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Check your Hard Drive's "Transfer Mode' setting

If you've tried everything you can think of to speed up your PC but its still running Slower than it should you should check that the Hard drive is still using the DMA mode(Direct Memory Access) AND NOT the Slower PIO mode (Programmed Input/Output)
To check and alter the settings this is what you do...

1) Open the Control Panel on the Start Menu
2) Double click the System Folder
3) Click the Hardware tab on the Next Page then click Device Manager
4) Take care here ! Long menu list on the next page
4A) Look about a third of the way down this Menu for the which says in Capitals "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" Next click on it to expand it.
5) Next double click on the 1st Item!< NOTE! on the Next Menu Primary IDE Channel to open the Properties box
5a) On the Next page click the Advanced settings Tab What does it say in the Current Transfer Mode Window?
Is the Message either Ultra DMA Mode 5 or even Ultra DMA Mode 6 ?
If this is showing then Everything is in Order (can close)
5A) If it says something else Goto # 6. Go to # 7 if you have XP
6) IF however,in the same Window It says PIO and you are using Vista there is a tick box marked Enable DMA Reset the computer to save the setting and run it in this Mode
7) XP Users Must change over the Transfer Mode: menu setting to "DMA if available" the other setting is "PIO only" then Click the OK button and reset the computer