Have a buddy with XP home (less than year old Dell Dimension) who just
got DSL...since that time his computer is very slow and difficult to
use...appears this java program is running all the time screwing up
the computer's ability to work properly...does this make any sense and
if so...how to solve it?

This can happen when installing the drivers for a new modem look in
the control panel (internet connections)and remove all the connections
you aren't using(i.e. dialup.Or use msconfig to stop the program from
loading at start up.

go to run and type msconfig and remove all unwanted start up programs .
uninstall the java.

best idea is to format the computer start all over