First find out how much RAM your system will take and load it up which is a cheap upgrade.
I typically set the pagefile to 1.5x the available system RAM but this is of course objectionable.
Goto the RUN window and type MSCONFIG
Once in the MSCONFIG window uncheck items in the STARTUP tab and that will help control the unwanted applications. Of course you have to identify each individual one otherwise you'll start noticing features that aren't working.
Also, don't shoot your machine, it's clearly useless in pieces.
