Keeping Windows clean: performance and stabilty

[ShawnD1]

Windows XP is starting to crash lots to indicate that it needs it's semi-yearly format and reinstall. I'm considering doing a dual boot between Linux and Windows where Windows would just be used for games and redundancies, and Linux would be used for everything else.
I have always used Windows for everything so I'm not sure if the slowdowns and crashing are caused by cronic exposure to spyware and garbage programs that cannot be completely removed, or because Windows just breaks down over time with little or no reason.

Will keeping Windows relatively clean affect the speed and stability of Windows? If not, my whole plan is shot because I'll have to reinstall Windows in 6 months. As you know, installing Windows writes over lilo (the thing that loads linux). I'm not quite sure if I'll be able to fix that problem in 6 months since I'll be attending classes at that time. I can't afford to have my computer not working when assignments are expected to be done on computer.

[Greymon]

Will keeping Windows relatively clean affect the speed and stability of Windows?

I say yes. We have computers at work that has been running Windows for 4 years without any reinstalls. But we don't install or uninstall anything.

[ooops]

Run a couple of registry cleaners.

My system is just as fast as it was when I originally installed XP 1 1/2 years ago.


http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4134.html


For starters

to keep my machine clean and going

i run system mechanic
RegSupreme
adware
sysbot (i dont have alot of problems with spyware because i use opera)
Diskkeeper runs every night between 4 am and 7 am