Is it a good idea to create a separate windows xp account for gaming? i.e. disabling all the programs, antivirus, background, etc. Does it improve the performance? When you switch accounts inside windows will it terminate all the running programs or is it still running in the background. Sometimes if I have two accounts and I want to shut my computer down it says that other users have open documents and information will be lost if you shut down. Thanks for the input

It's not a bad idea if you have <2ghz processor and <256k of ram. Or if you have many startup programs and taking alot of ram. Depending on your system configuratio, shutting things down may increase performance. With a >2.5ghz processors and >512k you should be fine running ativirus protection. Just don't scan while you play

Switching users does leave applications running in the background and takes a lot of ram depending on what the second account has open. Logging off other account would benefit you if you have 512k or less ram.

I guess the right way is to log off and not switch users?
well I have a 9100 with mr9800 and 512mb ram. My question is whether I will get extra FPS in Doom3 and HL2 if I log off and log onto an account with nothing except the game and maybe FANGUI set up. Usually I have office, ps, adobe pro and several other programs installed +antivirus, cd burning progs, etc.

what you really want to do is create another *hardware profile* (search it) then you disable alot of crap (programs, anti-virus, and network card). it doesn't improve preformance alot (30~ 03marks for me) but i dont have a lot running normally. if you have a ton of crap running in the bg normally then it will improve preformance a lot. problem is you have to restart your comp to get into it. but its better than another user profile.

but if your going to disable your anti-virus in that profile then i would suggest disbaling your network card, and then you can disbale all the internet realated stuff too. you don't want to leave your comp vulnerible when you turn you A-V off.... no network no hacker/virus/anything, only crap you need to worry about it what is already on your system (so scan first!).