Your CPU is already working too hard at Boot time due to the background processes running at StartUp.
Consider "disabling" the following in MSCONFIG - StartUp(tab)
ATI Hotkey Utility ATI Technologies Inc. C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
Office XP speech Microsoft Corporation C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
SoundMax controls Analog Devices, Inc. C:\Programfiler\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe
avgas.exe Anti-Malware Development a.s. C:\Programfiler\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
MSN Messenger Microsoft Corporation C:\Programfiler\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
ATI Technologies Inc. C:\Programfiler\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.EXE
Anti-Malware Development a.s. C:\Programfiler\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
TeamSpeak Systems M:\Teamspeak2_RC2\TeamSpeak.exe
Comment:
Disabling doesn't remove the above processes from your machine, and they remain available for you to run manually.
Unless you very frequently adjust your Sound and ATI video settings, you will probably never use these processes after setting them up.
MSN messenger can be started manually when want to you use it.
TeamSpeak can be started manually when you want to use it.
The two AVG Anti-Malware processes will be activated when you manually click on it to scan. This is an excellent product (used to be Ewido), but it consumes a huge amount of system resources and can be disabled when not in use.
I'm afraid that I'm with PAWS when it comes to your Norton/Symantec utility.
Please notice that it shows 11 processes running active from StartUp. (not to mention the Services load)
AVG AntiVirus plus Zone Alarm Firewall will keep your machine protected with much less impact on CPU/RAM resources.
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You have fairly good Internet Upload and Download, but will benefit from making the recommended changes to your Receive Buffer. (follow the detailed instructions on that page of the Pit Test to adjust size to 64240.
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make the recommended change in IE browser cache size - set it at 80mb
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You are only getting 69% of expected performance from your RADEON X700 Series.
this "could" be caused by the above mentioned "background" processes, so make those changes and test again, before addressing the RADEON X700 Series specifically.
Then you can consider updating the RADEON X700 Series - Drivers from the manufacturer's website.
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Very Important: Window XP Pro SP2 requires alot of "elbow room" when functioning. You have your windows installed on a 4 gig partition. I'd generally recommend 10 gig, since other programs are sometimes "closely associated" with Windows.
For instance: Norton/Symantec embeds itself in the OS very closely.
Even if you "install Norton/Symantec or other applications like AVG/Ewido and Office, video editing type programs on a totally separate Drives; they will insist upon placing some of their files and activities into C:\
Conclusion: You will benefit from making your C:\ partition much larger, even at the expense of losing one of your other Drive letter designations.
For instance you could do without E\: if E:\ (you have it labled "RAM) is being used as your Paging/Swap File, then it makes no sense to have it as a separate Partition unless you have a "huge" hard drive. The best way to allocate Paging/Swap File is onto a physically separate 2nd hard drive.
Why? Because when an application "calls for" SwapFile space on the Hard Drive, it is also "running" from that same Hard Drive. Therefore the I/O read/write is "competing for transmission time on the same IDE ribbon channel. This slows down the already swapped/simulated RAM, and slows down the application itself, thereby defeating the purpose of even using SwapFile.
Placing the Paging/Swap File resources on your C:\ Drive may make them more readily available than having them on E:\ unless E:\ is a physically separate Hard Drive on separate (secondary IDE) ribbon.
Your Mileage may vary.
Best Regards
