I know what I'd do... download newest version of Firefox, the uninstall my firefox an install the new one. Make sure firefox works before....

Uninstall IE8... read up on installing IE8 before re-installing it.

here's microsofts instructions for uninstalling ie8...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

I installed/uninstalled Firefox & so far, so good, thanks!

Tomorrow I'll have to tackle IE.

But also, even if I use Firefox & come to this site, my computer still revs its engines, but not as bad as when IE is used. Is it all the flashing ads & pop-ups causing this?

why not try adding the ad block plus add on with the easylist subscription which will stop all of those ads and see if that makes a difference then you would know.
Adblock Plus 1.2.1
install that add on, restart firefox, then go here and scroll down to the lines in yellow and over on the right where it says add to ABP click and add both of those easylists to your ad block plus
EasyList Subscriptions easylist and easyprivacy

A thought on the fans still spinning fast.
How old is your computer?
Does it sit on the floor?
When was the last time you cleaned the dust bunnies from inside the case?
Make and model?

Sounds to me as though this may be a heat issue which could be caused by dust build up or a fan not working as it should. Or if the computer is enclosed sufficient air is not available to keep it cool

It's a Sony VAIO from 2005 that was upgraded right away with more RAM. It's always been on top a desk. The last time it was cleaned was prob over a yr ago, but it's been sealed up in a box in a mover's warehouse for 9 mo.

While just sitting here, not doing any typing, just listening to the fan, it'll calm down, then rev up a little, then calm down again. It might just be the flash ads or whatever processes or processors are working.

But I'm also wondering if adding Charter Security Suite & having to enable the scripts & some other things for that or other programs within the last week has anything to do with the slowness I've been having.

I paid close attention to the computer & took notice of some instances when the extreme slowness occurred. It happens even when not on the internet. For example, I turned it on several minutes ago & clicked on the Mozilla button, & a turtle's day later I got a response. And last eve I was trying to do something (a search on Google or rename a file offline in Windows Media Player, IDK) & I couldn't get but a letter or number every possibly dozen of presses.

you mention adding charter security suite, did you fully remove the other antivirus programs you had on the pc with the specific removal tools for that program? That is one thing that will definitely cause these kinds of problems. What was the antivirus program you had before you put on charter? And yes the large antivirus suites can very much slow down performance.

Computers are built with various fans some are just for the extra work and only kick on when they are needed so it is not uncommon to hear one come on when doing anything that requires more usage of the cpu.

It might be a good time to go ahead and do as suggested and open it up and clean it out, even sitting in storage bugs and stuff can get in boxes. Also use a program like startup lite by the makers of malwarebytes to check your start up items and possibly whittle those down.
StartUpLite
Have you run an updated malwarebytes scan lately? if not definitely do so.
How to download and install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware application for Windows computers malware can also over tax a computer.

with your firefox as I mentioned earlier you definitely should add those items I suggested.

Ugh, I hate dismantling the box. It's all those d@mn wires. That's one of the, or maybe only, reasons why I got a wireless keyboard & mouse set.

Before Charter Security Suite I had McAfee & I uninstalled it.

Will Malwarebytes have problems with the Charter Security Suite?

I downloaded & used StartUpLite, thanks for the heads up on this! I didn't know anything like that existed! OOPS

It showed the following:

Tk Bell Exe
Real Player.
Completely unnecessary.
Removal suggested.
Done.

MSMSGS
MSN Windows Messenger.
Not necessary.
Removal suggested.
Done.

Msn Msgr
Disabled (already?).

CTFMON.EXE
Language/alternative input services in Office XP.
Left on Disable.
???

User Fault Check
Not necessary.
Removal suggested.
Done.

HP Software Update
Removal suggested.
Done.

I added Ad Block Plus & the other items. Thanks for this too, though I wonder if I don't already have something like that on Charter Security Suite. If so, I hope the Ad Block Plus & Charter Security Suite play nice together.

Before Charter Security Suite I had McAfee & I uninstalled it.

Did you run the uninstall tool for McAfee if not consider doing it

Download and run MCPR.exe

1. Download the mcafee removal tool from: click Here

2. Click Save and save the file to your desktop.

3. Double-click MCPR.exe to run the removal tool.

This will clean up any old McAfee files.

Yes, I used the uninstall tool for McAfee. I just did a search for McAfee & no results came up. I looked for it in Add or Remove Programs & nothing's there. There's also nothing under "All Programs".

Would these possibly have anything to do with the problems I've been having?

They pop up daily & Charter asks if I should Allow or Deny Outbound access.

VAIO Entertainment UPnP Client Adapter

Moodlogic Updater Application

I figured they're something to do with keeping the computer & a program running smoothly so I Allow.

This is your Charter firewall asking if you want to allow these things outbound access from your computer. If you are not sure what they are, best to deny access.

MoodLogic Updater

you should look those processes up and find out what they belong to if you are not sure, and instead of allowing things, deny instead till you know what it is or your firewall is not doing much good.

Huh? Uh oh. To my knowledge I don't have nor have I ever had any iRiver devices! I only have Logitech, Creative (which I use Windows Media Player for), HP, Motorola, Memorex & Sony. I just looked on the Add/Remove Programs & can't find Mood Logic.

maybe it was something that came on the pc? My policy with firewalls is to deny if I am not sure what it is then if something I am trying to use does not work that leads me to check if that is what the firewall was asking about. And I do not allow anything server rights, I have not found a single thing that has to have server rights.
you can go into your firewall settings and change what has been set already so you can change the allow and deny, then when it asks again you can check for it to remember for that item and it learns what to ask and what to automatically allow.

Going over a firewall tutorial can be very helpful, not sure what is included with your Charter.

yes the adblock plus is in the browser so will not mess with anything else.

I wonder if it's something that was on a disk that came with the computer or an item bought separately. Hm.

If it was there before, & I bet so, McAfee was allowing it in/out because I don't remember it asking me for permission about these.