This article will deal specifically with optimising your computer for games on a 'Windows XP' system, but it can be useful for other resource intensive applications such as graphic programmes, music production programmes, video editing software, etc. and some of these functions are similar in Vista.

Firstly you should disable your virus programme and spy-ware scanners. Please remember to activate them again should you insert someone else's flash drive, browse the internet or connect to a local network.

Secondly you must kill any unnecessary background applications. Background applications are often displayed in the task-bar next to the time. However, not all applications that run in the background are displayed here.

To see them you must press 'Ctrl+Alt+Del'. The '+' means that you must press these keys simultaneously. The 'Task Manager' will pop up. Some versions of 'Windows XP Professional' will bring up the 'Windows Security' dialogue menu. Simply select 'task manager' from there.

In the 'task manager' you should select the 'processes' tab. (Tabs are the little rectangles just below the main menu - File; Options; View; etc.) A general rule of thumb is that you can disable anything except the ones that have the following descriptions under the 'user name' spacer:

System
NETWORK SERVICE
Local Service

Closing these will often cause undesired results such as crashing your computer. Don't worry too much though, you can experiment and close any processes you want. If the computer locks up, just reset. Closing processes will not cause any permanent damage to your system. Don't however kill any processes while there are programmes running in the foreground. This could cause you too loose any unsaved information in these programmes in the event that your system will become unstable. Also don't leave your computer hanging for an extended period of time. You could blow your power supply, your processor can burn out and your screen could get 'burnt'. (Possibly, just be careful and respect your computer, okay?)

The ones that are safe to kill will usually have your username next to them. Here are some known processes that are safe to kill:

Anything related to Winamp especially Winamp Agent
Anything related to Real Player especially the Real Player Agent
Anything to do with your removable devices (camera's, mp3 player, printers, etc.)
You can even kill the Sound Manager safely. Don't worry, you will still

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