Windows XP maintaining performance levels

First and foremost, you need to gather data about system performance by running performance monitor and use this data to see what is going wrong. Users are users and will never satisfy with the current performance.
Also you need to look when and how the machine responds slowly. There amy be different issues like Windows itself and some hardware problems. To tweak performance and gain maximum output, you need system performance data. You can gather this using inbult system tools OR some third party softwares.

I agree. What are the specs on the machines? Are they all equal? When is this happening? Users often mention the computer is slow while on the internet surfing some site like CNN in which case it's CNN not you that has the issue. How many programs or applications are running at the same time? What types of applications are running? You can't run Autocad or 3D studio on an inferior machine and expect speed.  When was the last time the machines were degragged? What is the current drive space?


Scheduling Defrag
http://tweakhound.com/xp/tasks/sch_defrag.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/tips/gehrke1.mspx

Save the code below as a batch file to delete temp folders.

@ECHO OFF 
SET SRC1=C:\Documents and Settings
SET SRC2=Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
SET SRC3=Local Settings\History
SET SRC4=Local Settings\Temp
SET SRC5=Recent
echo About to delete files from Internet Explorer "Temporary Internet files"
FOR /D %%X IN ("%SRC1%\*") DO FOR /D %%Y IN ("%%X\%SRC2%\*.*") DO RMDIR /S /Q "%%Y"
echo About to delete files from Internet Explorer "History"
FOR /D %%X IN ("%SRC1%\*") DO FOR /D %%Y IN ("%%X\%SRC3%\*.*") DO RMDIR /S /Q "%%Y"
FOR /D %%X IN ("%SRC1%\*") DO FOR  %%Y IN ("%%X\%SRC3%\*.*") DO DEL /F /S /Q "%%Y"
echo About to delete files from "Local settings\temp"
FOR /D %%X IN ("%SRC1%\*") DO FOR /D %%Y IN ("%%X\%SRC4%\*.*") DO RMDIR  /S /Q "%%Y"
FOR /D %%X IN ("%SRC1%\*") DO FOR  %%Y IN ("%%X\%SRC4%\*.*") DO DEL /F /S /Q "%%Y"
echo About to delete files from "Recent" i.e. what appears in Start/Documents/My Documents
FOR /D %%X IN ("%SRC1%\*") DO FOR  %%Y IN ("%%X\%SRC5%\*.lnk") DO DEL /F /S /Q "%%Y"
echo About to delete files from "Windows\Temp"
cd /d %SystemRoot%\temp
del /F /Q *.*
@echo Y|RD /S ""
exit

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chaz21--Frequent maintenance is needed to keep a PC running well.

1) Scan the PC for viruses, spyware, etc.  (Be sure to use programs with updated reference definition files.)  Delete whatever these programs recommend.  And if you did find such malware, you should also probably install and run HiJackThis.  It may find bits and pieces which were left behind
http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html
2) Disk Cleanup. There are several ways to reach it. One is Start|All Programs|Accessories|System Tools|DiskCleanUp. That will start a scan of the PC to tell you what files might be deleted or compressed. (The scan takes a while.)  I would certainly delete Temporary Internet Files, Temp files, Downloaded Program Files and probably Compress Old Files. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312 for details.
3) ErrorChecking. (left click on MyComputer||right click on C:\ drive icon (assuming that is your hard drive)|Tools|Error Checking. Check the box "Automatically fix file system errors". Click Start (within the error checking window). You will be told to reboot. Do so. Error checking will then run as part of the reboot. It can take a while.
4) Start|Run|type MSCONFIG|OK|Startup tab.  WinXP actually needs very few thirdparty programs (the ones you see in msconfig) to run at start. Antivirus, Firewall, Antispyware, programs associated with wireless connections such as mouse, network, etc. would be among the few.  Uncheck the box to the left of any program you feel you do not need at startup.  Click Apply.  This site will help you make decisions what you do and do not need http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
5) Disk Defragmenter. ((left click on MyComputer||right click on C:\ drive icon (again assuming that is your hard drive)|Tools|Disk Defragmenter|Defrag Now click Analyze) Unless the analysis shows defragmentation is not needed, proceed to run Defragment. That also takes a while.

first and foremost, thanks to everyone for the input.  i do fully understand that there are many variables to consider in regards to a system being "slow."  i should have been more clear when stating my question. what i'm really looking for is what kinds of "preventive maintenance" do other system administrators put in place to try and keep the system running smoothly.  even more specifically, do you script any builin system tools like disk cleanup, disk defrag, etc to run on an automated schedule ?  what other steps can be taken to provide end users with a clean and efficient opertating system ?  

As a system admin, it depends on your environment and company need. If company want to put restrictions on users, then it is obvious that you need to apply those on users. Secondly, for small environment it is somewhat easy to visit client machine or run a scheduled task. But in larger environment, we need a third party software OR even Windows software to automate things and manage Systems. As said, defragmentation is necessary when large amount of data is moved or transfer is happening. You also need to update your machines, schedule a scan to run, schedule a backup. If you use third party software, then you can gather system health status.

thanks for the input !