You may have a bunch of programs starting on boot that don't have to be. On
my PC, if a program isn't used during each computing session, I don't start
it on boot.

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

You can get to the boot menu by holding down the ctrl key after the memory
count occurs. Select a logged boot and this creates a bootlog of what goes
on during the boot process. This program will help you analyze the bootlog:
Boot Log Analyzer,

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download.asp?fid=22895&fileidx=1Load
Failures Listed in the Bootlog.txt File 127970
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=127970

****
Spyware/scumware/adware are causing numerous system problems. I recommend
you download and use the following programs and consider removing everything
these programs identify. Be aware that there are frequent updates to these
programs and you need to check for them before every use.

AdAware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

CWShredder: http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html (download
link near the bottom)

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/