If you are using windows 2000 or XP the problem could lie with the indexing service. This little 'time save' as Microsoft would have us believe is to speed up searches when you use the 'Find files' utility. Of course, for most home users we know where we keep our stuff. However, every now and then (and I have never been able to figure out exactly how this service is scheduled) my machine would slow to the speed of a snail. After turning the service off it never happened again. For windows XP go into control panel, then administrative tools, and double click on services. In the list you will find an entry that says Indexing Service. Double click on this and set the Startup Type to disabled. Even if it does not fix the immediate problem, disabling the service will not have a negative impact on your system.