Tuning Windows XP Professional:

Access Performance Options:

Click:

Start / Control Panel / System / Advanced Tab in System Properties

Settings Button in Performance panel / Visual Effects Tab in Performance Options

Select Adjust for best performance

Click:

Advanced Tab in Performance Options / Programs in Process scheduling panel / Programs in the Memory usage panel / Change Button

Virtual Memory window:

Increase the size of paging file may help

Better still, place the paging file on a separate hard disk (not a separate partiion on the same hard disk).