Perform below steps to increase system performance in Windows XP

Step I - MSCONFIG:

Follow the steps given below to remove unnecessary startup programs :

1. Click Start, Run
2. Type MSCONFIG
3. Click OK
4. Click STARTUP tab
5. Uncheck all the programs except PS2, KBD, Igfxtray, Hkcmd and all entries starting with cc, like ccRegvfy and ccApp
NOTE : All the processes provided above may not available. Ignore them if they are not available.
6. Click "Apply" then click on "close"
7. Restart the computer.

After restarting the computer, If you see a message "System Configuration Utility You are using the selective startup for troubleshooting your system", check the option and click OK. This occurs if you are using the Selective startup option but not using the normal startup to reduce the number of startup programs.

Step II - Delete Temporary Files

1. Start -> Run "%temp%" (Without quotes)
2. Click OK
3. Delete all the files in the Temp Folder

Step III - Delete Cookies, Delete files, history in Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer Window
2. Click on Tools tab and select Internet options
3. Click on 'Delete Cookies' tab and click on OK
4. Click on 'Delete Files' and check the option 'Delete all offline content' and click on OK
5. Click on 'Clear History' and click Yes
6. Click Apply and click OK

Step IV - Run the "Disk CleanUp".

1. Close all open software applications including virus-scanning software.
2. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then Disk Cleanup
3. Select (C:), and click OK.
4. Wait for disk cleanup to calculate how much disk space it can save
5. Select the types of files that you want to delete.
6. Click OK. It may take a while for the Disk Cleanup utility to remove the files

Step V - Increase the size of virtual memory :

1. Click Start and then Control Panel
2. Double-click the System icon
3. Click on the Advanced tab
4. Click the Settings button under Performance option
5. Click Advanced tab
6. Click on the Change button under Virtual Memory
7. Now, in the box below, increase the number. This will increase the size of virtual memory (low=2 times of RAM, max= 4 Times of RAM)
8. Click on Set button. Click Okay your way out of it

Step VI - Uninstall Unnecessary Programs from Add/Remove Programs:

1. Start -> Control Panel
2. Click on option 'Switch to Classic view', which is located on the left top corner of the control panel window
3. Double click on Add/Remove Programs icon
4. Now remove unnecessary programs by clicking on Remove button near/under the program

Step VII - Registry:

1. Start -> Run "Regedit"
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control
3. "WaitToKillServiceTimeout"
4. Change the Value from 20000 to 200

Step VIII - Spy Subtract:

The issue could also be due to spyware files installed on the computer.

I suggest you to perform a spyware removal scan using the "Trend Micro Anti-Spyware Utility" which would remove all the Spyware installed in the computer.

You can download and install the 30 day trial version "Trend Micro Anti-Spyware Utility" from the web site given below:

http://www.trendmicro.com/download/product.asp?productid=62