Number 2 and number 5 fill me with rage and loathing.
2 & 5 are exactly why I'd rather do 2.1
Forgot about Malware killers. Good idea.
Also, check and see how much bloatware came pre-installed on it when it came from Dell. Un-install all the crap, again possibly sending you back to 2.1 <snicker>.
Also, what is it using for a firewall/antivirus? Some are slower than others. Also, if a third party firewall is installed, disable the Windows one (or whichever you trust the least.) Double inspecting everything is also a time killer.
.
.
.
Aren't you glad you deleted your post?
