Owen, a few things for you try:
-In Folder Options> View: Uncheck the box to automatically search for
network folders and printers. Since you run this computer as a standalone,
this setting does nothing for you.
-Disable the Windows Image Acquisition service (the WIA service that is
showing up in event viewer). This service has been noted in the past for
causing various system slow downs. Even if you have a scanner installed
that uses WIA drivers, it will still run as usual when this service is
disabled. Control Panel> Administrative Tools> Computer Management>
Services (or Start> Run: services.msc) to get to the window needed to
manage services. Right click on Windows Image Acquisition, select
Properties. In the next screen, change the startup type to Disabled.
-If you use Details view and choose to have many columns of "details"
displayed, try reducing the number of details to see if that helps with
loading Explorer the first time a little faster. In an Explorer window:
View> Choose Details... (If you have never changed this, skip this step.)
-The DCOM errors: These aren't a big concern. More of an informational
report that a program was not able to complete a task. For example: having
Windows Messenger setup to run at startup and there is no internet
connection will cause this error to appear. Any software that is configured
to run at startup and to automatically update, may run a check for an
available connection and fail.
-The errors you listed in number 2: Can't really comment on these since
other than categories, you didn't give much information on them. Perhaps
there Event Viewer isn't giving you much information either?
NOTE: A helpful resource site I keep bookmarked:
http://eventid.net.
Also, when viewing an error in Event Viewer, you can go online and then
click that "more information" link. A prompt appears asking if it's okay to
send the error info. Say yes. The info is sent and any related info is fed
back to your system in a browser window. Sometimes this info is helpful.
Sometimes it is so generic it doesn't help to find a solution but it widens
the understanding of the error. And sometimes there is no further info
available.