Slow running 'puter

don't know where to post this. I am relatively certain its not a malware problem as I have done the read run me post and have found nothing. Spyware programs have only detected cookies.

Have deleted any unnecessary files via add/remove programs. Have dumped Mcafee as suggested by chaslang in malware forum. Installed and use AVG now. Have cleaned out the registery with ccleaner (although I know this won't speed up computer).

Still husband complains about programs taking too long to start up. I have clicked on program and have county to 90 before it actually appeared and was ready to use. Internet also seems to be taking a while to load pages but I have comcast cable.

Computer Stats:
HP Pavilion 87866C
Pentium III
901 MHz
256 RAM
Running Windows XP home SP2

Programs Installed:
ABBYY Reader
Adobe
AI Roboform
ArcSoft Software Suite
AVG 7.5
CCleaner
IObit SmartDefrag
Its Deductable Express
Java SE Runtime 6
Lexmark
Office Professional 2003
Mozilla Firefox
Nikon Message Center
NTI CD Maker
Panda Active Scan
Picture Project
Quicken 2005
Quick Time (I don't even know what this does. I thought I had deleted it once)
Simple Sudoku
Spybot SD
Several TurboTaxes (don't know if I can just get rid of these for previous years)

The only things I have running at startup are the system, the printer, my avg, IObit, and windows messenger (which I can't figure out how to stop that little guy).

Question now is should it be taking that long to load programs. If its normal, I can tell hubby to quit whining if not I will fix it!

 

Thanks for that. I ran through that list and results are as follows:
1. viruses and Spyware not found
2. disk clean up performed, chkdsk performed nothing found, defrag performed (am currently running IObit smart defrag).
3. Microsoft update found no updates to install.
4. CCleaner already run found nothing to clean, registry cleanup done via CCleaner and found nothing to delete.
5. The only things starting up are ctfmon.exe, roboform, AVG, printer (is this a necessary startup item?) and smartdefrag.
6. I don't want to do system restore cleanup yet as I might need it.

I'm stumped as to why computer is so slow if anyone has any ideas...

 

Hit Ctrl Alt Del. Go to processes. See if any of them are using up too much of the cpu. If so, end the process and see if the computer speeds up. You do have a slow computer though. And also not much ram. 256 megs is nothing. I would recommend you upgrade. But I know that isn't always an option. If it isn't then I recommend you at least get some more ram. Not having enough ram will definately slow down your system!

 

Question regarding the ram. I know alot about the software end of things but as for hardware kinda newbie. coulda swore my mother said she had 512 in this. It started out at 128 and she said she bumped it and then decided to double that when she decided she wanted to upgrade to xp. So question is would it be hard to install more RAM and what do I need to know in order to do that. I don't know if I want to buy a whole system cause I'm contemplating a Mac purchase Thanking you in advance for your advice.