There are two kinds of system resources:  user and graphic device interface
resources.  They are used for such things as managing input from the
keyboard and mouse, toolbars, icons, graphics, etc.   The resources are
fixed chunks (64 kb) of memory and are unrelated to the amount of Ram that
is installed.  A PC with 512 mb of ram has the same resources available as
one with 16 mb.

If your machine starts getting sluggish, the cursor "hops" or you get a
resources warning, your resources are too low.  Shutting down programs that
are unneeded may help or a reboot may be required.   Certain programs are
resource hogs and once you identify one as such, limit the amount of dual
tasking that is done and reboot periodically.  Reducing the amount of
programs started at boot will increase the amount of resources you start
with.  This may keep you from running out so quick.

To cut back on the number of programs starting at boot, check the programs
themselves for an option not to load.  You might have to double click an
icon in the tray (others might require a right click) and then look for
preferences or options.   If you cannot find an option, look for the program
in the following start up points and remove the reference to it:

Start up folder on the start menu, the load= and run= lines in the win.ini
and these registry run keys (use regedit.exe):

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

4. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

5. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ RunServices

6. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
RunServicesOnce

7. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
RunOnce\Setup

There is a freeware program that makes this process a lot easier to manage:
Startup Manager,
http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/startupcpl/

You can use msconfig.exe, startup tab, to disable programs; however, by
doing so, you may lessen its value as a troubleshooting tool.  There might
be some double entries in msconfig--leave those for your AntiVirus program
and load power profile alone as they are required.  If you disable an entry
in msconfig or remove it from the start up point and the program loads again
after a reboot, that is an indication that you missed an option on the
program itself.  If you don't know what an entry is, check here:
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm