My computer is moving dead slow even though I'm not running many background programs. i'm using speedupmypc which looks pretty good. it removes the crap from my comptuer but it's still running super slow. I wonder what programs you guys are using?

If your compter is moving dead slow, you might want to think of the following things:
1. Windows gets slow, think of it as old age, it aquires programmes, the best way to get rid of this is to back up your documents, and have the disks handy for windows and the programmes you need on there, and reinstall windws, then only install the programmes you need to have running, when you need them.
2. You may have a virus or other malwere on your system, the solution's to reinstall.
3. If reinstallation isn't an option, try:
3.1. Defragmenting
3.2. going to your startup programmes list and stop running the ones that you don't need.
4. I had a problem like this, and it was my hard drive, you might want to run a quick hard disk check. (Right click your hdd in my computer, click propities and disk check) - it the PC is old, and reinstalling dosn't help, you might want to think about reinstalling windows.

If you have a low amount of RAM, try adding some extra RAM, www.crucial.com is a good place to start for that, as they have a scanner that will determine what RAM you need.

I don't use software as it's another background task, and hasn't been effective IMO.

I just re-formatted my hard drive, and re-installed Windows, and it runs incredibly fast. Faster than when I got it. Mostly, because I got rid of every program, except the drivers and the OS (Windows XP Professional SP2) and MS Office. Just don't re-format without the correct drivers! I'm glad I have other computers, or I wouldn't have been able to get the drivers!

I've just reformatted my hard dirive because it broke, I lossed everything up to a 3 month ago backup. So many things I need to do to set it all up again, but it's faster.

Programs really can't speed up your PC. Go with Post no. 2

I don't use anything to speed it up, it doesn't work! Try deleting files or check what's your computer speed!

Thous programs you install to speed up your comp only slowdown it extra especially if you have a lot of them and they all run in the background.

I agree with zuly, the more programs you use(even speed boosters) it just makes it slower

amm...
try pressing
ctrl + altgr + supr or del

then go to proceess
and click on
show processes from all users
then at top click at memory
then check wich is the program that is using
all ur memory

Some registry cleaners can speed up your system, but you need to be careful and not download one that really has "dark" intentions for your PC...