Tweaks

I found Optimize XP when I was looking for a way to disable the windows startup sound. As directed, I went to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "Sounds and Audio Devices", selected the "Sounds" tab, under "Sound Scheme" selected "No Sounds".

I also followed their instructions to improve Windows XP performance, which included going "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "System", "Advanced" tab, and in the "Performance" section selecting "Settings". I left only the following checked:

• Show shadows under menus
• Show shadows under mouse pointer
• Show translucent selection rectangle
• Use drop shadows for icons labels on the desktop
• Use visual styles on windows and buttons

I've got to say it does change the look of things a little.

I also uninstalled "Indexing Service" and "MSN Explorer" by going to "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel", "Add or Remove Programs", selecting "Add/Remove Windows Components", and unchecking them both. Unintsalling "Indexing Service" took a long time.

I also downloaded, installed, and ran Autoruns, XP-Antispy, Cacheman, TweakUI (which is found on the start menu after installation instead of on the control panel), Shoot The Messenger, and Unplug n' Pray.

Finally, I followed the instructions to "Go to Start, Run, type "services.msc" and press enter" and disabled all of the following:

• Alerter
• Disable Distributed Link Tracking Client
• Disable Help and Support
• Disable Indexing Service
• Disable IPSEC Services
• Disable Portable Media Serial Number
• Disable Remote Registry Service
• Disable Secondary Logon
• Disable Upload Manager

and to set all of the following to automatic:

• Automatic Updates
• Automatic Background Intelligent Transfer Service
• Automatic Com+ Event System
• Automatic Cryptographic Services
• Automatic DCOM Server Process Launcher
• Automatic DHCP Client
• Automatic DNS Client
• Automatic Event Log
• Automatic Logical Disk Manager
• Automatic Network Connections
• Automatic Plug and Play
• Automatic Print Spooler
• Automatic Protected Storage
• Automatic Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
  
• Automatic Security Accounts Manager
• Automatic Security Center
• Automatic Shell Hardware Detection
• Automatic System Event Notification
• Automatic System Restore Service
• Automatic Themes
• Automatic Windows Audio
• Automatic Windows Management Instrumentation

Let's see if this messes anything up.

Update

I also defragmented my disk. By disabling "Help and Support" I find that I can no longer access "system information" (or get help, as a matter of fact), and when I tried to check the disk, I get the message "The disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some Windows files on the disk..." Restarting the computer is no help, but this works:

Start-Run

Type in ChkDsk /r /f

Click OK

When it asks you if you want to run ChkDsk the next time you reboot, say YES.

Reboot.

ChkDsk should execute during the reboot.

Note: Be sure to leave a space before /r and /f.

(Thank you siliconman01)