ELIMINATE PROGRAMS AT START UP

You can often help speed up your computer, by eliminating unnecessary programs from running when you start your windows operating system. The following steps may vary slightly depending on the OS (Operating System version - Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista or 7) that you are using on your computer

• Open Your Start Menu (from the Task Bar)
• Left Click Programs
• Left Click Accessories
• Left Click system information
• Left Click tools
• Then click system configuration
• Then click the tab “start up”
• You will now see everything that starts up with your computer with a check mark next to it. To the right of the item, it tells what program it is associated with.
• You can check and un-check any of these items and see if it makes the computer run faster or not. If it's something you want, then you just go back to the same place and check it again.
• Sometimes if a program has been reinstalled you will see the same program listed/checked twice.

Basically, the only two things that need to be running when you get your task manager (by holding down the CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together) and the Task Manager Dialog Box Appears is explorer and systray. You should find the rest of the "ghosts" listed under the start up tab in system configuration.