Slower than a sloth

[Undead_Zeus]

My dad bought a 'family computer' (very long time ago, can't even remember the year). It's an HP Pavilion mx70. Well, it has 128MB RAM and a 1.0GHZ processor and Windows ME. My dad seems convinced the computer belongs in one of those cabinets at the bottom of the desk because it conviently had a hole in the back and was big enough to fit a computer...

Well, enough with the history. My dad's computer is slower than a three-toed sloth. Back when he first got it, he still kept it in that little cabinet space for a computer, and I could run an old game called 'Baldur's Gate 2' fine no frame rate loss. Now, the computer is hot to the touch on the OUTSIDE of the case. If you leave your finger on the DVD-ROM drive long enough you will get a first degree burn. I tried running a diagnostic program but it didn't have any heat sensors. I think it's above 100 degrees celsius.

Now I'm having frame rate loss in Solitaire (not kidding). I ran registry mechanic, Ad-Aware and SB S&D. It boosted performance only for that session.

I want to know how to make my dad's computer run better again. Everytime it boots up 'Hot 99.5 Access Club' loads up in the tray. I exit that, but to no avail, it still is super slow. I told my sister to uninstall it, but she says her

friend at Geek Squad says that that program isn't the reason the computer is running slow. It's your games

Ok so here are my questions:

The DVD drive no longer functions. You put a CD in it, and it doesn't come out until next boot. How do I fix this?

How can I speed up my Dad's computer without taking it out of that small cabinet? (he always keeps the door closed...go figure...I constantly open it to try to make it run faster)

Do small programs such as 'Hot 99.5 Access Club' actually make a small difference despite the computer having 128MB RAM?

I ran a virus check, but it came up completely clean. I'm not positive that Housecall did a good job, what's another good free virus checker?

Edit: I just noticed a task in the CTRL+ALT+TAB menu called 'Aolservicehost' and 'Aolservicehostmanager'. Aol isn't even running. Are these viruses? I can't check, google is extremely slow to load.

Thanks.

[Panama Red]

Here's what I would do first. Start>run>msconfig>Start up tab. Evaluate each program based on the following link and shut down all non-essential ones. Then restart and go the Add/Remove programs area of the Control Panel. Remove all programs that are no longer used and use google to identify any that you don't know what they are. Next open Internet Options in the Control Panel and Delete all Temp files, inlcuding offline files. Then use Disk Cleanup to remove any other Temp files. Finally, run the Defragmenter in Safe mode.

[juppy]

Just a quick thought here.....if this computer is as old as you say it is and it's running that hot, have you thought about dust problems? When's the last time that thing had the side of the case taken off and the cpu heatsink and other heatsink/fans blown out with compressed (canned) air? Over time, dust can really get packed in between those heatsink fins and cause the processor to overheat.