>>You could also do a general cleanup i.e. go through the list of running processes (ProcessExplorer is great for that), and uninstall/remove any bloatware or crapware. If you have a consumer machine from a major OEM such as HP, Toshiba, Sony etc. it's probably got a lot.
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>Thanks, Al. Good stuff. Trying to discern what I can delete and what I can't makes me a little leery but I suppose I can create a restore point before starting.

Also check the unnecessary services. Of course, their names are cryptic (and the names of the executables are, ta-da, in 8.3 format(!)), and the blurb appearing in the services applet is equally cryptic, laden with redmondese cryptobabble, so it pays to scour the web for one of those good articles which will tell you what does what and what you can safely ditch, er, disable.