As Windows XP is an “old” operating system, and you, from some reason don’t like to change it with its newer successors like Vista or Windows 7, but you still like to optimize it and speed it up, its time to shutdown your Windows XP visual items which waste system resources.

Here are the steps for doing that optimization of Windows XP:

1. Click the Start button
2. Select Control Panel
3. Double-click the System icon
4. Click the Advanced tab
5. In the Performance box click Settings
6. Leave only the following ticked:
   - 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
7. Finally, click Apply and OK.

Tags | Howto, Speed Up, Tips and Tricks, Windows XP