How to speed up Windows XP boot time

Remove all "hidden" (ghost) devices in Device Manager. It seems that Windows boots slower when there is certain types of "hidden" devices, especially SCSI and RAID (possibly it is checking if the devices are present?). Tested.

• Click Start, Go to All Programs, go to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
• At a command prompt, type the following command , and then press ENTER:

  set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1

• Type the following command a command prompt, and then press ENTER:

  start devmgmt.msc

If you don't need .NET (any version)

Get rid of it. Some games need it, some programs need it - but if they do, then they are lazy coders.