I do think it is time for some maintenance/cleanup. With you being a beginner in that department I would recommend that you start by using the Windows Disk Cleanup utility.

First, check your Recycle Bin to make absolutely sure there is nothing in there that you want. Then click on START>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup. It will calculate all the space you will free up and report the information. Check all the options and select OK.

After the Disk Cleanup is completed, since you have never done it in five years in my opinion an Error-Checking would be in order.

Click START>Computer>Right click on the C:/ drive>Select Properties>Select the Tools tab>Select Error-checking>Select Check Now>Select both options>OK>Confirm allowing the activity to take place at next boot>Reboot system. (The appearance on the monitor will be blue or black screen and is 5-step so it will take a while. When the activity is completed the system will continue to boot normally.

Finally, a defrag is in order. Follow the steps in my first recommendation and select Disk Defragmenter>Select Defragment.

Did SAS report any detected concerns?

Just as an aside question do you have an up-to-date anti-virus and firewall?

DA

After damccoy advice run the program below and post a log as indicated.

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop. Click here
* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
 The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
The log can also be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

 Copy and Paste the entire report in your next reply.

As you proceed with Damccoy's recommendations then follow with Zep's suggestion just remember you can walk away for a while. As a novice you may get worried, do not be.

When you get to the defrag set it to run then leave the computer for at least an hour, maybe 2 if you have never done that task before. Same with Zep's Malwarebytes, once you update it and set it to run again leave the computer for at least an hour.

If you have had that computer for 5 years, you may want to consider doing a rebuild of your system. Since all you use it for is checking email and surfing the web, it shouldn't be that much of a project. Just make sure that you have copies of all the software that you want to install.

This is really a good idea if you are installing and uninstalling different programs because when you uninstall it there maybe some things left here or there and they add up over the months.

Also, if you are testing different programs you may want to try them out on a virtual machine instead. This will eliminate the issue of items left behind uninstalled software since when you delete the virtual machine everything on it is gone.

when you ran superantispyware what did it tell you about infections it found? and did you have it delete or quarantine the infections? that is the important question. malwarebytes is excellent also be sure you do as it says in zeps directions and update it before running and be sure you do run a full scan then when it shows the results you must select for it to Remove selected items.
Removing any infections would be top priority since they will affect how you are able to complete any other tasks on your pc, some cause those task to not be able to run at all.
So I would actually do these scan steps first for that reason.

You did not mention what other security programs you use, as DA mentioned, could you please let us know that, what antivirus program and also are you up to date on your windows updates?

Thanks everyone for your quick responses - trying to take it step by step and I've been brought to a halt. Got as far "check disk options - check off both options" which I did. Then I was told "disk check could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some windows files on that disk. These files can be accessed only by restarting Windows." I shut off the computer and started all over again and the same sentences reappeared. Your patience is appreciated. Thank you.

When you get that message, it's telling you that it needs to restart before it can finish. If you hit ok (or continue or whatever shows up) then restart the computer, it should run when it restarts.

Un-check those options you checked, reboot the computer, lets get back to a normal boot into Windows. The check disc utility may have a problem or something. Lets not get onto troubleshooting that program

Then do the malwarebytes thing..

After that we will run a cleaner called ATF, for now just to above.

follow up bpgreen advice.

check disc utility, sorry I'm unfamiliar with the tool.

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. On 1/18 I installed the anti-malware and there are 19 items in quarantine: rogue anti-spyware, adware my web, adware hotbar - which I'll delete. 67,395 fingerprints were loaded?? What is that?

Other stuff I have: e-z armour-computer associates, AFT cleaner for Windows XP - seems to be for temp files - never used but I think I have many, many temp files - saw the number somewhere a while ago but can't find it now. CA-Internet Security Suite - don't know what this is. Don't think I've ever used. CC Cleane think I remember I read somewhere this is supposed to be a good one - under tools, must be 100 items telling me to delete: many, many security updates for Internet Explorer, windows xp, BUM, hotfix for windows, on and on - afraid to use.

PC Care for Optimum on line - windows internet explorer, super anti-spyware - free edition, windows defender, ca personal firewal, windows firewall.

Two things I must say and you've all probaby heard this before - I'll find something on the computer (by acccident) that would be good to know - then can't remember the next day how I found it!! You'll get there someday (LOL)and also in the back of my mind I'm thinking it might be a good idea to take the computer somewhere - get it fixed and start anew. Oh and a third thing as you can probably see I have no confidence and I'm afraid to make a mistake and really get in a mess. Thank you.

Oceanbaby, understand your feelings completely, I too am always skeered to do something, but these fellas here are so great, and so patient, I sometimes am ashamed to come to them with problems. I do however, from time to time have a tech come in and check things over, sometimes he leaves me in the lurch as far as simple things are concerned, but the big stuff I leave to those in the know.
However, these helpful gentlemen on this forum are of great value, and can help you greatly, take it slowly, and copy what you need for referral if necessary. They are so understanding, and I am so pleased to have been able to stay a member of this forum.
Stay calm, and step by step, steady is the pace!
Shaddy

ok for firewall you only ever want to have one firewall enabled and running so if you have and use the CA personal firewall then you need to go to your security center in control panel and turn off your windows firewall.

Antivirus programs you can only have one of those active and running at one time and I think you mention 3, ez armour-computer associates,CA=Internet security suite which if it is a suite will normally have and antivirus as well as the firewall, and PC Care (not sure if this one is an antivirus?)
If you are using the CA Internet security suite and have their antivirus program active, running and getting daily updates for you and you have it set up to scan your pc weekly then you need to not be using any others they will conflict. So make a decision on what you are going to use and get that ONE going properly, updated and scanning.

Malwarebytes antimalware and superantispyware are 2 of the best anti malware programs available now so you do want to keep those, you want to always hit update on them prior to running the scans, let it get the updates, run full scan and let them clean what ever they find. Having more than one of this type of program (antispyware) is ok, and since you are manually doing the scanning they are not running full time. When it says it adds fingerprints that means things it has added to its data base to look for, the nasties in other words which is why you must update it each time so it can get all the new info on all the new nasties that come out daily.

ATF is an excellent program and yes you do need to use it, if you have more than one browser be sure you pay attention to do it for each.
Many here use CCleaner, it does much the same as ATF, just don't use the registry cleaner features on any programs you might have.

Windows Defender is software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software by detecting and removing known spyware from your computer. Windows Defender features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected. Do you have it set up and running??

It sounds like you may have some of these programs on your pc but you do not have them set up and running ???

and if as you said you did malwarebytes scan and it found the rougue antispyware infection, depending on exactly what name it gave, some of those can be pretty serious. So I would go ahead and run the malwareytes (update it) a few more times and be sure you select to remove all!!

Also I would go to this free online virus scan and run that right away as I can not tell by your info what exactly you do and do not have running for antivirus.
FREE Online Virus Scan

Oceanbaby you might try getting into the habit of creating a Restore point before making any changes. That way you have a point immediately before changes were made that you can return to if you are unhappy with those changes. To create a Restore point click Start, click Help and Support - this is in XP.

Remember too there is a huge difference between clicking "OK" and "Cancel". Anytime you are unsure of your last move always use 'Cancel' to back out without making that change untill you have thought it through or sought advice.