yet another windows slowdown

Something is slowing my laptop. My hardrive thrashes
constantly. When I click an application that should open
in a few seconds, it might take over a minute. I finally
decided that I must purchase a Windows XP Home edition
CD. I chose the "upgrade" version, as it is half the
price of the other version.

I adjusted BIOS to boot first from the CDROM.
My CD would boot, but after displaying the message
"PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD", a second message would
briefly flash. It said something about checking hardware.
Then the screen would go black, and even after
an hour, would not come back.

After trying 4 or 5 times, I give up and ran the CD using
autoplay. At one point, it offers a choice between
(a) refresh and (b) advanced. I chose (a), but the result
provided not relief. Then I chose (b) but it has made
things worse.

Before reload, I had four users...
Administrator
All User
Charles Cashion
Default User

After reloading Windows, I now have 7 ADDITIONAL users...
All Users.WINDOWS
Charles Cashion.LAPTOP
Default User.WINDOWS
LocalService
LocalService.NT AUTHORITY
NetworkService
NetworkService.NT AUTHORITY

And when I boot, it comes up in user Charles Cashion.LAPTOP

I have two questions. (1) how do I delete these
extra users. (2) how do I tell windows to power up
in simply "Charles Cashion"?

Perhaps the answers to my questions are already available
on some web page.

I guess I have one more queston. (3) I can see this thing
going on and on and on. I can believe that I will eventually
have to wipe or format the C:\ drive before installation.
How can you wipe the C:\ drive, since windows protects you
from injuring yourself?

One more thing. The "advanced" upgrade offered the choice
between copying all files from CD or from HD. I chose CD,
but I think the choice was ignored. All my old personal
files are still present.

Thank you,
Charles
.

Relevant Pages

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