Microsoft may have given up on Windows XP, but that doesn't mean you have to.

While there's plenty of life in the old operating system, there's also a good chance XP may start looking long in the tooth to you. The good news is you don't have to live with an XP that feels sluggish or looks and acts outdated. In this article, we'll show you plenty of ways to spiff up XP -- and make it faster and more reliable -- without spending a penny. So come along and get your free DIY Windows XP upgrade.

Caution: Some of these tips require that you edit the Windows Registry, which can be tricky and dangerous for your system. If you're not sure how to make a DWORD value, for example, read our story "The tweaker's guide to the Windows Registry" first. And be very sure to read the instructions for backing up the Registry before you attempt any Registry edits whatsoever.

Ready? Let's give XP a little spit and polish.

Improve folder and file management

XP's Windows Explorer is one of the worst-designed folder and file managers you'll find anywhere. It makes it hard to perform even rudimentary tasks, such as moving and copying files and folders. Want to copy a file from one folder to another? Most of the time you're stuck having to open two separate Explorer windows, then dragging and dropping between them.

Ditch Windows Explorer altogether

Here's a simple solution: Get Q-Dir from SoftwareOK.com. This is the file manager that Microsoft should have created.

It has four windows, so you can easily copy files and folders among them. You can also define links for your favorite folders or network locations for easy navigation and copying.

The program also lets you assign different colors to different file types, so it's easy to distinguish one from another. And there are lots of other extras as well, such as a screen magnifier and the ability to control how many windows open at start-up -- from one to four.

Teach Windows Explorer new tricks

If you're not interested in a wholesale upgrade of Windows Explorer to Q-Dir, you can still teach Windows Explorer some nifty new tricks, all having to do with the context menu, which appears when you right-click a file or folder.