Kentuck- I don't think a couple seconds spike to 99-100% is alarming. Mine does this occasionally when opening some programs or my browser. I think it's only an issue if you have a spike and it stays up there. For example, once in a while my Windows Media Player hangs up if I try to play a video at some sites and it ties up my computer at 100% until I go into the Task Manager and select it and shut it down. As for your question about what processes are essential, here is a link that lists the main background processes by their (sometimes inscrutable) names, and tells you what they do. Make sure you have the "Show processes from all users" box checked and compare the list of names. Some of the names you'll have will be processes specific to things like your antivirus, and won't be listed here. For those that aren't, just write the name down and do a Google search. (Sometimes a virus will show up in this list, although I don't think that's your problem.) As I write this, I have 53 processes in the background. I'd have more if I hadn't prevented things like RealPlayer and Quicktime from starting each time I bootup. Here is a link that might be useful: WinTasks Process Library

Those readings in the task manager look ok, I'm not sure where you are reading this from ( my memory is 1.37gb). In your first post you led me to believe the only slow down was the fact that internet pages are slow to open and that is why I addressed the browser. Is this the only problem? If the entire computer is slow follow through with ravens post. If it is just the pages opening slow we can give you a link for a different browser to try to see if that resolves it and then we can focus on the browser issue. Please run the SUPERAntiSpyware program in the link that ravencajun gave you follow the directions with the scan, after the scan completes open SUPERANTIspyware again in the window that opens CLICK on PREFERENCES at the top click on STATISTICS/LOG choose the latest log by date view the log, now copy and paste the log here so we can see it.

@susieq07, Someone needs to put you in your place. And I'm going to do it! What you are doing is down right wrong. You have not been professionally trained in the removal of malware. If you would have jumped in earlier and told her to boot to Safe Mode and run MBAM this is what would have happened. All programs would have been gone and the malware would have won! Some malware does not even run in Safe Mode. Most of the threats now days installs a rootkit. Tell me..how do you remove a rootkit? If your are as good as you think you are then you would know the answer! If you were a professional then you would know that ASC is bad because it includes a Registry cleaner. A professional would never use that program. Oh an susieq07, Security Tool IS NOT A VIRUS!!! IT IS A ROGUE PROGRAM. Weren't you told that before? There is a really big difference between a Virus and a Rogue program! If you don't know the difference you are doing an injustice to the Seniors you think you are helping!!! See below for definitions of several different types of malware. http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110404055408AAZVTKy I'm sorry everybody, but I can not stand around and allow someone who thinks they know what malware is all about take advantage of the uneducated, especially when it involves the elderly. They are the most trusting people in the world. Someone has to protect/educate them to be aware of those who think they know what they say they do. Please accept my apologies. Here is a link that might be useful: Remove Security Tool

Double posted accidently, please do not respond here.