Right heres a few things to try (although personally I'd reinstall from scratch)

 

Open up internet explorer:

 

Tools > Delete Browsing History > Delete all

 

Next you have McAfee installed, I assume McAfee Security Centre.

 

Open it, change it to advanced menu then go to maintain computer, then McAfee Quickclean.

 

Check all boxes once initialised and tell it to shred 10× (this will take a while but will be worth it)

 

Next change McAfee Firewall to tight > open McAfee Security Centre > go to internet and network and then configure then click advanced beside firewall then set to tight.

 

As for the cookies not all are bad but deleting them from the internet explorer with browsing history should get rid of them since you have a few, McAfee generally only removes ones it thinks are harmful.

 

Once thats done you should go to start > run and type msconfig in the run box:

 

Go to start up and disable all unecessary programs.

 

I have igfxtray hkcmd igfxpers syntpenh ifrmewrk quickset stsystra isuspm khalmnpr

pcmservice mcagent siteadv ctfmon bluetooth digital line detect and logitech setpoint enabled.

 

All other processes are disabled, note this is for an inspiron 6400 with intel GM945 video with intel proset wireless and dell 355 wireless card your 6400 may be slightly different it may have ATI or NVIDIA video and a dell wireless card amend the list accordingly. Reboot after applying and you should see a difference.

 

Note I have approximately 66 processes running in task manager and 7 svchosts so it seems healthy, (note I installed xp professional from scratch this morning so has no junk).

 

Do another disc defragment after this.

 

Also upgrading your RAM to 2Gb if you have not already done so will help improve performance. Uninstall programs such as google desktop if you have them aswell as they slow the system down.

Hi,

 

Mcafee isnt one of the best antivirus programs.

Can you tell me what your build is for your computer. Perhaps a upgrade in memory can help your pc performance.

Thank you for all the info. I'll be visiting msconfig, I had forgotten how to get to start up programs. Thank you! 

 

I think vacumning one of my vents did a lot for the slow down too...