Install Ubuntu?
Windows XP gets like that, it degrades over its lifetimes, I tend to re-install it for people and make sure they keep using low resource applications. Like you could use Pidgin instead of Windows Live Messenger, not as many features but a lot less hassle.
Thanx Quantum,
I was advised to uninstall Norton, and install AVG free version, but i liked it, and bought it, bad mistake, the pro version of AVG is almost as big as Norton, but i must admit it does the job. If I was to keep off ...err..certain web sites I prob wouldn't need a large anti virus program.
I will check Ubuto, and Pidgin out.
Ubuntu is an entire OS, so it replaces Windows XP entirely, but it's lower resource and has better management. Takes a little to get used to, but I got my Gran using it very effectively in about 5 minutes. There are some limitations as mentioned before, like certain programs just aren't made for it. But for the most part you can get around it, like you can use OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office, it reads and saves the same file types and more, you can use Pidgin instead of Windows Live Messenger, AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Google talk etc... etc...
Only hassle is backing up your data and spending a few days full getting used to it and ironing out any kinks.
AVG is better than Norton by a long way, changes are Norton won't be full removed from your computer with just an uninstall. I'm fairly sure there are free legitimate products out there called 'norton cleaner' or something which gets the crap off.
Speaking of which it might be worth downloading ccleaner, it removes temporary files, I'd run its cleaner and registry cleaner. Just make sure to back-up the registry when it asks you, also carefully check through the options in 'Windows' and 'Applications' tabs in the cleaner, I didn't want my Firefox cookies and passwords or my MSN data removed for example. But the rest is usually temp files you don't need.