What is the best software that you have used to speed up your PC? I don't want hardware, such as getting more ram. I've used registry cleaners, hard disk defraggers, junk removers, startup optimzers, virus scanners, spyware scanners, and others, but my PC is still slow and I have 3.4 Ghz and 1 GB ram, ad only 6 non-Microsoft programs running, including programs being run in the background.

There are tons of pages devoted to speeding up XP. I'd start with those first. You can use performance monitor to look for other problems. You might need to modify bios or windows settings. Just putting stuff full blast is not always the fastest way. Then I'd say that the old way is still the best way. Get a ram disk application to copy your apps to and run them from the virtual ram drive if you can.

the best thing you can do is format your computer and only install the programs you need. dell (as well as all other manufacturers) add loads of the junk which causes slow down. also recommend a virus checker like AVG and anti-spyware like counterspy as they have no noticeable effect on system performance whereas a full install of norton security centre will cause mayhem! MSI KT4AV-L AMD Athlon XP 2800 1Gb Crucial 3200 DDR 160Gb Seagate Barracuda ATI 256Mb 9600XT 16x DL DF DVD/RW 16x DVD ROM 9-in-1 Flash Media FDD

Installing more software does not speed up a PC (far from it) Computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps only weigh 1 1/2 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949