Stop giving Patty brief/incomplete instructions on how to do things. I worked in IT for a corportation for some time and, quite frankly, the average person can't do most of what you are suggesting even when accompanied by pictoral instructions.
IT guys are not Gods or geniuses... we're just poor bastards that do this crap day in and day out.
Patty, you need to have someone who knows 'puters sit down and take a looksy. For starters, some more RAM will make all the difference. The advice from other posters is good... but incomplete.
This "kid" that is coming over should be able to do most of the things above. If you have him order/install RAM, I hope he knows what he's doing.
- BG
EDIT: I can confirm that you can indeed set RAM and motherboards themselves on fire when incorrectly installed.