system freezes for 1 min when i try to open a new window in a browser.

clean-up your system. remove all spyware/malware with "spywareblaster" and "spybot s&d" and also "adawareSE". You can find them in the spyware section of http://www.majorgeeks.com then clean up your "prefetch" folder R. clk "my computer" > "explore" > "c drive"> "windows" and scroll down to and click "prefetch" and under edit "select all" then under file "delete" to remove all the files in the folder. Perfectly safe to clean these out once in a while. Now use your disk cleanup uttility and check all options and clean up/compress old files...This may take awhile if you haven't done it. Then formatt your drive. This should help you out. But you should think about doubling your memory at the least. IN THE MATTERS OF STYLE, swim with the current; in matters of principle, STAND LIKE A ROCK

"...Then formatt your drive...." Did you really mean that "lurkethwithin"? Might be useful to run ccleaner (ccleaner.com) too - another freebie cleanout util; does an excellent job.