Automatically Optimize your Hard Drive Under Windows XP

Automatically Optimize your Hard Drive Under Windows XP

Everyone knows that a hard drive in bad shape will really slow down your computer. Usually, to optimize the way it works, people will use a defragmentation utility, but unfortunately, this process can be long and tedious. What most of you guys don’t know is that there is a way to do this when your xp box is idle. All you have to do is:

(Warning: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft or I cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.)

• Go to Start->Run, type regedit and press OK.


• Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE ’ SOFTWARE ’ Microsoft ’ Windows ’ CurrentVersion ’ OptimalLayout


• Now, under the OptimalLayout key, you should find a DWORD string named EnableAutoLayout. (If it’s not there, just create it, as seen in the picture below). Edit this DWORD value and change it to 1.


• Exit the registry editor, reboot and voila! You’re done!

Now, each time your computer will be idling, XP will start re-arranging files on your hard drive so that access-time to them will be minimal.