1. Click Start / Settings / Control Panel
2. Click Performance and Maintenance
3. Click Administrative Tools
4. Double click Services
5. Scroll down and highlight "Messenger"
6. Right-click the highlighted line and choose Properties
7. Click the STOP button
8. Select Disable or Manual in the Startup Type scroll bar
9. Click OK...

Cleaning the Prefetch Directory
Windows XP has a new feature called Prefetch. This keeps a shortcut to recently used programs. However it can fill up with old and obsolete programs. To clean this periodically go to:

1. Star / Run / Prefetch
2. Press Ctrl-A to highlight all the files
3. Delete them

Repair Install
If XP is corrupted to the point where none of the previous solutions get it to boot, you can do a Repair Install that might work as well as keep the current settings. Make sure you have your valid Windows XP key. The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer If you are being prompted for the administrator's password, you need to choose the 2nd repair option, not the first.

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD
2. At the second R=Repair option, press the R key
3. This will start the repair
4. Press F8 for I Agree at the Licensing Agreement
5. Press R when the directory where Windows XP is installed is shown. Typically this is C:\WINDOWS
6. It will then check the C: drive and start copying files
7. It will automatically reboot when needed. Keep the CD in the drive.
8. You will then see the graphic part of the repair that is like during a normal install of XP (Collecting Information, Dynamic Update, Preparing Installation, Installing Windows, Finalizing Installation)
9. When prompted, click on the Next button
10. When prompted, enter your XP key
11. Normally you will want to keep the same Workgroup or Domain name
12. The computer will reboot
13. Then you will have the same screens as a normal XP Install
14. Activate if you want
15. Register if you want (but not necessary)
16. Finish
17. At this point you should be able to log in with any existing accounts.

Controlling the Desktop Cleanup Wizard
By default, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard will pop up every 60 days to cleanup your desktop.
To stop this:

1. Right click on the desktop
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Desktop tab
4. Click on the Customize Desktop button
5. Uncheck Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard

Clearing the Page File on Shutdown
Another way to set the computer to clear the pagefile without directly editing the registry is:

1. Click on the Start button
2. Go to the Control Panel
3. Administrative Tools
4. Local Security Policy
5. Local Policies
6. Click on Security Options
7. Right hand menu - right click on "Shutdown: Clear Virtual Memory Pagefile"
8. Select "Enable"
9. Reboot

Re-Installing Windows XP
If you need to reinstall Windows XP and want to keep all your current installed applications and settings:

1. Start Windows XP
2. Go to the location of your source files
3. Run WINNT32 /unattend

Speeding the Startup of Some CD Burner Programs
If you use programs other than the Windows XP CD Burner software, you might be able to increase the speed that it loads.

1. Go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
2. Double-click on IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
3. For the Startup Type, select Disabled
4. Click on the OK button and then close the Services window

Logging in as Administrator
If you want to log in as Administrator, but it is not show on the Welcome screen:

• Hold the Ctrl-Alt key and press Del twice
• This will bring up the normal login and you can log on as Administrator