System Restore is no longer available.

So overall, what should I do to overcome my problems?

Please outline your specific problems, Ben. I have lost track!

"To identify what loads when you boot use Autoruns (freeware from Microsoft).

 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902"

Downloaded it, but need an understanding. When I uncheck an item, it will no longer be in startup. Is it true that the system will turn it on when it is required? Meaning that it is still there and not on Auto but on Manual.

Taken from the above site:

Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system

I can't find this option. Where is it?

At which stage of usage do I do the Defrag and Commit reports. Just after a restart or during normal usages. Shall I do a defrag first?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902

The subject could be :

 

"My computer is sick"   -    as first priority.

 

Second priority could be:

 

Erratic and slow computer.

Okay. A lot of things can cause slowness. Malware can be a culprit. (And you need to be aware that a clean malware scan does not necessarily mean you don't have malware! There are advanced rootkits and bootkits that are virtually undetectable.) Certain antivirus programs and suites can be such resource and/or memory hogs that they can be a culprit. Web browser toolbars are often a culprit. And also certain optional Windows updates, especially the problematic Windows Search 4.0 (KB940157).

In your other thread:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-performance/video-streaming-problem/698c2bdb-9bae-4466-8342-87f02e2b9c6c

... you mentioned you have difficulty while viewing streaming video. That can be a result of the server that is serving up the video (that is, the problem is NOT on your end) or not having enough bandwidth. So if your Internet connection is not that speedy, you will have to download the video and then watch it (just press the pause button and once everything is buffered/downloaded, you can play the video).

First of all, let us know what kind of Internet connection you have. Is it dial-up, DSL, or cable? Also let us know what results you get from these sites:

http://www.speedtest.net/

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

(And DON'T pay any attention to advertisements that encourage you to maximize or tune up your PC's performance!!!!!)

What is the name of your antivirus program? Is it up to date?

Have you run recent scans with the free versions of SAS Portable Scanner and MBAM? If not, you should! For the portable SAS scanner:

http://www.superantispyware.com/portablescanner.html

For the FREE version of MBAM (not the pro or trial version!):

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

To determine if there are any resource or memory hogs, you need to go into Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del) and click the Processes tab. Then click "CPU" twice until the highest percentages appear at the top. Let us know which processes are using the highest percentages of CPU cycles. Do the same for "Mem Usage."

While you are in Task Manager, click on the Performance tab. You need to provide four figures:

1. Physical Memory - Total
2. Commit Charge - Total
3. Commit Charge - Limit
4. Commit Charge - Peak

If you do all the above, you will be well on your way to identifying and solving your sluggishness problem. :-)

Ben

Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system

I can't find this option. Where is it?

From the Menu select Option, Filter Options you will see what you are looking for.

At which stage of usage do I do the Defrag and Commit reports. Just after a restart or during normal usages. Shall I do a defrag first?

Now if you like. I was just interested in seeing whether the situation was any different from the last time you provided the information.