@kimk....

You've got SETI running AND you have SP2 installed? Not sure but maybe someone else more knowledgable about this may be able to answer this question.

I suspect that with the security changes made in SP2, your SETI program actually may be the culprit after all, in conjunction with what SP2 did to make your comp more secure.

Could not the theroy be tested, by shutting Seti down, restart the computer and see if improvement? If impruvement, restart Sete and then see again. Process of elimination.

Or you could test the theory by uninstalling SP2 .

the comp thinks im still on sp1. how do i check for sure? and how do i uninstall sp2? (i know it sounds very n00bish)

and for some reason, the comps feeling better now i think. dont ask why. its just.. normal now. still sluggy but its back to the speed i had a couple months ago. freak ?

right-click mycomputer, properties, it should say it on like the 5th line.

I have had no problems what so ever with SP2. Other than a few annoyences that were fixed by disabling the security center.

Can't you uninstall sp2 from the add/remove programs applet in control panel?

TO get rid of quicktime, go into control pannal, and click on add/remove software, and click on quicktime. Should work

I had a computer with almost the same specs as your but I had 20gb hard drive and 128 mb ram but it still works with XP and can run Far Cry so its not your ram. SP2 is actually more effieceint with RAM than the normal XP, so its not that. Here are some possible reasons:
1. You have sh*t loads of spyware. Get Spybot and Adaware to remove them.
2. Your SETI@home is hogging up system resources
3. Do you leave your computer on all the time? Low RAM pcs need to be reset alot.
4. Your hardware is dying. This is the problem I had with my old pc. It started slowing down and later it died resulting in the loss of all my mods and work.
5. You system regestry is too crowded. Some programs off the internet can cleanup the registry. It has a list of all the programs installed on your pc. However, most programs don't bother to remove their registry so it get crowded. Another way of solving this is to install windows again.

BTW: About Quicktime, it never wants to leave with an installer. You may need to just delete its files manually.

Quick nit pick: Most of the time computers run BETTER if you leave them on all of the time. I don't know why, but that is my semi-experienced knowledge.

(Before you go knocking my intellegence, I am certified as a technician. Currently going for my CCNA)