slow processing

[Michael Behan]

I am relatively new to computers,i have xp for about a
year but still feel like a total novice,at the moment i
am trying to figure out why my computer takes so long to
react,when i log in and click my name the timer symbol
appears alongside the mouse arrow and if i try to start a
programme it seems to take forever to react,also could
anybody suggest a good book or cd to give me a better
knoledge of my system,thanks.