System runs like a dog - newbie help please

Hi folks, Linux newbie here. Spec P100, 32MB Triton M/board 2GB IDE Std CD 3 Com 509B ATI Rage (2Meg) Have installed up GUI. Got network working BUT... Starting applications require LOTS of disc activity and a LONG time. eg Netscape takes about 2 minutes to load. Once loaded it works fine - acceptable response times. Read somewhere about this type of problem but got no response from person who posted msg. http://mlarchive.ima.com/linux-kernel/1998/Dec/1059.html Can anybody please help. Many thanks in advance Alan Craig Dept. of CDT Aberdeen Grammar School