Groggy comp

My computer's getting a bit bogged down..its really slow at startup and starting programs such as 3DS Max. I know nothing really about PCs, so what would you recommend i do to speed it up? Would re-formatting erase everything i have? Is there a way of 'refreshing' so thats its fast again, but save all my files and work at the same time? Ill do whatever it takes..im getting impatient with it now.

Things you could do before thinking of reformat:
Run WindowsUpdate
Run Virusprogram (http://housecall.trendmicro.com - GOOD ONLINE Program)
Run Ad-aware 6 (Find it at www.download.com)
Run Spy-bot (Find it at www.download.com)
Run Defragment (Start menu / accessories / system tools / defrag)

If this doesn't work you still have some options.
You could burn out / ftp up all your necessary files, this could take awhile and require good i.net access or a cd burner.
Put in a Windows CD (Same windows as you have) and run fix / repair OS, then it just reinstalls the Windows nothing else.

You should really make partitions of your harddrive, one for system one for files.

Ok thanks for that...ill try the first few of them first of all. Why does partitioning the drive make the comp faster? I have a 200GB external HD, all my files are on that. Actually i have a question...when i got my 200GB external HD, i just coppied my 'Program Files' directory from my normal HD to my external. If i delete all the programs from the C:/ drive (original), and change the shortcuts to point towards the external HD's program files, will my software still work or would i have to re-install the software to the External directory?

This is all assuming you have WIndows XP

Here is what I would do.

First run a defrag by right clicking on your C: drive, going to properties, tool, and click on defragment now.

After that right click on my computer and click properties, then go to advanced, then settings and disable everything there except for "smooth edges of screen fonts", "use common tasks in folders", and "use visual style s on windows and buttons.

Then click on the advanced tab above and go to virtual memory and choose "custom size"
set both boxes to exactly 1.5 times your ram, you can find out how much ram you have by right clicking my computer and going to properties and then general.

After that, right click on you C: drive and go to properties. Then click on disk cleanup and do a disk clean up.

Next, go to www.download.com and download adaware and run it.

You can also buy more ram, or a new processor for your comp if you want to.

Why does partitioning the drive make the comp faster?

You have to have your drive partitioned, it doesn't make it faster, it makes it work.

If i delete all the programs from the C:/ drive (original), and change the shortcuts to point towards the external HD's program files, will my software still work or would i have to re-install the software to the External directory?

They works with most programs, but sometimes it can cause problems, and you will have to reinstall the program.

The partioning means you don't have to format you're files everytime you format the system

Ok thanks guys, ill try all these tips out. I dont even have the fancy XP style on either, just the standard blue, but its still sluggish. I have 2.8 P4 with a gig of RAM so it should be faster. Starting the machine up is the main problem. Im in work now, ill let ya know how i get on.

After that right click on my computer and click properties, then go to advanced, then settings and disable everything there except for "smooth edges of screen fonts", "use common tasks in folders", and "use visual style s on windows and buttons.

This tip seems to help the most...

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. This will help ALOT.
Go to the start menu, then click on run, and type in msconfig, then click on start up and disable all of the programs you don't want to run on start up (which is most likely most of them.) Then go to services and check hide all microsoft services, and then uncheck all of the programs there you don't need (which is probably most of them.)
Don't forget to use this tip... I would use this tip first.

Upgrade youe hardware ;)

Nos.