Although nothing in the following steps is particularly risky, Windows XP is unpredictable enough to warrant a nod to Murphy's Law. So, before you do anything else, run a thorough virus check, then create a safe place to go back to using Windows XP's System Restore utility. (Right-click My Computer, then click Properties > System Restore.) For added protection, perform a full backup of your hard drive.

Using a stopwatch, you'll time how long your start-up takes before you make any changes. But it's not always obvious when the bootup sequence is complete, so first place a shortcut to the Notepad applet in the Windows Startup group as a point of reference: 

   1. Right-click the Start button and click Properties.
   2. On the Start Menu tab, click Classic Start Menu > Customize > Advanced.
   3. In the Start Menu folder, find the Notepad shortcut (in the Start Menu\Programs\Accessories folder) and drag it to the Startup folder under Programs.

Now, each time you boot up, Windows will open a Notepad window on the desktop. If you time how long it takes for the window to appear before and after tweaks are made, you'll know if you've accomplished anything. You can always remove the shortcut once you've completed your before-and-after timing comparison.

Exit Windows, then power off your machine. Wait a few seconds, turn the power back on again, and start timing. If the start-up sequence pauses for your username and password, stop the clock at the pause, then restart it after you've entered the information.

Tip

To keep an accurate account of your efforts, draw up a table in which you can record your bootup times. You can time different intervals, such as when the manufacturer splash screen appears or when the Desktop appears.