Out of Commission

[arthrene]

My computer has been running very slowly lately and after a through virus check and defraging, I have decided to start from scratch. I'm going to completely wipe my computer and then do a reinstall.

Chances are, Mozilla won't be the first thing that I put back on when I start reloading applications, so I'll likely be offline for a couple of days. I will probably check my email on another computer. So if anyone needs me just send me a PM.

[Paint Your Wagon]

Consider downloading process explorer to see what is running for free
You can kill unwanted processes one by one

Process Explorer
Copyright © 1996-2007 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
 
Process Explorer is an advanced process management utility that picks up where Task Manager leaves off. It will show you detailed information about a process including its icon, command-line, full image path, memory statistics, user account, security attributes, and more. When you zoom in on a particular process you can list the DLLs it has loaded or the operating system resource handles it has open. A search capability enables you to track down a process that has a resource opened, such as a file, directory or Registry key, or to view the list of processes that have a DLL loaded.

[dharmaeye]

Consider downloading process explorer to see what is running for free
You can kill unwanted processes one by one

Process Explorer
Copyright © 1996-2007 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
 
Process Explorer is an advanced process management utility that picks up where Task Manager leaves off. It will show you detailed information about a process including its icon, command-line, full image path, memory statistics, user account, security attributes, and more. When you zoom in on a particular process you can list the DLLs it has loaded or the operating system resource handles it has open. A search capability enables you to track down a process that has a resource opened, such as a file, directory or Registry key, or to view the list of processes that have a DLL loaded.

Neat item. My system looks nice and clean.
Tanks

[arthrene]

Good news! My dad did some magic and we ended up not having to start from scratch!  We ended up removing a lot of the programs that I don't use and a couple of memory hogs.

We also learned that three years ago when my dad bought the computer for me (graduation gift), we were cheated by Dell. I have a receipt showing that my dad paid for 1 gig RAM memory and a 60 gig hard drive but we ended up with a 1/2 gig RAM memory and a 51(ish) gig hard drive. Not much we can do three years after the fact, but lessoned learned (pull apart your computer to have a look before you start having problems). I think I'm going to go buy some new RAM chips for it and get it up to 2 Gig.

[Paint Your Wagon]

I have two giga dual core intel and XP because I refused Vista
XP will use like half a giga just to turn itself around
So I see under most normal circumstances that you need like 1.5 giga just to run smoothly
When you upgrade your RAM you may consider upgrading the graphics card too . I got one with an independent half giga on board .

[scottishmoney]

I have a machine downstairs that still has W98 on it, that was/is the most stable Windblows system that Microsort ever came out with.  I am a strong proponent of sticking with software packages that are stable, and not over done.  Which explains why I have copies of old software like Image Composer that I am using some 10 years after the support on it expired.

[Paint Your Wagon]

To be honest : with four times the RAM of the win98SE I like the XP pro better ( but only cause I got 2 giga RAM and a NVidea geforce7600 with another half Giga ) Apart from my scanner it runs most of my old programs as well . The support on my iphotoplus4 expired like 12 years ago 
This is a laptop desktop replacing solution so it makes no noise whatsoever and has remote hotspot uplink . But since it has been raining for days now I do not need the remote