Manually Set the Performance of Windows XP

The settings of your Windows system determine how Windows assigns resources and how it manages the devices. It is useful to familiarize yourself with the System Tool of your Control Panel. Here, you can set different performance options controlling how programs use the memory of your computer and you can tell your computer where to locate some types of information. Controlling the memory allows you to set the size of paging files and environment variables.

Windows can assign tasks between processors and manage multiple applications on a single processor. You can also set your system to assign more of that processor time to an individual running program. To manually change the performance of a running program or multiple programs simply go to your Start Menu and select Run. Then type in sysdm.cpl in the Open box. Make sure the Advanced Tab is selected and then click Settings under Performance. Then click the new Advanced Tab and you will see 2 methods to choose from, Programs and Background Services.

The Programs option will assign more of the processor time to the running foreground application or program rather than the background programs. This causes the application running in the foreground to run more quickly, smoothly and efficiently. On the downside, it slows down the other applications you have running.

The Background Services option will return the processor time back to normal, allocating the time equally between all running programs.

These are very beneficial tools to grasp if you have one particular program that always seems to run slow because you can select the Programs option for that program while it’s running and it will speed up. Many people use the Programs option when working on a deadline due to the fact that it makes one program work much more quickly and makes it more likely to stay on your pace of workmanship. Once you are finished the foreground program you can go back to the Start -> Run drill to select the Background Services option and return the processor time back to normal anytime.