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Spring cleaning: 3 tips for a speedy XP and Vista!

June 6, 2008
Updated: April 14, 2022
Quick overview:

Summer is approaching and spring cleaning has left its mark: The home is clean again and the car is shiny! But the computer looks like...? Don't worry, Windows-Tweaks has 3 great tips to get your XP and Vista computer running smoothly and cleanly again! [By Sandro Villinger]

Tip 1: Defragment!

Windows_Vista-246

Over time, your hard disk becomes completely disorganized due to all the program installations (and uninstallations!), new files, moving and deleting files. After just a few weeks, the data is chaotically scattered all over the hard disk - experts call this phenomenon "fragmentation". Microsoft itself therefore offers the so-called "defragmentation" in XP and Vista. While the Vista version does a pretty good job, you can forget about the XP defragmentation right away. We recommend the TuneUp Utilities 2008 defragmentation in both cases:

  1. Installieren Sie die TuneUp Utilities 2008 (Downloadlinks gibt’s hier), falls Sie das noch nicht getan haben! Starten Sie jetzt das Programm per Doppelklick aufWindows_Vista-247
  2. Klicken Sie jetzt auf “TuneUp Drive Defrag”.Windows_Vista-248
  3. Setzen Sie jetzt ein Häkchen vor dem Laufwerks, das Sie defragmentieren möchten, wie etwaWindows_Vista-249

    Beachten Sie, dass die größte Leistungssteigerung erreicht wird, wenn Sie das Laufwerk defragmentieren, auf dem Windows und all Ihre Programme installiert sind. Häufig ist das “Laufwerk C:” (bei Vista mit einem Windows-Symbol versehen). Klicken Sie jetzt auf Windows_Vista-250, um die Defragmentierung zu starten! Der Vorgang kann, je nach Zustand Ihrer Festplatte, zwischen 30 Sekunden und einer Stunde (!) dauern. Am Ende klicken Sie auf Windows_Vista-251 !

 

Tip 2: Clean out the registry

Windows_Vista-252

In the registry database, Windows XP and Vista store information about all processes and programs on your computer: settings, file types, policies, driver information, program configurations and much more! This database often consists of hundreds of thousands of entries, so-called "keys" and "values". The more programs you install, the larger the database becomes! Since Windows accesses dozens of registry values with every click (!) in Windows, you should always ensure that your registry database is clean. TuneUp can also help here:

  1. Installieren und starten Sie TuneUp Utilities 2008, wie im ersten Tipp unter Schritt 1 beschrieben. Klicken Sie auf Windows_Vista-253 .
  2. Beenden Sie jetzt alle geöffneten Programme. Schließen Sie auch möglichst alle Programme, die im Infobereich der Taskleiste zu sehen sind:Windows_Vista-256

    To do this, right-click on the icons and select "Exit", "Exit" or "Close". Attention: Only close any firewalls and antivirus programs when you are not connected to the Internet!

  3. Nun, da möglichst viele Programme geschlossen sind, kann TuneUp die Registrierungs-Datenbank besser optimieren. Der Grund: Es greifen nun nicht mehr dutzende Programme auf die Datenbank zu und sperren TuneUp den Zugriff!
    Klicken Sie jetzt auf Windows_Vista-254 undWindows_Vista-255.Windows_Vista-257
  4. The screen goes dark and you may have to wait 1-2 minutes for the registry database optimization to complete.

 

Tip 3: End user accounts cleanly(XP)

When you restart XP, shut it down or simply log off, the registry database is often not closed properly. In the long run, this can lead to errors or prevent shutdown. Microsoft itself now offers the appropriate program:

  1. Öffnen Sie die Internetseite “User Profile Hive Cleanup” und laden Sie sich das Programm herunter. Klicken Sie im Anschluss doppelt aufWindows_Vista-258
  2. Bestätigen Sie nacheinander mit Windows_Vista-259 , Windows_Vista-260, Windows_Vista-259, Windows_Vista-259 und Windows_Vista-259! Im Anschluss klicken Sie auf Windows_Vista-261 ! Ab sofort ist ein Dienst installiert, der dafür sorgt, dass Ihre Benutzerkonten sauber abgemeldet werden!

Best regards,
Sandro Villinger

Founded Windows Tweaks as a teenager in 2001, his helpful PC tricks made it Germany's most visited Windows site (at the time Sandro looked like this). He then went on to write for international publications such as PC-Praxis, Computerbild, PCWorld in the USA, IMTEST.de and Hifi.de. Sandro's main job is as Global Product Marketing Lead and Consultant for various global tech companies, including Microsoft, AVG, Avast, Nero, TeamViewer, Swiss IT Security Group and now currently in the fintech sector for Gendigital. But he can't get rid of his passion and shares his tweaks here again. Privately, he enjoys traveling the world and loves Asia, especially Japan, Singapore and Korea, but also natural places like Iceland and the Nordics. You can reach Sandro via e-mail.
WinTweaks Editorial Team - Author - Microsoft PC Help
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