NLion,

 

Many programs which are doing "something" in the background are not virus infections, but are spyware infections.  You can download Spybot Search&Destroy along with Lavasoft's Adaware SE Personal from www.download.com.  These are free programs which have a good reputation for finding and removing unwanted spyware, adware and other "malware" (malicious software) from your computer.  Install them, update them run them.  Let them clean anything that they find from your system. 

 

Other than spyware, there are other programs which you can install on your system which will run in the background and consume system resources.  Commonly, these are peer-to-peer file sharing programs such as BitTorrent, Limewire, Kazaa, Morpheus, etc....  to name only a few.  These programs will let other people download files from your computer whenever it is on and connected to the internet.  Uninstalling any of these programs which might be on your computer should also help with your system performance.

 

Steve

Big Brother,

 

Thanks for the advice.  I've run both programs and the problem is greatly reduced (although not eliminated).

 

Thanks again!

 

NLion