What version do you have on the laptop?
What model Dell is it?
How much RAM does it have?
There should be no problem with upgrading it as that would be installing it on the same computer and will not change your registration any.
XP and any Windows version for that matter are notorious for slowing down the longer you use it. Seems like it just keeps storing more and more trash.
So first thing to do is check your hard drive space (free vs total). If it is down to less than 25% then it is definitely time to trim the fat.
- Delete all your temporary internet files and history files from Internet Explorer.
- If you have any programs that you no longer use, uninstall them.
- Chack and make sure that any uninstalled programs do not have any files left in Program Files or in your profile under Documents and Settings. These would be in Application Data and/or in Local Settings/Application Data.
- While you are looking at your profile go to Local Settings/Temp and delete all files in that location too.
- Next delete all files in Windows/Temp.
- Empty your deleted files from the Recycle Bin.
- Defragment your hard drive.
See if this will free up enough space so Hoster can work without freezing. At this point I am presuming that the crashing is because of the freeze up. The biggest problem with laptops is they do not have dedicated memory for the video and borrow memory from the main RAM on the motherboard. When too much is running or too much swapping is going on between memory and the hard drive then everything slows down or comes to a screeching halt.