The PC Utilities Guide to...

Windows XP Power Tools

If you're not planning to upgrade your OS just yet, why not take greater control of your existing one instead? We pick out the best free tools for tweaking the most popular Windows OS

The very thought of messing with the Windows registry sends shivers down many a spine, and with good reason too, because this is one place where groping blindly could prove fatal for your PC.

Unfortunately, this is also where Windows needs to be told exactly how to do things in order to get systems running optimally and individually customised to your requirements.

On the flip side, the notion that you need to be a fearless and foolhardy geek to deal with the innards of the operating system is a flawed one as well. For even if you're wary of tinkering with too many Windows options directly, there's a huge array of applications that can do the job for you.

Windows power tools come in various shapes and sizes, catering to different levels of users. Here we've collected together some applications that can make tweaking Windows XP a painless process, leaving you with a system running exactly the way you need and want it to.

Most of these programs have options to undo or restore settings, but it's imperative to make a backup before trying out a new application, just to be on the safe side.

— Payal Dhar. This article is an excerpt from a larger article in issue 110 of PC Utilities magazine. Each month PC Utilities magazine reviews scores of great new programs. Have you considered taking advantage of our no-risk subscription offer?

This page was last updated on 12 Jun 2009

# Name
1

Ashampoo PowerUp XP BUY PIC
Maximise the performance of your Windows machine

2

Fresh UI REVIEW PIC
Configure and optimise your entire system without needing to delve into the registry

3

Glary Utilities REVIEW PIC
A collection of powerful and easy-to-use system tools and utilities to tweak, speed up, maintain and protect your PC

4

Mz Ultimate Tweaker PIC
Tweak your system to improve its reaction times, reduce the likelihood of crashes and improve your Net connection speed

5

RegToy PIC
Tweak various elements of the Windows registry to customise and optimise your OS - requires the .NET Framework 2.0

6

Tweak N' Tune REVIEW PIC
Customise many hidden Windows settings, including elements of the Start menu, Windows Explorer and the tasar

7

TweakNow WinSecret Professional PIC
Easily edit registry data to control application settings, desktop preferences, Control Panel options and much more

8

Windows Powertools
Speed up your PC and take control of various settings