Boost Your IE8 browser (IE8 Only)

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DEXTiPS::IE8 for XP user.

•  Disable Automatic Configuration
•  Disable Add-On (Unwanted Addon)

1. Make sure under 'Show:', only 'Add-ons currently loaded' is selected.

2. Click the add-on on the right column, and click the Disable button at the bottom.

3. Disable All - except Shockwave Flash Object, Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper & Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper. 

4. Diagnose Connection Problems - Enable when needed.

• Use a HOSTS file (HostMan)

Best similar AdBlock Plus for Internet Explorer? HOSTSMAN file.

Unfortunately, the Hosts file method is not as straight forward as Adblock Plus.

For one, it blocks websites at a domain level. Next, removing an entry from the file requires you to go through some technical steps.

But once you get it working, you realize the speed benefits. Sites load faster. Here's how to install HostsMan, a free software that helps to manage the HOSTS file.

1. Go to http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman
2. Click HostsMan on the top
3. Under "Download (Installer version)" header, click a download link under "Download from:"
4. When your browser prompts you what to do with the ZIP file, click OPEN
5. There should be a single file named HostsMan_Setup.exe. Double click it to install the manager. 
   
6. Click Next in the following dialog boxes to install HostsMan
7. After installation, the following interface appears:(pic above)
   
8. Click on the button in the middle to download the latest filter list
9. On the box that appears, click Update. If HostsMan asks whether to update the Hosts file, click Update.
10. Once you are done, you can close HostsMan. HostsMan does not need to be running.

• Increase :: The Max Connection Per Server

1. Go to Start > Run
2. Enter "regedit" and hit ENTER
3. On the left, navigate to the following HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MAXCONNECTIONSPERSERVER folder by:
   1. Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then
   2. SOFTWARE, then
   3. Microsoft, then
   4. Internet Explorer, then
   5. MAIN, then
   6. FeatureControl, then
   7. FEATURE_MAXCONNECTIONSPERSERVER
4. FEATURE_MAXCONNECTIONSPERSERVER should be selected on the left column
5. Go to Edit > New > DWORD Value
6. A box should appear. Put the name as "iexplore.exe", without double quotes. Press Enter.
7. Double click the entry you just created, select Base as "Decimal" and type 10 under Value data
8. On the left, click on FEATURE_MAXCONNECTIONSPER1_0SERVER, which is just near to the one already selected
9. Go to Edit > New > DWORD Value
10. A box should appear. Put the name as "iexplore.exe", without double quotes. Press Enter.
11. Double click the entry you just created, select Base as "Decimal" and type 10 under Value data
12. Close Registry Editor
13. Restart your system and the changes should take effect.

• Increase the Half-Open Connection Limit (Patcher)

Half-Open Patch - For Windows VISTA / Windows XP (NOT required for Windows 7)
This patcher works for both 32 and 64 bit Vista and XP versions.

Set the new value to 100

1. Go to this site - http://half-open.com/download_en.htm
2. Download the EXE file in the link titled Half-open limit fix 4.1 (as of Feb 2010)
3. Open the folder where you saved the file and run the file you downloaded
4. Under 'New value', set it to 100 (if it is not already set)
   
5. Click 'Add to tcpip.sys'
6. Click OK.
7. Click OK again. Cancel any Windows warnings that may appear, it is part of Microsoft's way of ensuring its files are not tampered with (the utility tampers with them on purpose to change the limit).
8. Restart your computer.
9. If something is not working right (e.g. Internet access does not work anymore) and you want to undo the changes, run the software again and click "Restore original file".

NOTE: The patchers above are known to trigger anti-virus alerts. Ignore them. The alerts are triggered due to the patcher making changes to the way Windows works hence making the anti-virus software suspicious.

• Re-register actxprxy.dll (CMD)

1. It has been widely speculated in the web that running the following 'tweak' improves IE8 speed considerably. In actual fact, what it does is fix some holes left by installation processes.

2. Regardless, there is no bad side effects to this command. Close all IE8 browser windows. Go to Start > Run and enter the command

regsvr32 actxprxy.dll

and press Enter. You should get a 'DllRegisterServer in actxprxy.dll succeeded' message.

• Clear Temporary Files 
• Remove list of Restricted Sites

Some security software (such as Spybot - source) insert large lists of site addresses in Internet Explorer's Restricted Sites feature. This can slow down IE as it will need to verify the access permissions for every site it pulls data from.
WARNING: Following the tip below will clear all malicious site addresses inserted by your security software. With such entries, IE will restrict on what such sites can do IF you visit them. Without these entries, IE will treat these sites as normal sites. This does not mean that your computer is now more open to security vulnerabilities. As long as you keep Windows and Internet Explorer updated, you reduce the chances of getting compromised..
Personally, we would remove such lists as they can slow down the Internet Explorer browsing experience.
To clear such lists

1. Go to http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/restricted.htm
2. Download and save the DelDomains.inf file into your Desktop
3. Go to your Desktop, right-click the file and click Install.

DEXTiPS::IE8 for XP user::Good Luck!