Errors opening and running programs, please help!

I'm posting this here because I think I'm kinda lost in another thread....

Hi, my name is Megan and I am having some of the same problems here. My computer started acting up last night. When I try to open certain programs, I either get an error message, or the program will not open completely. For example, I cannot view my buddy list or send/receive IMs while on AIM, I cannot connect to the Internet (says it's "Opening page..." but never does.... I don't even get to "Page cannot be displayed "). Last night I defragged my computer, and also tried to free up space on my hard disk because I only had 17% of free space. (I now have 20% free space.) I am completely stumped here. When I tried to run a System Restore to fix anything I might have done, the System Restore itself will not connect! It says that it encountered a problem and needs to close, blah blah. This happens when I run it in Safe Mode as well. If anyone could help me out here I would greatly appreciate it... my computer was fine up until last night. I ran Systemec virus scans, Ad-Aware.. etc. I cannot get myself to Windows Update; it won't open. Please, please, please help me!!!!

 

Hi Nutmeg189
I'm a little concerned of free space on your HDD. Could you provide the total size of your drive. Example, 20% free on a 120GB would slow you down, but 20% on a 30GB drive could start causing problems. As program(s) load they run from RAM memory. What is not immediately needed, is pushed into Page memory (allocated space on your HDD). With limited space on your drive, your combination RAM and HDD space may be a limited resource.
No matter what size your HDD is, you are at or past a thresh hold for optimum performance. This may not be your root problem today, but will be very shortly. Games and media (music and graphics) can devour a drive. You will need to move some of this off or consider getting a larger HDD.