My computer is running slow again. My OS is winxp. I ran a defrag and disk clean-up but still the same. I was told that I could get a hardrive cleaner to remove all the junk that is stored from the sites I've been on but I don't know much about it. I have spyware but I was told that isnt going to fix the problem. Can you help?

You know, sometimes, a complete fresh install is really the only way... a good old spring clean

The problem with a complete fresh install is it wipes out:

• all your data files (work and school papers)
• all your music files
• all your photos
• your favorites/bookmarks
• hardware drivers (including updated SP2 HW drivers)
• SP2 (if not on OS disk)
• months, or even years, of critical updates
• email
• anti-virus software and all their updates
• 3rd party firewall
• anti-spyware programs and all their updates
• all your downloaded programs
• all your installed programs (Office, FF, games, etc.) and all their updates
• all your custom desktop configurations
• and more.

Then, to put your PC back into production, you must have:

• your Windows CD - and key codes
• SP2 (if not on CD) - since it is best to install SP2 immediately after Windows and before connecting to the Internet (since all security programs have been wiped out), you need the SP2 CD or downloaded file burned to CD
• motherboard drivers disk (or download latest drivers and burn to CD)
• all other CDs (for Office or other purchased programs) and key code
• copies (or a list) of all purchased downloaded software, and registration codes

Because so much can be lost, because security updates/defenses would be set back so far, because the organization required to rebuild Windows and your programs is so extensive, doing a fresh install is not generally recommended except as a last resort measure, after all other options have been exhausted, and not without a reminder to back up any data you would not want to lose.

I have spyware but I was told that isnt going to fix the problem.

Oh? Why not and by who? Spyware is one of the most common causes of slowdowns, and cleaning it out is the first step to take, and very often restores systems to peak performance.

If you don't have a good arsenal of anti-malware tools, see my canned text here.

If you still want to do a fresh install, good luck. But if you want to try to fix your machine, AND set up some defenses to prevent the same problem from recurring, run through my that canned text and let us know how it is going. If still have problems, there are other steps that can be taken.