That hasn't been the case for some time now, except that every now and then, there is a free product that is worth having. Such is the case with Glary Utilities. I know because I just used it on my tired Windows XP system.
Glary Utilities cleaned my cluttered registry, which is something I refuse to touch. It emptied my bloated cache, freeing my sluggish system from way too much junk. And, it streamlined my startup. It will even get rid of those remnants of old programs that add to a clogged computer.
I was getting to the point where I had to wait to access "my computer." Closing a file would take forever. The only other way to help was to reboot the system.
I am happy to say that things are moving right along now, thanks to Glary Utilities. This really is a great program and it will cost nothing to give it a try. You can buy the pro version for $39.95 or download a free version. I've used the free version and I've been happy with it. Download it today at: http://www.glaryutilities.com/
Give it a try. You won't be sorry.