Mastertech

Many of the so called tweaks, tips and optimizations posted in this section either do absolutely nothing or worse REDUCE performance. Anyone claiming otherwise to the ones documented and sourced on XP Myths are either lying, have not tested them or do not know how to properly test them.

Any testing must be done on a clean, non-nlite, lawfully owned install of Windows XP from the original installation media. The system must be in proper working order and not overclocked. The only variable that should be changed is the one so called "tweak". All testing should be fully documented and reproduceable. You will NEVER find anyone who presents these Mythical Tweaks to provide this information. They simply copy and past the same bad information from around the internet and further spread misinformation.

Read more at XP Myths. All of the Myths are fully sourced and documented.

bakuryu

Yes, it's a very good article. I have seen it a long time ago. Only thing I have noticed is that moving the page file to the first partition in your HD (C drive) gives it a better performance, in case you don't have the OS installed in that drive.

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Mastertech

The paging file by default is on the first partition of the HD on any normal install of Windows XP. You should never install Windows away from the first partition for performance reasons anyway.

pixelpainter

Hmmmm I have xp on 2nd partition...and paging file both on same partition as OS and another on separate drive... will be putting Vista on 1st..works pretty good too.. and decent performance.

My understanding over the years.. is that Xp really likes to have a partition on it's install partition, this can be relatively small too... but it does very well with a partition on another drive, which is supposed to cause less paging and better performance, as it is not trying to page on same drive as OS.

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Mastertech

For optimal performance you should install Vista and XP to separate physical harddrives. Whatever OS is on the secondary partition on the primary drive will have reduced performance. XP wants the Paging file on the primary partition of the primary drive where Windows XP is usually installed, if for some odd reason Windows XP is installed to a secondary partition (not recommended) leave the paging file there or add or move it to a separate physical HD. Moving or adding a paging file on a separate physical harddisk can improve performance. This is not a Myth. The Myth states clearly about moving the paging file from the primary partition on the primary physical HD to a secondary partition on the primary physical HD. That will REDUCE performance. People confused the recommendation to move the paging file to a separate physical HD (most likely due to not understanding what this means and just looking at drive letters) with moving to a separate partition on the same physical drive.