My windows XP seems to have started initializing slowly when I first start it up, as well as other very strange occurrences such as spots where my files are invisible on my desktop when I use windows D until I open a file on it, and tabs in firefox using the same title for all tabs. I'm pretty sure I don't have any viruses, although I don't have much space left. ANYONE have any speed-improvement tips?Not having space left is probably the main contributor to this conditinn...start backing things up and getting RID of unneccessary programs and consider adding another drive for storage...Strange that LOW space does weird stuff but... Ahh well, I'll get a backup drive, thanks for helpingWell Windows uses empty HDD space on a regular basis ...it's called a swapfile and acts as memory...basically it's a temporary parking lot for files that are used to run whatever programs you are using.

A good rule of thumb is to not go below 15% total free space.
So if you have an 80G HDD for example you should have a minimum of 12G Free space.

Hope this helps...Dear patio, thanks for your advice to maintain at least 15% of disk space free, but allow me -and yourself- to LOL. Or . The disk CAPACITY of my Compaq laptop is 6 GB (no naught missing), which was a rather acceptable figure almost ten years ago. My work consists mainly of text processing and email correspondence with attachments every now and then, and it is allright for me. Plans for replacement are ready, just waiting for my Financial 50% to agree. Meanwhile, after wiping out temporary and garbage files YESTERDAY, I have now more than 0,4 GB at my disposal! Half of what you recommend.
Take care.Good news...housekeeping is important...especially on a laptop.Download, and install CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds. Get "Slim" version.
Read CCleaner instruction here: http://www.jahewi.nl/ccleaner/ccleaner.html, and run CCleaner