Thanks! I just updated and it does seem faster.
I've cleaned it, everything but restored it (can't find the CD) and today, FIREFOX is updated, faster, and my computer is healed.
I thought I was under FBI, CIA, LMNOP attack.
OS people need to notify us with ... "WE'VE even notioced our shitty OS ... be patient ... we're working on it" ...
or something