multiple drives, do perform the same operation on others.

Defragment Your Drives:
Let's first see that what is fragmented files & Defragmented files. Fragmented files would be the one which we can say are scattered. As these files are saved & edited from time to time therefore they get saved onto different sectors of Hard Drive. This takes the computer more time to search for it and show the correct page.

This image will make things more clear.
Disk Defragmentation

Disk Defragmenter collects all the similar files and take them to a single place or sector in a drive, this makes computer in finding the files more easily and more Quickly.

Disk Defragmentation

You can run this tool once in six months, also depending on your usage. You can access this tool by going onto Start –> Programs –> Accessories –> System Tools –> Disk Defragmenter.

Remove Unused Network Connections:
If you have ever made a network with one or more than one computers then you must have realized that it is really easy to share data. Now the problem is that when Windows boots, it patiently waits for the other computer to respond on the network, if not then it keeps on waiting, making you irate, until it gets a proper answer from the other computer or till the time outs. This makes the system really slow specially during Boot process. Now to disable that, Right click on "My network places" and click "Disconnect Network Drive", it will show you all the drive to disconnect and you can choose from there, which are of no use.

Remove Startup Items:
When computer Boots, you would be able to see the some icons in the System Tray, these might look to you as shortcuts but they are like Burden on your computer as computer has to start each of these application and thus making it slower. These Startup items can be removed by a called "msconfig". Go to Run –> type msconfig and click Startup tab. In that tab click "Disable all" and the Restart you computer. Now this will make the booting of your computer real fast.

These were some tips to restore your computer's performance. Do try them & see the difference.

[VIA: Email]