25 Steps to a Faster PC
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7. Make sure you have no spyware.

Make sure you have no spyware, by running at least a couple different spyware programs. 

The free ones are Spybot, LavaSoft's Ad-Aware, Yahoo Toolbar with Anti-Spy 5.5.5, and Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner. 

The last program tests for trojan horses and key loggers that the others don't, but is weak in terms of the number of spywares detected.

Also it's a good idea to use the free spyware prevention tool, Spyware Blaster. 

The commercial programs SpySweeper and especially PestPatrol are good too, the latter testing for key loggers, in memory spyware etc and may be the most comprehensive spyware checker of all and only $39.95.