Well, here's the update so far----and so far, I'm happy with it. ;-)
I downloaded the JKDefrag that 123Runner suggested. I'd remembered being 'prompted' to use this before in another situation with my other comp, so I was familiar with the name of it. I restarted my comp, and then defragged it just fine with that program while in Safe Mode. When the C: defrag was finished, before I could get to restarting the comp, it started the Screensaver defrag. I thought, 'what the heck, couldn't hurt, I suppose..', so I let it do its job. After it finished, I restarted the comp.
After everything loaded up, I must have clicked on something, or however it happened, but a window came up with lots of items listed on the comp that I hadn't been able to see before. I noticed QUITE a number of internet logs, and then determined that they were all located in an Internet Log file under Documents and Settings. It turns out that all of the internet logs located in there appeared to be from Yahoo chats, as they were all labeled Ypager within them and were dated from 2005-2006. The folder contained a HUGE 2.5 GB in it!!!! Omigosh! Well, I figured I didn't need someone else's chats, so I deleted that folder after noting that the only items enclosed in it were internet logs and nothing else. The file was soooo huge that it told me that it couldn't even put it in the Recycle Bin, so it asked if I wanted to delete them permanently. ha~ Easy answer there....yup! After that, I noticed that there were a few more files in that 'out of nowhere' window that had appeared, and I recognized a few names on them. One was ZoneAlarm, and since I was familiar with that program and knew I didn't want it on this comp, I deleted that file. There was also a file for Spybot Search and Destroy, which I was also familiar with, didn't want on this comp, and deleted it, too. There was one other file with a program in it that I recognized (but can't remember at this time), and I deleted it, too, since I didn't want it either. I then restarted the comp, and when it loaded up again, I checked the My Computer/C:/Properties.......and tada!, I had gained 2.8 GB of room, out of the 6 GB total available. Instead of the pie chart there being nearly completely full, I now had nearly HALF of it as Space available.
I then came back here to this posting to see what else had been suggested------I took Hppyrck's advice and went thru the process of removing the Viewpoint Manager, VP Media Player, and VP Toolbar, since we do not use AOL or any other similar program that might use this. Besides, when that 'mysteriously appeared' window was up, I'd noticed that I did indeed have the Windows Media/etc. programs on here, and those are just fine for us, since that's all we use on our other comp, too.
I then restarted the comp, finishing up the final step of unchecking 'allow indexing service, yada, yada' under My Comp/C:/properties.
After that, I downloaded the CCleaner, on the advice again of Hppyrck. I followed the instructions given me, (thanks!), and restarted the comp once again. I currently have 2.83 GB Space available of the 6.0 total. Yay!! Since I was able to defrag the comp in Safe Mode with the JKDefrag program I mentioned above, I didn't download the suggested Diskeeper. I do have that particular program downloaded on my other comp that I use, but at this point, I'm not going to download it here. I'm going to only need this comp in this particular state for the next few weeks for my students to do those online courses. After that, I should have my newly purchased GENUINE (!!) Windows XP cd via snail mail. At that time, I believe that I'll just use it to reinstall Windows XP on here, and thereby lose everything else that's on here that I don't need. I am able to download the free programs that I use, such as Bazooka, Flash and Adobe, and I am able to reinstall my purchased version of AVG. I also have my own purchased cd of Microsoft Office that I can again install on here at that time. Those are pretty much the only real regular programs that we use on here. I don't do any business stuff or anything like saved records and such. If anyone differs with my plan, lemme know, k? Perhaps you have a better idea for me that I've not considered. Oh, and btw, I will be purchasing (2) 256-MB Ram cards to place in this comp, once I've confirmed that there are two slots located inside it.
Thanks so much for all of your help here, everyone. I am left with two questions though-------As I just mentioned, if you have a better 'future' idea for my comp and us, lemme know.......and also, can someone (maybe you, Hppyrck, since it was your advice I'd followed...), please explain to me just WHY would I want to not have that box checked under My Computer/C:/Properties that says "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching" ??? It seems to me, the amateur here---I admit, though----that this would make my comp operate quicker in most operations.
Oh, and one last note------we have cable Internet connections on both of my comps, including, of course, this one. Even when that whole pie chart of My Comp/C:/properties showed nearly all of the space not available, my comp was never really that slow, as some have mentioned here. I've been surfing the internet with it here just as fast as on our other one, which is pretty quick. I haven't been operating any chat programs, such as Yahoo or MSN mssngrs at the same time (and I don't have them installed on here yet, either), nor have I been trying to operate Word or anything else at the same time, but I really haven't noticed it being very slow. Just thought I'd mention that....
Thanks again~~~ I look forward to hearing from you again about my two questions...and any other suggestions ya'll might have. :-)