How to Strip a Windows XP Computer to the Essential Programs

1. Log in to your computer as an administrator. Click 'Start,' 'Control Panel' and then 'Add or Remove Programs.' Select 'Frequency of Use' from the 'Sort by' drop-down list.
2. Examine the programs you use only rarely. Select a program from the list and check the 'Last Used On' date to ensure that it's accurate. If you are sure you don't need the program, click 'Remove.' Go through the remainder of the programs marked 'Rarely' and 'Occasionally.' Continue removing the ones you don't plan to use again. Leave your Windows updates, device drivers, anti-virus or anti-spyware programs on the computer. Also leave your firewall program if you don't use Windows Firewall. Carefully examine entries marked 'Frequently' to ensure you don't need them before uninstalling them.
3. Click 'Add/Remove Windows Components.' Select a component and click 'Details' to see subcomponents. Programs you may have no use for might include games, fax services, Internet Explorer, management monitoring tools, MSN Explorer, other network and file print services, Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger. Uncheck the box beside each non-essential Windows XP component. Click 'Next' and then 'Finish.'
4. Click 'Start' and 'All Programs.' Check each program group to see if it has its own uninstall program at the bottom of the group menu. Uninstall unused programs that did not appear in the 'Add or Remove Programs' list. After uninstalling a program, right-click the shortcut or its group in 'All Programs,' then click 'Delete.' Also delete shortcuts and program groups for programs you rarely use. Deleting these shortcuts will not uninstall the corresponding programs. Continue deleting unused programs until 'All Programs' contains only the programs you use most often.
5. Restart your computer. Click 'Start' and 'My Computer.' Navigate to the 'Program Files' folder. Right-click leftover folders for uninstalled programs and click 'Delete.'