where to start?

[-RockMan-]

i know that a good part of this is background tasks. it seems as if they have a higher priority than what i want to do. another potential problem, is that i still have to share this with the kids sometimes. which is a big part of my reluctance to take it to a computer technician.

Your problem right now is you don't know how to securely lock windows and assign users in the home which programs they can have access to.
Which ones they can't, which utilitys they can use or not.
Get the problem corrected and half of your problems will stop till you get new machines.

Configuring Windows 7 for a Limited User Account

Permissions - Allow or Deny Users and Groups - Windows 7 Help Forums

This would a great way to start out just lay the ground rules down for the computer.
If such said family can't listen or decide to over ride your authority throw the machine inside your trunk at work for 6 months and you use it only.