Window & Brower open slow!!!!!

Just brought a system pre-loaded Win ME, had reformat the system and installed Win 2000 Pro.
But feel that starting up of the Pc to the actual windows is quite slow.

When at the window, opening of windows is slow (eg, open windows explorer takessome time), viewing of folders also slow too. Is it insufficiant RAM? presently im having 256 RAM.

Specs: Acer aspire P3 1G, WIN 2000 Pro, 256 RAM, 30MB HDD.