Help maximizing performance of my Laptop!

[THE LEGEND x7x]

Alright, here is the lowdown:
Make/Model: Dell Inspiron 1525
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo – T8300 @ 2.40 GHz
Ram: 4.00 GB
Sys Type: 32-bit

I bought this a few years back, and just bogged it down with so many programs and what not that I ended up just backing up all my info, and did a “Return to manufacturers settings”... However, as I’m realizing now, even though my computer has hardly anything on it, it still runs fairly slow as well as boots up slow. So I have a few questions...

1. What should I have checked for my MSCONFIG boot options to make my startup run faster and smoothly?

2. What antivirus and spyware programs should I have? I’m currently using Microsoft Security Essentials (which I’m pretty sure is horrible but it doesn’t slow down my computer) as my antivirus, and PC Tools Spyware Doctor. I know there’s a huge debate about these types of programs, but I want something that works well and is “lite” on my system and I’m not afraid of paying big bucks for the programs. My local PC repair place uses NOD32... what are your opinions on this antivirus?

3. I run Defrags usually once a month and do not download movies or music on this computer. All of my large files/videos/pictures are passed onto an external hardrive. Yet, sometimes it takes word and other programs forever to open and what not. Wtf?

4. Internet explorer runs like a fool sometimes (and do not advise me to download firefox or any of those other IE replacements). What should I put my settings as to make it run smoother?

Hopefully you guys can help me out! I’m an engineering student and I run CAD programs on this computer so I want it to run as smoothly as possible. And, I know for a fact that my computer isn’t junk. Everything aside, if anyone has ANY other suggestions/tweaks or tips, pppleeeasseee share with me!
Sorry for the super long post, and don’t feel obligated to reply to everything.. Thanks in advance.
-THE LEGEND x7x

 

[DMGrier]

Did you do a fresh re-install of the OS?

for anti virus I used AVG when I had windows and it worked great, used it for almost 5 years. you can get a legal free copy of cnet.com under the downloads tab.

For internet explorer are you using IE 8? If not download that cause that was the best one so far. Plus you don't have any extra tool bars running on there do you? If so control panel>uninstall programs> and delete them.

 

[paulcheung]

If you use CAD, you better of with a laptop with dedicated video board to run it smoothly. Maybe you should get windows 7 as O/S.
Best wishes.
Paul