Have you cleanup up your Startup. That makes a significant improvement for me. Just not allowing some of those resource hogs to even startup will make a difference.

I have used RegCleaner - and I usually screw something up in the process, LOL!

fwiw
My email gets slow I duplicate then zip that duplicated huge inbox.dbx file. Then use OE search feature to find inbox messages older than about 1yr old - and delelte them.

My boot gets slow I make a desktop folder and drag and drop all the extra decktop icons into it that I've saved and are cluttering the desktop. Wow, I can see my desktop again.
Then I do a web search to remember how to flush the icon cache and instantly boot time speeds up significantly.

I use the HoverDesk.net free RegSeeker registry cleaner all the time with no problems here.

Do you have an antispyware program installed?

The tech rep's solution in the past was to reinstall Windows, which I believe is so they wouldn't have to deal with the problem.
Sounds like what Dell helps me do. If I don't go that route, then I would have to pay a $69 charge for help with a software issue.

Sue

Yep, it's a Dell.

I'll try the things everyone said, then I'll let you know what I did. :)

Thanks everyone.

To further assist you, may I direct you to the search engine on the Home Page. If you query registry cleaner several available past threads will appear. Anyone of them may have information which you might find helpful.

Good luck! Enjoy!

DA

DA, that was excellent advice. Why didn't I do that in the first place? There's plenty of information there.

I need to install some things like a spyware blocker/remover -- to just go down the list of things in the FAQ about maintenance to see what I don't have but should.

I'm also looking at Cnet to see what they have to say.

Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

Just a follow up. Before playing around with the registry and at least until you are comfortable using a registry cleaner. I would suggest doing and registry backup. In case anything goes amiss (it shouldnt) then you will have your original registry to go back to

genes gave good advice.
Start - run - type regedit - OK
Open file at the left top - click export - Go my documents - For Save type Backup - Save.
To use your Registry Backup.
Start - run - type regedit - OK
Open File - Import - right click your Registry Backup - Click Merge.
Don't be moving it to different locations.

SmithFraudFix can be a big help in cleaning up your
computer. Click number 2 and Enter. It also offers to clean the registry in the
latter part of it's process.
I used it as a test, I didn't really need it, no
harm done.
http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php

Here is a link that might be useful: SmithfraudFix.php

Maro,

As always you are more than welcome.

DA

CCLEANER is an excellent tool for this, it also cleans temp files, history, cookies, and is a safe tool, some registry tools can be risky, i would google (cleaner). After you run ccleaner you may consider a defrag click start >Accessories System tools do a disk clean-up first then a defrag (c) if you have not done it may take several hours to complete.