In your Documents and Settings Folder, you will see a subfolder for each windows user AND one for All Users. Anything in the All Users folder exists ONCE but will show in the start menu for EVERYONE. You aren't getting a full install of each program for every user individually (if you have 10 users, you don't have 10 copies of MS Office). You will have one install in the Program Files folder and shortcuts in All Users/Start Menu/Programs. If you only want those shortcuts for your main windows user but not for all the micro users, just open explorer, navigate to Documents and Settings/All Users/Start Menu/Programs/xxxxxx - and move the folder into your main user folder/Start Menu/Programs/xxxxxx
If you want something completely uninstalled, log into the user account you used when you installed the application, and conduct your Add/Remove activities as you normally would. That will remove from All Users period.
To make the PC faster, check your Start Menu/Startup for anything you DO NOT want to autoload when windows boots. Clean up your temp folder and temporary internet files. Uninstall any old software you don't use anymore. Empty your recycle bin.
If the amount of free space on your HD is less than 10%, upgrade to a larger HD or clean out some data files and burn to DVD or other media. 15% free space is even better than 10%.
The reason for the extra free space is for the windows swap file and temporary files created whenever you perform ANY activity. Opening compressed folders, viewing webpages, editing documents or other file types, installing windows or other software updates - all creates temporary files that may not be automatically removed. Also, if you do not use the system restore feature at all, you can right click on My Comuter, choose Properties, select the System Restore tab, and disable it entirely. That will free up disk space. If you do not use the hibernate feature, turn that off via the power management control panel. That will free up some space, as well.
Delete any folders in your main Windows folder that begin with the "$" such as "$NtUninstallKB968816_WM9$". If you really really need space, you can delete the contents of "Downloaded Program Files" in the Windows folder and delete anything in the "Prefetch" folder.
Lastly, defrag the hard drive.
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