There's lots of things that make it slow. Not necessarily something that you can buy to help you.
The first thing I recommend is getting the free version of malwarebytes and install it update it and run a full scan.. Many times it's a malware infection that slows it down. Once that is done. I would run a free online virus scan at eset.
If you go to Belarc. com use the free download and run it you will have all the information on your pc and can tell us how much ram you have which may need to be increased.
I am not at home so I can't give you links but I will add them later.
Do those scans first.
Do not buy anything and definitely do not do any registry cleaner you can damage things that way.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
free version

Run ESET Online Scanner
eset free online scanner

Belarc Advisor - Free

another good anti malware scanner that is free is superantispyware. Use the free version red button for download. update it and run full scan.
these programs are excellent to keep on the pc and run every week or two always update them first.
SUPERAntiSpyware

What version of windows are you running? What browser are you using? IE? Firefox? and what version of it are you running
What is your current anti virus program that is running on your pc and is it fully updated to todays updates?
Have you been doing all your critical windows updates as they come available.
Other extremely important updates to do are java, flash and adobe. If you do not know how to do those just let me know.
Here is a link to Corrines blog where she always explains how to get those updates.
Security Garden
you will see there how to do the update for Adobe which is a very important security update.
Adobe Flash Player Security Update
Adobe Shockwave Player Critical Security Update

thanks, so much, raven for all the info. i downloaded malwarebytes and ran it. it seemed to make it a little faster. i think i have windows 7. my browser is chrome. not sure how to tell what version it is. i have macafee antivirus plus protection and it is current. i have not ran any updates for java in quite sometime because i had heard it was dangerous. i tried to uninstall adobe shock player and reinstall it yesterday, but had so many sales ads pop up i am not sure if i reinstalled it or not. as you can tell, i am pretty computer illiterate..... i will go to security garden and check on running the adobe update as i play games on facebook and they have been really slow and shock player keeps crashing.
thanks, again, for all your help. :)

There was a new update for shockwave it's on security garden also, if you go through the past posts there you will find it.
Java is dangerous if it's not updated regularly, the best thing to do is remove it completely, if you use something that uses java then you need to keep it but make absolutely sure you do every update immediately as they come up. It's essential to be sure the old versions are removed from the pc. The newest updates do remove the old version but it's a good idea to check your list of programs in control panel and if you see any other than that newest update number select it and choose remove.

If you have Adobe reader update it also.
For flash be sure to do the specific update for the browser you have plus you must do the update for Internet Explorer too even if you don't use it.

lindalou, are you in Iowa? Friday and Saturday mine was so slow I couldn't even do anything. Upload was 0.01 down was 0.03. In other words, nonexistent internet. Frontier says it's me. Fat chance! One day everything was fine, next day NOT FINE. When my computer tells me it can't maintain a connection with the server, it's not my computer that's having problems. I did not make any changes to setting at any time. I've done that before with the person from India and had to pay the computer fixer to come here and put everything back the way it was. I don't make changes to my computer any more. I have a person who comes when I need him and he speaks English. But I have to pay him.

no, lov....i am from western new york. :)

raven, what does java do? should i have it on my computer?

i uninstalled and reinstalled both adobe reader and adobe shockwave player. things are going so much better. thanks for all your help!!! i really appreciate it.

Some programs and especially games require java, usually ones that are older and have not moved to the newer standards. I have personally removed all java from all of my computers and have not missed it.
You can remove it and see if you find anything popping up requesting java to work, if it's something you can't live without then get the latest version and keep it updated.
Are you keeping up with all the windows updates?
I am glad you are seeing an improvement.