Taking several minutes before I can use the computer

[Richard]

I don't want to lose all the stuff that's on it

@TeEjAy: It was only 21MB, but, gone.

I had a school laptop, and when I first got it it was really quick to start up. After some time it started to startup slow, like you've been saying. And all I did is took it to the school tec guys and they re-imaged it and it started perfectly. If it comes to a last resourt I'd say re-image

I've been having it for several years, so that may be it. What exactly is re-imaging?