Programs slow to launch and close and hanging

[decfin]

I have a HP-Pavilion WE225AA-ABU p6324uk with MSI IONA 1.0 M/B and
3.20 gigahertz Intel Core i5 650, 32 kilobyte primary memory cache, 64-bit ready processor with 4gb RAM and 750gb HD, running Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601).

Up to about 4 weeks ago, it ran fine, nice and fast, then it started to take a long time to launch programmes, even longer to close them down, I often have to use Task Manager to close them and quite often I get programmes 'not responding' and hanging.

I use CC cleaner and Norton Utilities and Internet Security and 'clean up' reguarly.

Would appreciate any help to trace and cure the problem.

If I upgraded to W8 is this likely to have any effect?

 

[gregrocker]

Most tech enthusiasts would never run the bloated HP preinstall with the worst load in the industry of sponsored crapware and useless duplicate utilties. I would strongly consider a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 or at the least to Clean Up Factory Bloatware.

HP also offers a minimal Recovery option which is close to a clean reinstall: HP System Recovery

I would also not use Norton anything. Stick with the tools and methods in the reinstall tutorial or Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7