This has surely been answered here before, but I can't find it.When loading applications, there usuallyseems to be a lag of 20 or more seconds between clicking on the icon and the first indication on the Windows Task Manager that any resources are being used. This problem is usually present, but not always. And it occurs with all programs, including some pretty common ones. For example, Windows Explorer will lag 20 seconds before starting to load. After it has been closed, clicking on its icon again will usually load it immediately. I am running XP SP 3, Pentium 4 with 3.0 Gb memory. I removed Ad-aware with no improvement. I shut off Norton Internet Security and HP Digital Imaging Monitor with no improvement. Seatools for DOS diagnosis of my Seagate HD passed. This lagging issue seems to have shown up in the last 2 months, and I have made no major system changes.I hope this is enough information to start on an answer.1 person needs an answerI do too