Finally got everything set back up. Well not quite, but close enough that I can work on the laptop. It's already running faster, which is very nice. there are some cool new things I added as well. I added an add-in to Firefox that makes each tab a different colors and one that makes the screen rotate when changing tabs. slows down changing tabs and takes a bit longer to load Firefox when I have previously opened tabs, but it is cool and worth it. Just need to get the themes working now.

Some advice to people who might be thinking about resetting their computers. It should probably be done every 6 months or so, or at least once a year. It is a good idea to do this because over time a bunch of crap builds up on your hard drive. Programs you forgot about, files from uninstalled programs that are left behind, cookies, assorted graphics files, ect. Resetting your system clears those out and sets it back to the way it ran when you first got it.

The easiest way to do this is with the reset disks that ship with pretty much every factory-built system sold in the last 5 years or so. As for stuff you want to keep, burn them onto a disk or place on an external drive. Placing everything you know (or think) you will most likely keep makes it easier to prepare the system for resets since you don't have to search for them.

It takes a little time, and it might be a hassle, but it is worth it. Not only do you get a faster system, but you might even get some new/updated programs when you install old ones that you might not have updated.