Comments for What Slows Windows Down?

I can attest to Norton. Wouldn't let it even close to my puter.
It's right up there with AOL in my book as one of the most hated programs. And I second the motion to include Google Desktop. I've tried it a couple times because I like Google but what a hog!

I'm a completely non-tech savy being, the last time I tried to clean up my system from wayward applications and programs that I care not about, I killed my precious photoshop program, now I use GimpShop. ;_;
When I press cnrtl-alt-delete I always see a huge list of programs going in the processes list, they temp me to delete them so they can viciously bite through another one of my favorite programs.
When I start my computer and sign in, it takes ten minutes or so before my darling laptop will bring up anything heavier than solitare, but once the programs come up they are fine, so I'm pretty sure it's that long list of processes that's doing the damage. Just today it took a total of thirty minutes, which spurred me to go and do something about it. Even now as I type, the words aren't staying in synche with my typing, the blinking bar freezes and I wait for it to catch up with me and correct mistakes.
Is there a list of programs that are commonly pre-installed, but not necessary? That was what I was looking for when I came here.

Also, you said that you refuse to use anti-virus software and such, and I do use the latest version of Norton, I'd be glad to delete it so I can bring my laptop to rights again, but how do you protect yourself from viruses, malware, and spyware without an anti-virus software?

My biggest XP-Pro delay is waiting for a wireless connection. It takes as long as two minutes for the connection after the desktop has displayed. The strange thing is that AVG somehow has the ability to download updates before the connection is established enough for a web browser.