Besides deleting cookies ??

Defragment your hard drive. For Windows XP, go to the "control panel", switch to category view then click "performance and maintenance". Then click "rearrange items on your hard disk to make programs run faster" then click "defragment" at the bottom.

You can also get Registry Mechanic Your computer has a registry of files. This cleans it up and gets rid of program files uninstalled, deleted files, sometimes even viruses. The purpose of the registry is to tell the computer what to do in a way. The program gets rid of unneeded registry keys. It also lets you know if changes have been made to your registry by software programs, possibly viruses and spyware, etc. It's not really a virus and spyware program but it gives you the heads up if changes are made. Many virus/spyware programs will remove these registry keys that are related to bug. It also has some of the same features that Jeremy mentioned above.

It could also be viruses and spyware slowing it down. Having a good virus and spyware program can help. Sometimes you can spot virus/spyware in the registry keys. Be very cautious if you do go into registry keys. You can look but making changes can cause problems.

Click on Start, Run, type in regedit.exe

Click on the +/- signs to open folders.

Click on HKeyLocalMachines, Software, Microsoft, Windows, Run.

The Run folder shows the keys that start up programs when you first turn on your computer like virus programs, Adobe, Itunes, etc. If you notice a key that says Run DLL with a C: file, it's probably a virus. You can also search the file name attached to the Run DLL and delete it. (Start, Search). Sometimes they are stubborn to remove. It depends on how good a bug it is. Sometimes you can remove the bug registry keys and sometimes you can't without a removal tool. If you want to do that, I might be able to help you out. If you do search the registry keys and find something suspicious, let me know. Registry Mechanic doesn't always catch these and bugs can hide in other areas of the keys too.

I also switched from IE to Firefox because I was having problems with bugs. My computer would slow down. I cleaned it up and switched over to FireFox. It took a little getting used to but I like it much better. I have WAY LESS problems with Firefox than IE.

Also I forgot to mention is if you switch to FireFox, don't import your favorites and addons from Internet Explorer. Yes, you will have to save all your favorites again but the favorites and addons may have bugs attached to them. Also don't have toolbars added to your browser. Many times they will leave loopholes for bugs to get in.

Also MalwareBytes is an excellent spyware program. It removed spyware that Norton 360 couldn't remove.

Besides cleaning up your PC, you could upgrade your RAM.

I read recently that computer RAM chips were listed by MSN as 1 of the 10 things to buy right now because 1) they are dirt cheap and 2) are going to go back up price-wise where they were. Apparently the world is flooded at the moment with computer RAM chips and the prices are well below normal market value.

I just got 4 GB for about $75.

there's always the solution of aggression:






[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/422856809_48e34cecec.jpg?v=0[/img]

Wouter,
you don't know how many times I've wanted to throw the mouse threw the comp. screen !!

Thanks people I'll email this post to myself then to my wife to fix.

Mine has been hanging terribly lately. I need to figure out what is causing it as it is starting to become a real problem for me.

Like Sheri, I purchased Registry Mechanic. It does help and also removes other annoyances like drivers for programs that didn't fully uninstall.

Also, adding more RAM is good, but you possibly avoid having to buy additional RAM by first looking to reduce the number of shortcuts on your desktop screen or icons contained on the bottom right of your toolbar. The whole reason these shortcuts fire up so easily is because they're part of your RAM, leaving less room for functions like Page Back/Forward to work optimally.