Ok, so my laptop is not the same as it used to be anymore. It does everything the same just..slower and games that I play online are soo laggy now. Could it be that I need a new laptop? Or do I just need Windows 7? I have a:

Dell Inspiron 1501

Processor: AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Tech TL-56 1.80 GHz

Memory(RAM): 2.00GB

32-bit Operating system

Im currently running Windows Vista Home Premium OS. I have already defragged it, cleaned the discs and even deleted old downloads. Any way I can make it run like I just got it again?

vista is terrible, id prefer xp or 7.
that being said youre specs are average so it isnt realky necessary.
youve done defrag
disable programs running at startup. instantly faster.
here, read this
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/79612-startup-programs-enable-disable.html
when youre system starts it runs the programs set on the list.
it means you can instantly use them when you start.
but you rarely use half of them at any one session and if you do you can still start them wheen needed.
things like steam, itunes, photoshop, web browser, adobe reader, deactivate them.
yoy can easily double, triple youre speed if you have a big list.
check it regularly too, when you install programs they tend to add themselves to the list.
for web browsers disabling add ons will speed it up.

after all that you should open up taskmanager and check performance for memory (ram) usage during a typical session (e.g youre playing a game). see if you actually have enough ram for what youre doing.
you can see how your processor is holding up too.

ElectroGirl : I have to say that Vista is very faulty, not sure why it was soo faulty, but my guess is to get a Windows 7, but if you don't have the money for one, try to delete some of the programs you don't really need, that does cause your computer to run slower, because with all the bytes you're using.

There is a program which frees up your CPU and RAM for games aptly named Game Booster. It let's you choose to close backgrount processes that you don't need and explains them.
Link here.

ElectroGirl : I have the same exact laptop just like you. My Insprion 1501 used to have windows vista.
I downgraded it to windows XP and it is a lot faster now. Windows vista is just horrible for some reason. No matter what you do, it will NEVER speed up! So just downgrade to Windows XP. If you need help on doing that then you can PM me because I reinstalled windows many times before.

mohammedroxx3 : Why downgrade to XP when you can upgrade to 7?

ElectroGirl : Also, NEVER get Windows 8! I can't stress that enough!

Tails the Fox : Well, good question.

Windows XP is only slightly faster than 7 just because XP doesn't have aero glass and some extra windows 7 features.

But it doesn't make much of a difference in speed though so you're right, she might as well just get Windows 7 since Microsoft will drop support and updates for Windows XP soon.

But now the real catch is that should she do an easy upgrade to windows 7 or a new installation of windows 7?

Doing a new installation will remove EVERYTHING and make your laptop fast and like new.

But doing a easy upgrade will keep everything she has on her laptop except for changing windows vista to 7.

and if she has any junk or viruses on her laptop, it will stay on her laptop and her laptop may still be slow after the upgrade.

So I would suggest a new installation of windows 7 to make laptop like new without any leftovers of viruses and junk.
BUT DON"T FORGET TO BACKUP IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND FILES ON A USB OR SOMETHING BEFORE TRYING ANY OF THIS!

Thank you all very much. This was all very helpful. I think I'll just do a new installation with Windows 7. Right now im using readyboost with a usb and its helping a little, just to hold until i get windows 7. I also cleaned my registry, deleted some useless things like cookies and what not.

Im glad to know that windows 7 will restore my baby back to new. >3< But Im still not quite sure on how to do a NEW installation. I've never done it before. I would think that you would just pop the disc in and just go on with the installation process? Sorry for the extra question.

ElectroGirl : turn off your pc and then once you press the power button to turn it on, tap the f12 key to tell a menu comes up. Put in your windows 7 disc and select boot from cd. Then follow on screen instructions. hope this helps!

There are two options when you install.

Upgrade install

Clean install

Upgrade only works if you go from an older system to a new, e.g xp to vosta, or vista to 7.

You keep most of your files.

A clean install means you get only whats on the disk.

Personally i do a clean install everytime, even if i already have the same operating systems, its the simplest way of getting rid of all the crap.
You should know though, that windows 7 uses more ram than vista, double. Vista uses 512mb, 7 uses 1GB. To that end i dont really know how much better your pc will be, but to be honest given vistas shortcomings i really cant imagine it being worse.