While new Pocket PC owners are usually excited with their purchase, their enthusiasm is often dampened once they run into stability and speed issues. This guide will walk you through several tips to keep your machine slick and well-oiled. As with any system or registry tweaks, always backup in case something does go amiss. Remember, we're not responsible for any loss of data.

1. Disable Windows menu animation

Switching off eye candies like animation keeps your handheld zippy. To do so, you'll need a registry editor like PHM RegEdit to modify the registry. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SYSTEMGWEMenu, then change the value of "AniType" from 6 (default) to 0. This disables the menu animation.

If doing this is a daunting task, an easy alternative is with RegKing. This nifty freeware lets you toggle the menu animation easily and offers other tweaks.

2. Increase display cache

Another tip to speed up the display is to increase the glyph cache value. However, this will take up more system memory. Launch your registry editor and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMGDIGLYPHCACHE. Change the value of "limit" from 8192 (default) to 16384 or even 32768.

If meddling the registry is unnerving for you, RegKing gets this done in a few taps.

3. Close not minimize

If you are unaware, when you tap on the close button, the program only minimizes. Hence, you may end up with a string of programs running on the background taking up valuable memory. Check out our wrapper on freeware task managers to better manage your device's resources.

If you don't mind spending a little, we recommend Spb Pocket Plus. In addition to task management, this feature-laden software adds a launcher, battery meter and other functions.

4. Remove unused programs

Although processor speed is important to system performance, the availability of memory plays an equally crucial role. When it comes to Pocket PC, the more free memory, the better. Programs consumes precious memory so uninstall those you don't require. Go to Start/Settings/System/Remove Programs to uninstall them.

5. Relocate big files to storage card

Instead of keeping space-intensive data on your main memory, move these files to your storage cards instead. A quick way to identify files hogging the space is via WIMR. Thereafter, using the built-in File Explorer, just cut and paste to move files off the main memory. Make sure these are data files rather than executables or you may break your programs.

6. Install programs onto external storage

If you need a host of software on your Pocket PC, there's no way all of them can be installed on your main memory. Whenever possible, choose to install programs onto a flash memory card or even non-volatile memory such as iPAQ File Store. This frees up main memory for running programs.

7. Remove redundant folders and files

Like your Windows desktop, the uninstall routine on the Pocket PC often does a bad job leaving orphaned folders and files. Manually remove them using File Explorer.

In addition, programs may accumulate redundant data over time. Rather than removing them manually, install SpeedClean, a free tool that deletes Temporary internet files, Cookies and the Temp folder with ease.

8. Clean up the registry

Over time your registry may be choked up with redundant entries. Hunt these down with Remover or Pocket Mechanic.

Want to save some dough and don't mind getting your hands dirty? Try manually removing them from the registry. Launch your registry editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREApps and HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARE. Delete entries of programs that have been uninstalled but still lurk in the registry. This won't do as good a job by Remover and Pocket Mechanic but should be suffice.

8. Overclocking

If having the fastest Pocket PC means the world to you, try overclocking it. Immiersoft's XCPUScalar or Pocket Hack Master

from Anton Tomov let you run your handheld at speeds higher than it's designed for. Beware though, there's a good chance your device may freeze or even hard-reset.

For more PocketPC tips and tricks along with the latest PDA software and freeware check the Mobiletopsoft.com web site

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