What Slows Windows Down? The original topic is pinned, but locked.. Hm. (Can't look for the *correct* way to bypass teh friendly-URLs plugin, on the board, so this link will go dead as soon as anything changes; it's on top of this forum, however)
What (really 
) bugged me about it, is how the author did not use BootVis to determine the whole boot-thingy (process); which would be the correct tool, for Windows XP - iirc, it also features optimization (built-in).
- http://www.techrepublic.com/article/step-by-step-use-bootvis-to-improve-xp-boot-performance/
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821581
- http://tweakhound.com/xp/bootvis/
- http://blogs.technet.com/b/yongrhee/archive/2011/10/30/bootvis-on-windows-xp.aspx
(Tool had been removed, as the most useful application for Windows - standard Micro$oft practice, lolz)
Alright, so, apart from -possibly- using automated tools and such, the other, obvious, thing that needs to be done - is to disable start-up programs (Programs which start and load on boot). IDK if anyone else is using Windows XP and/or is interested in this topic and/or speeding up their XP systems.. but, THE tool to use is CCleaner (Piriform).
&& also, ONLY its Startup function:
.. An interesting, free, new, utility that I JUST found (& kinda, the reason 4 this topic) is @ Anvi Startup Booster (testing it ATM, hehe); check it out:
P.S.
Using other functions of this and other software (like Registry cleaners) IS inherently dangerous. Letting programs -randomly- manage and "clean" the Registry, and such, can lead to a host of problems; which is often undermined, until it's 2 late. =)
^^ Always try to use System Restore and/or back-up the Windows Registry before any-and-all changes!
How To Use System Restore in Windows XP @
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/system-restore-xp.htm