Top 15 or so ; ) tips to improve performance
Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?
Delete programs you never use
Limit how many programs load at startup
Defragment your hard drive
Clean up your hard disk
Run fewer programs at the same time
Turn off visual effects
Try restarting if there's a problem
Add more memory
Check for viruses and spyware
Check your computer’s speed
Disable services you don’t need
Check for updates from the manufacturer
Don’t settle for slow
...
For full article see :
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/83ec0ffe-ee04-4d53-8b87-25d1f05c954e1033.mspx