A short explanation of how your computer works: When the computer starts code (Software, Programs) is read into the memory of the computer, if there is too much code some of it stays on a special part of the hard drive. The Processor (CPU) runs this code as needed and stores most used data in a CPU memory cache called L1 and L2.  If the RAM memory fills up then the computer must place some of its intermediate and final work on the hard drive in a place called a swap file. The Hard drive is very slow compared to ram but that is changing a bit.

So the important thing to speed up your computer is to keep programs you don’t use from being loaded into your computers memory. This is why bloatware is a problem on new computers. Here is a link to good information from a good source http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5554402-1.html

To remove programs which want to load into memory on start up, right click on the start button, left click on Explore, this will take you to a list of items on your computer and opens the start folder first. The items in your start folder are “shortcuts” so deleting them will not delete your actual program. Just make sure you are in the “Start Menu”.

Consider using the “System Configuration Utility” which starts on the run command line (start>run) type in msconfig and click run.  Select the start-up tab and carefully select items which you know you do not want to start.  Generally your antivirus should be left in this list.

Services, the CNET article talks about disabling services which are also shown as processes. These are routines which run frequently or wait in the background for a trigger event. 

CCLEANER from Download.com

Article about computer recycling and E-waste in general.

New Link to scan for malware is Microsoft’s Safety Scanner
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