The current issues of PC Pro, an excellent magazine for those who are interested in the workings of their computers, contains a superb article on Windows XP maintenance.
As the magazine says:
“[…] the most comprehensive guide to XP since the operating system was first released. We show you how to fix it, tune it and defend it. But this is more than just an annual service or selection of the best tips and tricks. By following even some of the simple steps we have detailed, you will get an operating system that’s in better shape than when you first bought it. And let’s face it, with the added pressure of spyware, viruses, and the numerous applications you have installed on your system, this is not simply a nice little project to keep your operating system ticking over - it is an absolute necessity.”
One small annoyance for such a key text - viewing the article seems to require [free] registration…