Windows 7 running slow (list of what I've done, what else can I try?)

My Windows-7 laptop is 2 years old with an Intel Celeron 743 processor and 2GB of RAM. My laptop is running slow - getting worse over time, with serious lag with many programs.
I would prefer to avoid a fresh reinstall of the OS and my applications.
Here is what I've done to optimize my laptop

Avast Antivirus - no infections found
both Windows Defender and Spybot are not finding any spyware
Diskeeper 2010 is showing very little fragmentation on the hard drive
regularly use Ace Utilities to clean registry
unchecked unnecessary programs to run on startup vs MSCONFIG

Task manager isn't helping me diagnose the cause(s) of any bottlenecks.
It is showing 58% of my RAM in use (which may or many not be contributing to the slowdown).

Is there a program that can help me discover specifically which service(s) or program(s) or other issues that are weighing down my system?
Thanks

 

OK firstly get rid of your 3 security software and just use like 1. Get something like Microsoft Security Essentials and get rid of everything else you got. Windows Firewall and MSE are more than enough to protect you, given that you apply common sense.

Next, I'd suggest flipping through services.msc (Run dialog) and seeing what you can disable there. Google Windows 7 Services and there should be a result from blackviper it describes what each does and which are safe to disable.

Next, look at what's using all that RAM/CPU in task manager (sort). See what that program is (Google), and see if you shoudl uninstall it.

Yes there is a program, it's called Task Manager. Go to Processes, sort by Memory or CPU.

Also, make sure you have at least 10 GB free on your Windows 7 partition/drive. Turn on pagefiling if you turned it off.

 

I agree with everything fred2028 has said.

Also, I would recommend, even though you're hesitant, the fresh install. Then install Microsoft Sec Essentials.

All the other programs you have to help your computer, spybot, cleaners, etc... are, in my opinion, a waste.

 

In addition to watching the task manager, the Win7 resource monitor (Task Manager > Performance tab > Resource Monitor button on the bottom) can also be useful when you are trying to see what is tying up your system.

 

Turn OFF Windows Defender, uninstall Spybot. You don't need these with Avast.

 

Get a copy of Sysinternals Process Explorer. Start it up and then sort on CPU use. This will let you readily see what processes or services are chewing up CPU cycles. It can also show DISK I/O use if that is a source of the bottle neck.

Gary

 

The more programs working in background, the slower you pc gets.
Get rid of as many as you can. I have had good experience with spybot and adaware in past personally.

If you remember when you problem has started, you may want to Restore your pc to an earlier date. This should solve most problems.

If still problem persist and you don't want to probe any possibility, and interested in short cut, off course if you can loose all date on your hard drive, get hold of your OS original CDs and first format the HD then re-install. All should work fine this way if you are able and willing to undergo dramatic change and have no crucially important data on your drive. Alternatively you can get a new hard drive, swipe it with your current one and try installing on it, when you have saved your current data, in case. When everything fails, usually reinstalling OS is the saver most of time but remember this is one way road.