This article was originally written to configure Asus' EEEPC, a low-cost mini-laptop illustrated in a previous article.
The following configurations, however, are applicable to all those old computers, PCs that have a RAM memory of less than 512 MB and with a hard disk with a capacity of less than 30 GB .
Saving space on disk C: following all the tips illustrated in the linked article .
On this computer it is essential to check the disk space and be careful not to overfill it as the solid disk size is 4 GB.
Optimize Windows XP (I recommend reading the linked article) being careful to:
- Programs and services that start at boot to speed up the Windows boot or boot process: check and accelerate the boot speed of Windows
- Never defragment.
- Disable the paging file.
- Turn off automatic updates.
- Disable automatic configuration restore.
- I recommend not to install or uninstall Microsoft FrameWork.
As for the programs to use, I recommend, first of all, to see the list of the best portable programs, that is, those that can be copied to a USB stick and that do not require installation.
Below, I recommend installing:
- Antivirus: Nod32 or Avast (see here)
- Antispyware: let's be satisfied with Spybot only (see here)
- WinRar for archives
- Cleartweak: To set the contrast of the characters if you use high video resolutions that are difficult to read.
- advanced ip scanner: To search for other Computers within the Wireless network eventually found (and maybe enter them if they are not protected ...).
- a program to mount virtual CDs and ISO images: To create a Virtual CD / DVD player that allows the EEEPC to read ISO formats and disk images (for example, to install Office without having an external CD player).
- Foobar as an alternative to WMP to play audio files and mp3s, very light!
- linuxliveusb: To format the USB sticks and make them bootable on the computer boot (if you want to install another operating system on a USB stick).
- Foxit Reader: As a PDF reader instead of Acrobat Reader, very light but equally functional.
- unlocker: to unlock and delete files that cannot be deleted
- winavi video capture: To record videos from the webcam and other video devices (in this regard, websites are also very useful for creating effects with your own WebCam.
- To create an image of Windows XP and copy it to DVD so that it is ready for restoration, read this article
For EEEPC only
To optimize Wireless reception and surf the internet, after activating it, go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> Network Cards -> Atheros Wireless -> Advanced -> Power Save Mode -> off
the Atheros driver does not allow to crack, that is to enter, in networks protected with WEP key, therefore Aircrack (or Winaircrack for Windows), unfortunately it does not work. (an article about it will be ready in a few days).
Use the automatically running processor overclock
Use the modified asray to have multiple video resolutions.
For Google Earth, in addition to limiting the use of the cache from the settings menu, you don't have to use OpenGL, use DirectX instead (unfortunately the Intel graphics card has some bugs with Google Earth's OpenGL and there isn't much to do)
The following configurations, however, are applicable to all those old computers, PCs that have a RAM memory of less than 512 MB and with a hard disk with a capacity of less than 30 GB .
Saving space on disk C: following all the tips illustrated in the linked article .
On this computer it is essential to check the disk space and be careful not to overfill it as the solid disk size is 4 GB.
Optimize Windows XP (I recommend reading the linked article) being careful to:
- Programs and services that start at boot to speed up the Windows boot or boot process: check and accelerate the boot speed of Windows
- Never defragment.
- Disable the paging file.
- Turn off automatic updates.
- Disable automatic configuration restore.
- I recommend not to install or uninstall Microsoft FrameWork.
As for the programs to use, I recommend, first of all, to see the list of the best portable programs, that is, those that can be copied to a USB stick and that do not require installation.
Below, I recommend installing:
- Antivirus: Nod32 or Avast (see here)
- Antispyware: let's be satisfied with Spybot only (see here)
- WinRar for archives
- Cleartweak: To set the contrast of the characters if you use high video resolutions that are difficult to read.
- advanced ip scanner: To search for other Computers within the Wireless network eventually found (and maybe enter them if they are not protected ...).
- a program to mount virtual CDs and ISO images: To create a Virtual CD / DVD player that allows the EEEPC to read ISO formats and disk images (for example, to install Office without having an external CD player).
- Foobar as an alternative to WMP to play audio files and mp3s, very light!
- linuxliveusb: To format the USB sticks and make them bootable on the computer boot (if you want to install another operating system on a USB stick).
- Foxit Reader: As a PDF reader instead of Acrobat Reader, very light but equally functional.
- unlocker: to unlock and delete files that cannot be deleted
- winavi video capture: To record videos from the webcam and other video devices (in this regard, websites are also very useful for creating effects with your own WebCam.
- To create an image of Windows XP and copy it to DVD so that it is ready for restoration, read this article
For EEEPC only
To optimize Wireless reception and surf the internet, after activating it, go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> Network Cards -> Atheros Wireless -> Advanced -> Power Save Mode -> off
the Atheros driver does not allow to crack, that is to enter, in networks protected with WEP key, therefore Aircrack (or Winaircrack for Windows), unfortunately it does not work. (an article about it will be ready in a few days).
Use the automatically running processor overclock
Use the modified asray to have multiple video resolutions.
For Google Earth, in addition to limiting the use of the cache from the settings menu, you don't have to use OpenGL, use DirectX instead (unfortunately the Intel graphics card has some bugs with Google Earth's OpenGL and there isn't much to do)
