System Resources.

I have a Toshiba 1700-500 laptop and using a Nokia phone card for internet connection, and while surfing, my system resources rapidly decreases, it is just a matter of of tree open pages at the same time, then it it to low to do anything, it is not possible to comvert to FAT 32 because it already is, (win me edition) would it do any difference if used my good old win 98? or is there something else i can do to prevent this?.
Thank You