Does malware affect physical memory on pc?

Malware, spyware or trojans can't corrupt your physical hardware but they can mess with you system files to effect you system in general which will cause it to slow down. There are number of processes and services that automatically start up when you boot you computer each of this process using some portion of the RAM to run itself. You might still have some infection on you computer that causing it to slow down. By the way The Antispyware xp 2010 in way it's malware too and probably what causing you comptuter to slow down. it's Rogue Antispyware. It mimic itself as anispyware program then scans you computer then shows you fake scan report. Here is the link how to remove it http://www.myantispyware.com/2010/02/22/how-to-remove-xp-antispyware-2010-xp-antivirus-pro-2010/ I would recommend to download and install kaspersky security suite just run trial version for 30 days and do full scan of you computer www.kaspersky.com Cheers, DS

It could also be that the program you purchased (Bad idea, you can get for free) is what is using the memory: See what happens when you remove it (Or turn it off)

Malware, and even normal programs, consume physical memory. If this is Windows XP or newer run msconfig from the run line and disable all startup items and services except for the anti-malware and automatic backup software. Then reboot. If your computer is not faster, the next step is to scan the memory to see if it's gone bad. If Windows is working you can run this free test http://download.cnet.com/MemTest/3000-2094_4-77167.html?tag=mncol For a thorough memory test you can boot to this free utility http://www.memtest86.com