Computer running slow (virus??)

[yoshi_star10]

My computer has been acting up really bad lately. When i turn it on it seems to run fine, after my desktop pops up, weather bug comes up too, and I just usually close that. But if i try to open up ANYTHING that's on my desktop, (I mostly try to open up Firefox first) my computer locks up. I cant X it out, when it says a program isn't responding, (which takes 10 mins to pop up anyway) I can click close or whatever, but even THAT says not responding. So Ive had no choice the last several times but to hold the power button and force it to power off. Norton keeps telling me "High disk read/write usage by 'host process for windows service'" I have no idea what this is and it wont let me delete it because "I don't have permission". Ive tried a system restore, that didn't seem to help. I deleted/uninstalled some recently downloaded programs, no difference whatsoever. i did a Norton trust scan, and deleted some of the programs with a bad trust rating. Still, no help. I had even done a full system scan, and nothing came up. I don't have any ideas on what else I can do other than take it in to get fixed, but im afraid that will cost a bundle, and im wondering if i should just buy a new one. After waiting about a half hour plus and letting it sit, it seems to be running ok. I figure ill just close it, put it in sleep mode and let it sit instead of shut it down, but that's when the other problem occurs. If i do that, every once in a while, I lose my task bar, and have to restart my comp. to get it back.
So, does anyone know what might be going on, and how i can fix the slowness? (and the task bar issue as well?)

[Dudebro]

Try rebooting into safe mode by repeatedly pushing F8 as the PC starts up. In safemode run your antivirus and see if it finds anything. Sometimes that will work. You also might need a different antivirus, last I heard Norton sucks.

One of the more tech savvy people will no doubt post better instructions soon. Keep us posted.

[Tails]

Happen to be using AVG? When I had it on my laptop that was the symptoms.

[yoshi_star10]

After an hour long scan, in safe mode, Nothing came up.
@Tails No, I hadn't even heard of that before
Well i need to get some sleep for work. Ill try leaving it in sleep mode overnight to see if it helps, and try out more tommorow.

---------- Post added 04-26-2011 at 08:29 AM ---------- Previous post was 04-25-2011 at 01:13 AM ----------

Well, i called a tech support person, and they had me do a system restore so it would go back to its out of box state. During the process, it was interupted, and has rendered my computer pretty much useless right now. I cant even turn it on. So it looks like i have to get it sent in, and check around at costs for getting it fixed.

[Kong]

Microsoft gives free tech support if you purchased Windows from them, instead of having it pre-installed on your computer.

If you have the Windows install disk it is very easy to reinstall and that will fix all software issues. And if you send it in, they will likely just reinstall.

To reinstall all you do is put the CD in, reboot and follow the onscreen instructions.

[yoshi_star10]

Microsoft gives free tech support if you purchased Windows from them, instead of having it pre-installed on your computer.

If you have the Windows install disk it is very easy to reinstall and that will fix all software issues. And if you send it in, they will likely just reinstall.

To reinstall all you do is put the CD in, reboot and follow the onscreen instructions.

I went on my dads computer, and ordered a recovery disk because i didnt have one when i got it.
Im still considering getting a new one though, mostly for games on and off line. I want one that can handle higher detail and more stuff going on at once. Is it a higher processor speed i want to look at, ram, or is there something else i should be looking at?