Slow running/freezing computer

Over the past month or so I've had a problem with my computer and it slowing down. It starts up at a decent speed but I'd like to improve that if possible as well. After it starts up it runs fine...for awhile. Of course it starts to run slower with more programs running and using up all of the RAM but sometimes I'll close out of all the programs and then come back to my computer later in the day and it will be running slow. Eventually, it gets to the point where It doesn't respond. There are also times when I click "restart" or "shutdown" and I get no response so I have had to power off manually by pressing the power button many times. Note: I've never had the mouse cursor freeze up to the point where I was not getting any responses, but most of the time I can move the cursor and not click on anything. I'm willing to go through the steps you need me too. I have run virus scans with PCTools and things have come up clean. Thanks for reading and I hope you can be helpful!

 

I went to add/remove programs and I found a bunch of them on there that it said were used “rarely” but there was no remove/uninstall button for them. Most of these files had an icon to the left that looked like a computer with a little CD next to it. Also, there were a few programs that did have the remove/uninstall button available but I did not know if they were important for my computer or not. Some of them were Microsoft files that I was unfamiliar with so I didn’t know if I should delete them. There was also a file leftover from a previous fix I did with majorgeeks.com called Malwarebytes Anti-Malware that I was unsure about delete or not.

I’m having a hard time finding out what the startup items are and if I need them. I tried researching them but I think I need more personalized answers. Here are my startup programs that CCleaner listed:

Adobe Reader Speed Launcher
America Online 9.0 Tray Icon.lnk
Belkin Wireless Utility.lnk
Ctfmon.exe
Digital Line Detect.lnk
Dla
Dlbcserv.lnk
DMXLauncher
DVDLauncher
HotKeysCmds
HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk
HP Photosmart Premier Fast Start.lnk
HP Software Update
Igfxhkcmd
Igfxpers
IUSSPM Startup
ISUSScheduler
iTunesHelper
LVCOMSX
Microsoft Office.lnk
Mmtask
PCTAVApp
QuickBooks Update Agent.lnk
QuickTime Task
SoundMAXPnP
SunJavaUpdateSched
TkBellExe

Also, do I click “Disable” or “Delete” for the ones I don’t want at startup.

I stopped your previous instructions on this step and I’ll wait to hear back before I continue. I appreciate your attention on this matter. If you need to know anything else to help answer my questions then let me know.

 

well id click disable
first off do you use aol if not good idea to disable it

since you have digital line detect im asuming you have a laptop if so as long as your using wireless internet you can disable it

the SunJavaUpdateSched can be disabled for faster startup so long as you remember to maunualy check for and install updates for sun java

 

use this utility to manage your start-up's,(Logon,winlogon,sevices)
right click the programs/files for "search online",you'll see info links for those programs,
that will tell you what is or is not necessary at the start-up,then uncheck it
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

 

...

Greetings, Wolf...

It may help if you would post your machine specs, operating system, etc...

Most of the startup items you listed are worthless, either phone-home update alerters or quick launch helpers...all can be disabled easily through the msconfig Startup panel (click 'Start', 'Run' or 'Programs, Acessories, Run', type 'msconfig' (sans quotes), click 'OK', open the 'Startup' tab), and disable any or all of the entries, as none of them are needed for Windows to function properly...

Be advised: startups may not necessarily be the culprit here - if you're still experiencing slowdown problems, post your specs and symptoms and we may be able to spot if it's something else (malware, hardware, etc.)...

...

 

I actually don't have a laptop but I do have wireless internet sometimes. If I do disable this does that mean I will not be able to connect to an ethernet connection?

 

I have Windows XP, but i wasn't sure what other machine specs you were requesting. What exactly would be helpful information?