• Windows XP tweaks and add-ons give you more control over your operating system.computer image by Orlando Florin Rosu from Fotolia.com
  
  The Microsoft Windows XP operating system comes with some features and utilities directly from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, the default configuration limits the control you have over the visual aspects and utilities. For added functionality, install add-ons and tweaks so you can improve Windows XP on your computer.
  
  

CCleaner

• Created by Piriform, CCleaner gives you control to tweak certain aspects of Windows XP. CCleaner can make XP run faster and allow you to have less clutter in your Start menu. Use this program to remove processes from your Startup list. This will limit what programs activate when Windows XP starts up, lessening the tax on the system that some programs may have during this step.
  
  

Tweak UI

• Use Tweak UI, an official Microsoft Power Toy, to change various aspects of Windows XP, including the look of the user interface. Tweak UI also gives you the ability to change your mouse settings and to alter your taskbar. Tweak UI improves functionality and gives you more control of your operating system.
  
  

Virtual Desktop Manager

• Windows XP gives you only one virtual desktop by default. If you'd like to add up to three more separate desktop environments to switch between, download the Virtual Desktop Manager add-on, a Microsoft Power Toy. Choose and control each desktop environment directly from the Windows XP taskbar at the bottom, lower-hand side of the screen.
  
  

Alt-Tab Replacement

• Download and install another Microsoft Power Toy, the Alt-Tab Replacement add-on, to improve the alt-tab functions in your version of Windows XP. By default, using the alt-tab keyboard combination switches between available windows. With Alt-Tab Replacement, you can now see an icon and a preview page of each available window you can switch to when pressing this keyboard combination. This makes it easier if you have many different applications open at the same time.
  
  

Image Resizer

• Rather than opening a graphics program, such as Microsoft Paint or Adobe Photoshop, you can resize images directly from Explorer using the Microsoft Power Toy Image Resizer add-on. This small tweak will add an option to your right-click drop-down menu. When you right click on an image you want to change, choose "Image Resizer" and choose the size you want to change it to.